‘Dark’ flick lasts a little too long
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The Dark Knight
”
starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Maggie Gyllenhaal
When I used to joke that the perfect length for a movie is 99
minutes, my friends thought that was based on some psychology
theory about people’s attention spans or some film school thoughts
on what the perfect movie should be
– both things I studied in school.
‘Dark’ flick lasts a little too long
“The Dark Knight” starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Maggie Gyllenhaal
When I used to joke that the perfect length for a movie is 99 minutes, my friends thought that was based on some psychology theory about people’s attention spans or some film school thoughts on what the perfect movie should be – both things I studied in school.
But the truth is 99 minutes was the perfect amount of time to watch a movie after an eight-hour workday in between cooking dinner and getting to bed by 9:30 p.m. And if I were going to pay to see a movie, I’d feel cheated if it were shorter than that.
That’s not to say great movies can’t be longer. “Schindler’s List” tips the time continuum at more than 3 hours, but it’s an engaging story that has kept me captivated through many viewings. But sometimes it seems like directors kept their movies long more because of ego than because the movie really warrants it.
That is the case with “The Dark Knight.” Now I know there are plenty of fanboys who love the movie just the way it is. In fact, I’ve heard of some 20-somethings who have seen the latest Batman flick seven times in the last few weeks. Obviously, they think the 2 hour and 32 minute running time is fine. But here’s what I think.
Director and writer Christopher Nolan has been a critical darling since 2000 when he released the Indie film “Memento.” The film is about a man who has no short-term memory, played by Guy Pearce. He tattoos and carves words onto is skin in attempts to remember things. The movie is disjointed and is told from the end to the beginning in a way that is hard to describe. The film got to the core of how memory makes us who we are and is worth a watch for anyone who hasn’t seen it.
Since then Nolan has continued to woo critics and movie-goers alike, with “The Prestige” in 2006 and the first prequel to the Batman series “Batman Begins.” But it seems his ego may have led to the long running time for the latest flick.
Nolan’s movies tend to be well-crafted with surprise endings and this is certainly the case with “The Dark Knight.”
Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is still fighting crime in the dark of the night with the blessing of Police Commissioner James Gordon (Gary Oldman.) He has given up his relationship with Rachel Dawes (now played by Maggie Gyllenhaal – Katie Holmes played Dawes in “Batman Begins”) since he is so devoted to his masked identity.
When a new district attorney takes office, Wayne sees a light in Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) that could allow him to retire his crusading. Unfortunately, just when Dent takes office, the Gotham gangsters are united by a crazed bank robber who goes by the name of The Joker (Heath Ledger).
In his last role before he died of an accidental overdose, Ledger certainly took the character to heart. He wears makeup that looks like it might after a dip in acid and his hair is stringy and dirty. While Jack Nicholson’s Joker came across as crazed, there was still clear motive behind his actions. Ledger’s Joker is pure evil and it never becomes clear in the movie why he has it in so bad for “the Batman” as he continually refers to the super hero in the movie.
The problem with the movie is that some of the motives for the characters are never explained. And honestly, when Batman has already lost the one thing he cares about in life and he suddenly has a new enemy to fight in addition to the Joker, it’s hard to believe he would keep fighting the good fight.
The movie is dark and the acting is superb. But while “Batman Begins” was totally believable as a prequel to the original “Batman” with Michael Keaton and “Batman Returns,” this movie comes out of nowhere with its own ideas about good and evil.
“The Dark Knight” is worth a watch and is already the top grossing film for an opening weekend, but it could have been shaved of 20 minutes and been all the better for it.
