The Dark Knight (2008)

"I'm not crazy. I'm not." (The Joker)
"I'm like a dog chasing a car.  I wouldn't know what to do if I caught it." (The Joker)

After going to see part III (-see post), I thought I should go back and see what it was that gave me such high expectations for The Dark Knight Rises.  And really here is full reason: Heather Ledger is incredible.  Yeah...the movie is tighter flows well, maintains pace, and keeps upping the ante so as to keep it exciting, but all of that is meaningless when The Joker is on the screen.

I want to approach understanding The Joker ( and Heath Ledger's performance) from a holistic perspective.

-The voice:  If you've ever seen A Knight's Tale, you might understand how I really had no respect for Heath   Ledger's vocal skills.  However, I found his earthy/reedy from the top of his chest annunciations to be impeccable.  Somehow, whereas the Jokers of yore; Nicholson, and the 1960's one, found their place in the Joker's high cackles, that this Joker growls and embodies filth is refreshing.

-The Swagger:  It's difficult to physically become crazy.  It's like saying "Walk crazy.", but in reality those that are crazy think they are sane and thus walk just like you and me.  So a great performance is all in the details and not in the over-the-top decisions.  It's funny how they come off on screen the opposite of what you would expect. Crazy right?  Heather Ledger does all the little things right.  His duck footed gate.  They way his body never hesitates in a decision.  (Otherwise he might have a plan....)

-The hair and make-up:  Take what was a clean white faced villain from the comics and grit him up.  That's what happened here.  It's actually rather beautiful.  The hair is just the right shade of off-yellow green.  His purple suit has the right age and layers.  His make-up sweats and cracks.  SO many knives!

-The script:  While most comic book based movies aren't known for great dialogue, who ever wrote the lines for The Joker should have gotten 2X to 3X pay.

Ratings:

Method Actors:  See it

Catwoman:  Skip it (super villain in-fights just aren't that cool.)

ODB:  I think you rapped kinda like The Joker

Younger than 12?: Skip it  (There will be other times for delve into madness and the dark.)

In a full theater size theater alone?:  (This is how I saw it the first time.)  See it

On a scale of 2015 (as imagined in 1985) to 2015 (as imagined in 2012),  I give The Dark Knight 3.88 out of 5 stars.