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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Ledger, ‘Dark Knight’ full of surprises
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s talk of an Oscar push for Heath Ledger as The Joker in “The Dark Knight,” which officially opens nationwide on Friday.
I’ll tell you this: put him up as best supporting actor and he’s already won.
Ledger, who died earlier this year, is the film’s lasting, most illuminating impression.
“The Dark Knight” has bombs; bullets; car chases with gigantic and loud crashes; brutal, sadistic murders and a cast that sometimes appears as big as Gotham City. But it is Ledger’s performance moviegoers will likely be talking about the most.
His scenes are plentiful, stoked with fiery, bizarre delivery and a snake’s forever-moving tongue. He and his movie are full of surprises, too.
Seriously, one of his most effective lines is simply, “Hi.”
Some critics are already piling up praise for Ledger and the movie.
Richard Corliss of Time: “This Joker is simply one of the most twisted and mesmerizing creeps in movie history.”
Justin Chang of Variety: “Seriously brainy pop entertainment.”
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: “An epic that will leave you staggering from the theater.”
Warner Bros. screened the film earlier this week for metro Atlanta critics. Here’s more of what fans will likely be talking about:
THE PENCIL: The Joker uses many tricks and props. One of the first is when he asks a group of onlookers to watch him “make this pencil disappear.’ What follows is one of the most memorable moments among this summer’s action movies.
THE CO-STARS: Joining Christian Bale (as Batman) and Ledger is a full nest of dependable supporting players, including Morgan Freeman (returning as Lucius Fox), Michael Caine (returning as Alfred Pennyworth), Gary Oldman (returning as Lt. James Gordon), Maggie Gyllenhaal (as Rachel Dawes) and, especially, Aaron Eckhart (as district attorney Harvey Dent). But the talent extends to minor characters: Eric Roberts (as a Mob boss), William Fichtner as a bank manager and Michael Jai White (as a crime figure).
THE IMAX: Six scenes have action footage filmed using IMAX format cameras. Available tickets for screenings late-night Thursday through Sunday at the Regal’s Mall of Georgia IMAX are scarce. On regular 35mm, the film is playing in more than 30 metro Atlanta theaters.
THE DARKNESS: Like the previous Batman movies, this one is steeped in deep blues and menacing blacks. Most of the action sequences occur at night. Destruction occurs not only in Gotham City, but in Hong Kong.
THE CAMERA: Director Christopher Nolan’s favorite shot seems to be to have his camera swirl 180 degrees around his subjects. He does it again and again. He also moves close to frame Ledger’s face of horrid pancaked makeup and backs up for a wide, distant shot of Gotham’s population (most rendered in CGI) desperately waiting at a series of bridges to get out of the threatened city.
THE LENGTH: Every time you think the film is getting ready to end, know there’s more coming. At 2 hours, 20 minutes, there are plentiful action sequences. Still, the film can seem to go on and on.
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