Official "The Dark Knight" Thread

[Katuluu]

Post production work wasn't finished, as Ledger was still doing voice dubbing for The Dark Knight. And despite what Warner's has tried to insinuate, the role of Joker had nothing to do with Ledger's drug habits. Which existed years before he ever signed on for the role.

[Team Canada]

Kat, I remember reading something about how Ledger was having trouble sleeping because of what he had put himself through to get into the role and thus was on prescription sleeping meds.

 

 

edit: examples here and here

[TooLiveBrew]

Just saw it last night... late-night... and walked home... creepy

Eckhart was excellent. His character was rushed at the end, but with what he was given, I thought he was great.

I agree -- I'm extremely disappointed with how the character was utilized near the end of the movie -- especially since Eckhart was so good.

--I just don't get how anyone can say things like 'the oscar buzz for Ledger is because he died'. That's so off-base to me -- that was as good a performance as I've ever seen on film, & I genuinely don't think that's overstatement. I agree with the sentiment that he was creepy, hilarious, & terrifying... often in the same scene. I felt a very guilty pleasure for the entire film, as I was enjoying every bit of Ledger's performance. I think Gobias hits the nail on the head:
"I think he'd be the favorite if he were still alive. Just a jaw-dropping performance."

--To the question on the next/future villain(s), there was that seemingly throwaway line when Fox is reviewing the new batsuit with Wayne... Fox replies (paraphrasing): 'It'd do pretty well against a cat'. Instantly made me think Catwoman was in the on-deck circle.

--D-Bow! I didn't shout the name, but I leaned over to the gf & 'whisper-shouted' it.

Great superhero movie, and a good movie overall.

That's a fair review -- I'd rachet it just a tad higher in both cases, but I mostly agree.

I also didn't like the 4 Act structure of the film, as the first act was almost totally worthless and the 4th is badly rushed. I admire Nolan for attempting such an experiment, but it simply doesn't work.

I, too, appreciated the attempt, but agree that it didn't fully work. Especially the first act's parking garage scene. I felt like it was included just to set up the Joker's later media ruse regarding Batman, and they threw in a random, confusing, token cameo to boot. (I hope that was vague enough to not be a spoiler)


** I previewed & edited my post numerous times, in a careful attempt to not have any spoliers. If anyone thinks I've got any in here, any mod please feel free to hide the segment(s) in question.

[blatzlight]

 

--To the question on the next/future villain(s), there was that seemingly throwaway line when Fox is reviewing the new batsuit with Wayne... Fox replies (paraphrasing): 'It'd do pretty well against a cat'. Instantly made me think Catwoman was in the on-deck circle.

My friends and I all had the exact same discussion on the drive home from theater. Hopefully they can cast it well.

[TooLiveBrew]

That will be key. If they cast it wrong (should it be Catwoman), the movie might very well suck.

 

Given the great casting thus far (save Katie Holmes), I'll give Nolan the benefit of the doubt. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[samwise]

--I just don't get how anyone can say things like 'the oscar buzz for Ledger is because he died'. That's so off-base to me -- that was as good a performance as I've ever seen on film, & I genuinely don't think that's overstatement. I agree with the sentiment that he was creepy, hilarious, & terrifying... often in the same scene. I felt a very guilty pleasure for the entire film, as I was enjoying every bit of Ledger's performance. I think Gobias hits the nail on the head:

"I think he'd be the favorite if he were still alive. Just a jaw-dropping performance."

 

I would be shocked if his performance won the Oscar, dead or alive. I think the Joker could have been played by other actors just as well (Christian Bale comes to mind for his performance in American Psycho). I just think that the Joker was a mix of good acting, writing, effects and to be honest, make-up. Ledger was good but I do not think he was epic. He is getting a lot more attention because he plays a very dark character shortly after he died in a strange/upsetting manner. I really do not think you can deny that TLB.

[TooLiveBrew]

He is getting a lot more attention because he plays a very dark character shortly after he died in a strange/upsetting manner. I really do not think you can deny that TLB.

 

I'm not denying that... never have. I feel that, dead or living, Ledger's performance would be (rightly so) garnering Academy Award talk. I certainly disagree that another actor would have matched the performance, and with the notion that it's 'easier' to play a psychotic character. To do that convincingly imo is a daunting task -- Bale put in a great performance in A.P.

 

 

Ledger was good but I do not think he was epic.

 

Well I don't think you have to be 'epic' to win an Oscar -- nor do I necessarily think he was. We disagree on his performance... that's fine. I thought it was a brilliant interpretation of the character, and that came by far mostly from Ledger from all accounts I've seen (as opposed to incredibly strong direction).

[twobrewers]

Denzel won the Academy Award because he was black.

 

So the Academy has shown a propensity to give awards based on sentiment. (Denzel's was basically an apology for all the quality black actors they had overlooked)

 

TLB - do you honestly believe there would be this much buzz about Ledger if he wasn't dead?

 

It has clearly been a huge source of publicity for the film. Let's face it, Heath Ledger's death was a huge media event. And the praises have been excessive. This was not epic. It was not transcendent. But it was really good.

 

Here are some Brewerfan.net quotes...

"Transcendent."

"Absolutely perfect."

"AWESOME"

"Absolutely amazing!"

"masterful performance"

"Ledger as Joker = Best comic book villain ever. Period."

