DARK KNIGHT: Dead Man Acting

Dead Man Acting
By Ben Flanagan
Ben Around
July 18, 2008

Christopher Nolan's long-awaited Batman sequel, 'The Dark Knight,' finally hits theaters today, much to the delight of fans sick of the chopped liver this summer's mostly coughed up so far. Christopher Nolan's long-awaited Batman sequel, 'The Dark Knight,' finally hits theaters today, much to the delight of fans sick of the chopped liver this summer's mostly coughed up so far.

Not to say the industry hasn't left cinephiles totally unspoiled, they're just batting a notably low average. 'Iron Man' and 'Wall-E' each fall between really good and great (okay, great), and a few popcorn flicks ('Wanted,' 'Kung Fu Panda,' 'Hellboy 2') have left audiences satisfied enough; they've got the dollars to prove it.

Prior to the summer, the titles creating greatest anticipation were the fourth 'Indiana Jones' movie and what's now the sixth Batman movie since 1989. To our (or my) dismay, the first one might have opened a nasty can of worms, quality-wise, but continues to reap expected financial benefits, having surpassed the $300 million mark domestically.

Our summer, where we willingly suspend our disbelief and hope to escape the rotten rigors of the real world, hasn't had enough to keep us happy. Sure, the numbers disagree and tell you that ten releases have already cleared $100M, nullifying the argument that people don't want what they're getting. But, that's the beauty to loyal audiences who'll watch nearly anything hurled their way in the summertime — 'You Don't Mess with the Zohan' even hit it big.

But today, the collective sigh of relief you hear nationwide comes thanks to the arrival of possibly the best of both worlds: popcorn and substance. A brooding and dark follow-up to its already brooding and dark predecessor, 'Batman Begins' (helmed by some as the 'Citizen Kane' of comic book movies; calm down 'Spider-Man 2' geeks), 'The Dark Knight' looks to pack a juicy dose of not only the slam-bang summer thrills we'd expect but a hardy bout of filmic texture both fans and critics can enjoy together.

Upon seeing its first theatrical trailer, I'd decided 'The Dark Knight' had in just two minutes transcended the overstuffed, groggy and lukewarm (though ambitious) 'Batman Begins.'

This time, as with most comic book sequels, the villain has robbed the hero of the spotlight, but the Caped Crusader can't be faulted for what goes on in the real world.

In 1989's terrific 'Batman,' Jack Nicholson sang and danced as the killer clown, much to the chagrin of some DC Comics purists — not me. Heath Ledger assumes a much grittier and crueler Joker, wearing smeared black and white makeup, sporting green hair and a gruesome scar stretching ear-to-ear. This Joker, not unlike Nicholson's, kills for fun, and critics lucky enough to catch an early look have praised the actor's sinister interpretation, one co-star Christian Bale credited with being inspired by 'A Clockwork Orange' and Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious.

Time Magazine's Richard Corliss wrote, 'This Joker is simply one of the most twisted and mesmerizing creeps in movie history.' Rolling Stone's Peter Travers raved that Ledger's menacing portrayal is Oscar-worthy.

Shortly after finishing work on the movie, Ledger died of a drug overdose in January, leaving 'The Dark Knight' as the actor's last completed role in a feature film. Some news outlets, mostly tabloid-driven entertainment programs, suggested Ledger immersed himself too deeply into such a psychologically demanding role. But Ledger's co-workers retorted the actor had loads of fun filling out the character, and that the work wasn't a catalyst towards his death.

It poses a challenging question: Will audiences stay committed to watching a dead man on screen, especially when he's playing such a macabre and violent character? Will Ledger's death have a positive or negative effect on the film's financial performance?

Warner Bros. doesn't have much to worry about, other than losing a microscopic percentage of a large and eager audience wound up pretty tight with impatience. Deadline Hollywood Daily owner and industry guru Nikki Finke predicts a $130 million weekend for 'The Dark Knight,' though some have whittled the number down to a still-impressive $90 million. Any reservations moviegoers have for the eeriness factor will only likely affect the film's opening weekend, as enormously strong early buzz suggests it will carry significant word-of-mouth.

At this point, every trailer, clip or promotion I see is only torture. While I was skeptical at first based on what I thought was an underwhelming but determined effort from Nolan, 'The Dark Knight' looks as if it's bringing serious heat to a cooled-off summer — and I'm in.

Live music on The Strip: A handful of good acts all weekend and only a few steps away from each other. Tonight at the Jupiter, Benjy Davis Project and Atlanta natives Hightide Blues will hit the big stage, while The Here We Go Boys and The Recognition share a double bill at Egan's just down the way. Saturday at Egan's, Birmingham rockers Happy Lemmy will play old, loud instruments with vacuum tube amplifiers.

The Shawshank Redemption: Birmingham's Alabama Theatre, 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday: Much respect should go to the Alabama and its summer movie programming, journeying this year through American classics including last week's 1965 best picture winner 'The Sound of Music.' This weekend, Mom and Dad can enjoy a contemporary classic that didn't make a whole lot of noise on the big screen but absolutely exploded on home video. Frank Darabont's drama 'The Shawshank Redemption,' based on the Stephen King novella, continues to age beautifully since its 1994 release on DVD and various cable channels, and now we've got a chance to make up for our absences at the multiplex. Get busy livin' and gaze on Roger Deakins' gorgeous cinematography projected on a gigantic screen. It'll warm you up for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' next week.

Delmore Days Festival in Athens, Ala.: Head up north to Athens for what promises to be some toe-tappin' bluegrass fun for this inaugural festival, celebrating North Alabama natives the Delmore Brothers, a classic country duo recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Today and tomorrow at Athens State University's Beasley Field, enjoy what the event's Web site calls a 'good ole trade day' with arts, crafts, good Southern food and plenty for the kids to do as well. Several musicians, including featured artist Bradley Walker, will keep things lively throughout the weekend. Drive safely.