Heath Ledger

After waiting anxiously (for what seemed like years) and after reading all of the glowing, amazing reviews of The Dark Knight, a part of me was nervous about seeing it.  I was afraid that it might not live up to the hype, hope, and hysteria. 

I can’t recall a movie ever getting this much attention or creating this much of a stir.  Everyone’s talking about it and you can’t pass by a newspaper stand without seeing the Joker or Batman staring you down.

Like so many theaters, ours was sold out – so it was a large, excited crowd we saw the movie with.  Before the trailers began, the excitement was causing an endless string of talking, laughing, popcorn crunching, and looking around.  But when the lights went down and the trailers began, you could only hear a precious few whispers.

As soon as the trailers ended and it was obvious that The Dark Knight was upon us, you couldn’t hear a single sound.  No popcorn being fondled, no drinks being returned to their holders, no wiggling around in the seats – just perfect silence.  I’m pretty sure we all held our breaths for the first few minutes. Everyone in the theater embraced the movie from beginning to end. 

The Dark Knight has actually become more of an event than just a movie. 

With gas prices, a war that seems (also) to be taking years, and an economy in the nastiest of moods - I think we were in as much need of Batman as Gotham has ever been.  And what a glorious distraction he has proven to be!

When we left the theater, after we ran out of adjectives, adverbs, and superlatives – we just rode home in silence, soaking in what we’d seen.  The movie is a masterpiece, make no mistake about it.  The action, the effects, the acting, the toys (!)… everything is stunningly flawless and flawlessly stunning.  Christian Bale is an incredible actor and he just became my all-time favorite Batman (just edging out Michael Keaton).  Batman has always been my favorite of the Justice Leaguers, so I’m always more than a little interested in who brings him to life.

The casting was amazing in The Dark Knight. Aaron Eckhart was perfect as Harvey Dent – a great performance.  Gary Oldham as Jim Gordon was also fantastic, as was the adorable Maggie Gyllenhaal.  As for Michael Caine, he defines “scene stealer.”  Morgan Freeman was a very pleasant surprise – he’s a favorite actor of mine, yet I didn’t even realize he was in this film. 

The directing was also spectacular – this movie’s giving the word “flawless” a workout like it’s never had… but the directing was flawless.

However, the thing that leaves you grasping for words is Heath Ledger’s performance.  It was something otherworldly and phenomenal.  You know me – I’ve seen countless movies and performances.  I could sit down for 3 days and not count all of the movies I’ve seen.  From all the performances I’ve ever witnessed, I put Heath Ledger and his delectable Joker in my top favorite performances of all time – performances that left you breathless, waiting to see what the character would do next.  Performances that the star disappeared before your eyes until only the character remained.

Some of my personal all-time favorite performances:

• Johnny Depp in The Secret  Window
• Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates movies
• Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd
• Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted
• Hattie McDaniel in Gone With the Wind
• James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause
• Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs
• George Clooney in Michael Clayton
• Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby
• Helena Bonham Carter
• Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady
• Adrien Brody in The Jacket
• Tom Cruise in Rainman
• Dustin Hoffman in Rainman
• Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice
• Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby
• Denzel Washington in Malcolm X
• Jack Nicholson in Batman
• Robert Downey, Jr. in Ironman
• Tom Hanks in Cast Away
• Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line
• Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line
• James McAvoy in Wanted
• Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life

….and now, most certainly, Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. 

Some theaters apparently are showing a tribute to Heath Ledger after the final credits roll.  Unfortunately, ours didn’t.  About half of us stayed and were pretty disappointed.  I can’t wait to see The Dark Knight a second time.  It’s the kind of larger than life movie (like Wanted, Iron Man…) that you want to see as many times as possible.

If you haven’t seen this film yet, go as soon as possible and, whatever you do, hang onto every word the Joker says and watch every move he makes.  Heath Ledger has created film magic and you won’t want to blink.

The movie-loving part of me sincerely hopes that another movie will come along one day that’ll rival The Dark Knight for the excitement, anticipation, and enjoyment it has given us (before, during, and after the movie, itself), but I have as many doubts as Thomas did.  

I think it’d have to be another Batman movie.  This would be me crossing my fingers.