The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) ****

Dir. Christopher Nolan
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal

This has been a good year for superhero movies. Films like Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk were solid examples of the genre, and even Hancock was a fun, if not entirely successful, departure from the standard formula. However, nothing prepared us for what Christopher Nolan had in store for The Dark Knight. Even Batman Begins feels like it was made in a different decade, much less the same film series. Christopher Nolan's complex examination of morality in the world of Gotham city is a stunningly original achievement, and qualifies as one of the best big budget films ever made.

In the year since the events of Batman Begins took place, crime is still rampant in Gotham City. Batman (Christian Bale) is determined to finally take out organized crime for good, and his faithful ally Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) is there to help him. Also arriving on the scene is new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who makes a splash by putting hundreds of criminals in jail by linking them all to one person. Meanwhile, a new criminal called the Joker (Heath Ledger) is starting to make a name for himself, and is soon hired by the mob to kill Batman.

What's so fascinating about The Dark Knight is how Nolan directs it without the slightest hint that he knows he's supposed to be making a superhero movie. This is a bleak and moody story of what a criminal mastermind can do to a city, and it bears more relation to a Martin Scorcese crime pic than the Batman films directed by Tim Burton. This is quickly evident during the opening sequence, which features a precisely edited bank heist that devolves into a classic gunfight. This scene sets the mood so well that you almost expect James Cagney to show up at some point.

Of all the superheroes, it does make sense that this style would work so well with Batman. After all, he doesn't really have any powers. He's just an ordinary guy with superb physical skills and superior technological gadgets, so he's a natural fit for a movie set under more realistic circumstances. The most surprising thing is that Nolan was able to get away with it. There's not one minute of this film that hints of studio interference, particularly in a key sequence midway through the film where a brutally uncompromising plot development occurs that becomes a major turning point for each of the characters.

By setting the movie under these circumstances, Nolan is able to fully explore the complex ethical questions that he raises. Harvey Dent's ability to strike a blow against the criminal underworld becomes an inspiration to the people of Gotham City, and provides hope to Batman that he may no longer be needed. However, the Joker's machinations put a quick end to that, and Batman and his allies are forced to pull out all the stops in an effort to stop him. This includes the use of a high tech surveillance system and an interrogation scene that definitely fits the description of torture.

There have been attempts to link these events to supporting a conservative political message. However, a careful examination of the events shows that such discussion is clearly misguided. If anything, the eventual result of the interrogation scene proves the opposite point. Also, it is a complete disservice to the film to frame the events in such a simplistic manner. This is a movie where difficult decisions are made and easy answers are not found. Batman goes down paths that he would rather not take, and his ultimate goal is not to invade privacy or beat suspects, but it is to protect the image of Harvey Dent, who he feels is Gotham's true hero because he doesn't have to resort to the same tactics.

The only way Nolan could pose such difficult moral questions was to have a villain so terrifying that he forced our heroes to ask them. In Heath Ledger, he found an actor that was on top of his game (having just turned in a brilliant performance in Brokeback Mountain) and completely willing to throw everything he had into his portrayal of the Joker. What we come away with is an inspired take on the Joker as an absolutely demented sociopath devoted to nothing more than causing pain and chaos at every turn. It's a landmark portrayal that will not be forgotten for a long time.

The other key piece to the puzzle is Aaron Eckhart's portrayal of Harvey Dent. Eckhart is an actor that has been around the block, turning in a memorable performance as a cruel chauvinist in Neil LaBute's In the Company of Men. He's turned in solid work since then, but has usually been limited by poorly written roles in bigger budget films. This is where he finally gets to shine, delivering a nuanced portrayal of Gotham's righteous legal crusader. He completely sells the idea that the public would begin to revere him, which is very crucial for Nolan's story to work. As played by Eckhart with an ingratiating eagerness to do the right thing, it is impossible to not believe in Harvey Dent.

The Dark Knight is a long movie, but not one moment of it feels unnecessary. There are several superb action set pieces, including an extended chase sequence involving helicopters and a semi, and numerous fascinating plot developments that keep the movie alive throughout the 152 minute running time. This is an incredible achievement in film making, and should serve as a shining example to all directors and studio heads that dedication to providing original, uncompromising storytelling does not scare audiences away.