"I'm just ahead of the curve"

In retrospect, 1989 was a pivotal year in my movie-going experience. I saw 3 movies that year that changed my outlook on film. Do the Right Thing completely opened my eyes to everything from tone to choice of music, color and camera movement and angles. sex, lies and videotape was a movie completely different from anything I had seen up to that point and it proved to me you could make a movie without action and mostly dialogue, which was basically all I was writing at that point. I also saw Batman.

Batman was being hyped beyond belief. It was everywhere and I was fired up! I saw it with my friend Jon on opening weekend in a packed theater. When the movie ended, everyone in the theater jumped to their feet and applauded. My friend Jon and I looked at each other and said “let’s get the fuck out of here.” Batman was the first major movie disappointment in my life. You see I wanted so much more out of Batman. I had watched the series on TV as a kid and I loved it. What the fuck happened?! While Nicholson was fun (when isn’t he?) it was a cakewalk for him and he didn’t take any risks. I realize a lot of people liked that movie and my elder cousins thought I was too young and stupid to get it. Fuck you guys- the movie still sucks!

Well, when Batman Begins was announced I had renewed fire, thanks to the choice of Christopher Nolan as director and Christian Bale as Batman. Then came Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Cillian Murphy. Nice cast and Nolan can do no wrong. Batman Begins was incredible- ballsy, smart, action packed, faithful and yet rooted in the real world, not some fucking cartoon land where everything can be written off to fantasy and “comic books” never having to make some real dramatic choices. This Batman wisely took its time building character and motivation and story. I’ve watched it several times since on HBO and DVD and it holds up well.

I saw The Dark Knight last night and was completely blown away. At 2 ½ hours, one might think the film is too long. It isn’t, it’s perfect. I feel bad for Sam Raimi because he tried to do in Spiderman 3 what Nolan has done here. Spiderman 3 bite off more than it could chew and soured the trilogy. The Dark Knight bit off a lot and chewed it right up. There is significant character development with some new faces and the film wisely takes its time building to the conclusion on that character and story development. I stayed away from previews and press so I’m not going to talk about plot, I’d rather have you discover that for yourself.

The Dark Knight is a character study. A dark (get it- hahaha) character study. Essentially everyone in the film has moral decisions to make or is deeply troubled- to say the least in the Joker’s case. Nolan and his brother Jonathan, who co-wrote The Prestige and the short story Memento is based on, wrote the script, which is chock full of big action set pieces. There are bursts of action all throughout the film and big gasp inducing moments- one in particular, you’ll know it when you see it. And the setup for the next Batman is brilliant.

Okay so Heath Ledger…um, how do I put this…? Heath Ledger is incredible and you miss him when he’s not onscreen. His work is so rock solid he makes the other highly talented actors around him appear to be lazy. He also had the most fun role, but still. Ledger has always made impressions in film. He’s just one of those actors. I realize Brokeback Mountain has been reduced to late night talk show one liners and further proof of the country’s homophobia, but if you go back and watch that film, his performance there is amazing. Now back it up to The Dark Knight and look at the difference. In both films he uses everything a good actor should. He has a posture and walk to go along with the voice, the laugh and the small mannerisms he displays with his mouth and the constant liplicking. His commitment is undeniable. I can’t wait to see the movie again just to watch his performance. I must mention that it made me sad to watch him in this film, but you know why.