comments

1. Brandon Hobson on July 19th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

   Rick,
   Did Heath Ledger’s performance steal the show?

2. Rick Neece on July 19th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

   I know that’s what they’re saying. I heard Oscar nomination. He did a fine job. I can’t help but wonder if his death makes me want to root for him more. There’s a lot of talk about “the darkness” of his Joker. Honestly, I thought Jack Nicholas’ Joker was just as dark albeit “campier.” Heath just worked harder for it. Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s Capote was a fine performance, but he was the Joker of Capote. I think Ledger should have won for Brokeback. It seems “real portrayals” of “ordinary” people ought to take precedence over portrayals of characters at the “extreme.” Or for portraying someone we can look at and say, “Yeah, Hoffman was just like capote. He “owned” that role.” Like I said, I’m still mulling it over.

3. Brandon Hobson on July 19th, 2008 at 11:20 pm

   I think I like portrayals of real, ordinary people and families much more than any superhero. I probably won’t go see this film even though I like Heath Ledger a lot–I agree, he did a damn good job in Brokeback. And Phillip S. Hoffman is unbelievably great in just about everything he’s in. That guy is unreal.

4. Glass on July 20th, 2008 at 7:52 am

   Saw it yesterday.

   Haunting is a good word for the feeling you get from seeing this flick. It’s pretty dang super-dark.

   I thought Iron Man was more enjoyable, but this Dark Knight was more powerful.

5. vin. on July 20th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

   Simply amazing and quite possibly the best comic book inspired movie ever. I saw it on an IMAX screen which only made it better….

   http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/16-07/ff_darknight

   vin.

6. Rick Neece on July 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

   Tracy once said our keyboards should come with a breathalyzer to shut them down when we’re tui. Of course above I meant Jack Nicholson.

7. Rick Neece on July 20th, 2008 at 5:12 pm

   I want to take another stab at what I was stabbing at yesterday. Heath’s performance as the Joker v. his performance as Ennis in Brokeback. You know I don’t know much, if anything, about the craft of acting. But it appears to me, it’s one thing to be in the “drag” of an extreme and crazy character and effect certain mannerisms (as with Ledger’s thin voice and continual lip licking, not that such did not lend to the overall image) and make us believe this Joker was without one iota of moral qualm.

   It seems another to put on the “drag” one might wear on the range, or, if one were in certain climes, around the house. Or as a celebrity going to a club–a cowboy hat, jeans and if one were of the right sensibility and comfortable with their fashion sense, a Carhart. Then deliver a performance of such quiet , underestated power. Equally believeable and quite unlike the celebrity might have been in real life. (Given what the media bring us on a daily basis, I’m coming to a conclusion that celebrities in daily life may be, more often, more Joker than Ennis.)

   Maybe what I’m getting at is this, movie stars perform their roles. This is what I saw Ledger doing with his Joker. Actors inhabit their roles, this is what I saw Ledger doing with the role of Ennis.

   Ultimately, except for Ledger’s death, I doubt I’d be scrutinizing as I have. Would we be talking Oscar for him in this role if we were still alive?

   What might he think of all this, having been passed over as winner for Brokeback? Would he want to go down in the annals as Winner! Posthumosly! for his performance as the Joker?

8. jandek on July 20th, 2008 at 10:42 pm

   I’ll see it when it comes out on dvd. I haven’t gone to the theatre since ’79.

9. patrick on July 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm

   kudos to the makers Dark Knight for their record breaking opening weekend… it’s no wonder there’s talk of another one coming out ASAP

10. Aaron Winslow on July 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    I thought it was 25% too long. They should have saved that whole ‘Two-Face’ story for another one. Also, I thought it was hilarious when they had the part about how it’s ok to tap everyone’s phone just once if you’re trying to catch a very bad person. Also, I enjoyed the vilification of the Chinese (who was represented by a guy who is really good at math). I love a right-wing superhero movie as much as the next dude, but I like my social discourse and racial stereotypes to be a little softer.

11. Deron Bauman on July 22nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Oscar!

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