"totally outstanding"

"transcendent performance"

 

He was good. But those are some pretty lofty words. Perhaps the reason he is receiving so much attention is that he played such a quality role in a summer blockbuster. That is pretty unusual.

[cweber39]

Denzel won the Academy Award because he was black.

Didn't Cuba Gooding Jr win for Jerry McGuire he is black. He would get the supporing Oscar if he were to win and his perfromance has been a lot better than past supporing role winners. Example Cuba Gooding Jr and Tommy Lee Jones for The Fugitive.

Heath's performance was I thought very good, he played the role well.

[homer]

Denzel won the Academy Award because he was black.

You have no proof whatsoever to back that up.

 

(Denzel's was basically an apology for all the quality black actors they had overlooked)

Sydney Poitier won back in 1964. The fact that blacks hadn't won more Oscars was reflective of the fact that few blacks were given meaningful roles. Not that performances were overlooked. James Earl Jones was nominated in 1970 for The Great White Hope. He lost out to George C Scott in Patton - not really overlooked at all, IMO.

[twobrewers]

You have no proof whatsoever to back that up.

Well - I mean, obviously I have no proof to back that up!

 

I'll be quick so we can revert back to the main topic.

 

The 2002 Academy Awards dealt largely with race. Both Denzel and Halle Berry won for best actor and actress. Halle's speech was based on her race.

 

And it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. Thank you. I'm so honored. I'm so honored. And I thank the Academy for choosing me to be the vessel for which His blessing might flow. Thank you.

 

Denzel also made a point to reference Sidney during his speech.

 

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. Forty years I've been chasin' Sidney. They finally give it to me and what'd they do? They give it to him the same night. I'll always be chasing you, Sidney. I'll always be following in your footsteps.

 

They both received rousing ovations that were certainly different than those normally received. (Presumably because they were recognizing the achievements that African Americans had made in motion pictures)

 

I thought Sean Penn and Russell Crowe both had a much better chance of winning for their respective roles.

 

My point is that the evening seemed to have a "theme" and favored black actor/actresses. I would not be surprised if Heath Ledger received similar treatment (favoritism) on account of his untimely death.

 

[PKBadger]

I really, really, really hope they don't use Catwoman in one of these films. What a sucky villain, and "played out" to boot.

[statman0007]

Saw it tonight and thought it was very good.

 

I think that a lot of people are way too hard on Bale as batman. For anyone that disagrees, watch the old batman movies. Especially the Clooney one. Bale is 10x better than any of those guys. Sure, the gruff voice is over the top, but if he didn't do something like that people would complain that you could tell it was Bruce Wayne.

 

When I first heard that Heath Ledger was cast as the joker I thought it was the worst casting choice ever (I was really hoping for Paul Bettany). Ledger definitely proved me wrong. It will give me a reason to actually watch the Oscars this year.

[TooLiveBrew]

TLB - do you honestly believe there would be this much buzz about Ledger if he wasn't dead?

 

This misses the entire point. I've already said 'No' to this question. Irrelevant to what most people in here have been discussing

 

 

Denzel won the Academy Award because he was black.

 

This comes off as an incredibly bigoted comment. You appear to think that Denzel & Berry winning had only to do with their skin color, which to me seems silly.

 

 

Perhaps the reason he is receiving so much attention is that he played such a quality role in a summer blockbuster. That is pretty unusual.

 

Yes, unusual to be sure -- it certainly could play a role in influencing people, including me. However, I strive for objectivity in all things, and I feel that Ledger's performance was stellar... regardless of genre.

[craigharmann]

I saw the movie last night. Stunning! It struck me as quite violent, but the drama, and the story kept me riveted. There was just so much action and intensity. The character of the Joker was one of the best movie characters of all time in my opinion. Very strange, but quite intriguing. It was a great movie and a lot of fun to watch.

[Principessa21]

Regarding Washington winning his leading Oscar because he was black, I don't know why you're basing that on acceptance speeches. In my opinion Crowe or Penn didn't deserve it and one could make a similiar argument (that Ledger will be nominated because he died) that they were only nominated becuase they played crazy. (A la women later on only being nominated because they played ugly.)

 

I'm one of those people that think that, at the least, Ledger deserves a nomination based on a stellar performance. He captivated me, and I can't see how I could ever see the Joker performed differently again. After I saw the film, I worried out loud to my boyfriend that I hope the fact that he died wouldn't cloud his praise for the film. (From the public, not the Acadmey. Obvsiouly they love their sob stories.) I was obviously right, and it's a real shame.

 

ETA:

Spoiler [+]

I don't know if this is a spoiler, but I just wanted to add that I know I'm in the minority, but I loved how they did Two-Face. Sure it probably wasn't that realistic, but I loved the look.

[Gobias Industries]

I agree about the look Principessa. They had nowhere to go but up after the Schumaker "creation".

[RobertR]

Saw it this week and was very pleased with the result. If nothing else it's nice to see a big, popular blockbuster with actual ideas. I agree with Katulu that the editing and story construction are awkward at times, and it's certainly not the #1 movie of all time, but it's a good looking, exciting, well written, and well acted movie and I'd certainly recommend it whole heartedly to a great many people.

 

Certainly, I'm much more pleased by this summer's blockbusters than last summer's.

 

Robert