'The Dark Knight' ends Heath Ledger's career on high note

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Rated PG-13

(Three and one half stars)

By Bruce Bulloch

Ever since Tim Burton directed "Batman" in 1989, this film franchise has flirted with a notion of evil that transcends car crashes and colored tights. The many Batman movies that followed tugged against the gravitational pull of their comic-book roots - some times successfully and some times not (remember "Batman & Robin?") - searching for a sensibility that resonates with the dark corners of the subconscious as well as the adrenal glands.

With "The Dark Knight," the Batman franchise has finally found its voice in Heath Ledger's Joker.

Ledger splashes makeup across his face, creating a mask that, like Tammy Faye Baker before him, reads more as a road map of the psyche beneath than as a fashion statement. His Joker is less cartoon and more psychopath, and while Ledger gets his share of laughs he also makes you squirm. It's not a bad trick for a guy in face paint and the film seems to find inspiration in his performance, shedding a little of its over-the-top camp in favor of cold-blooded ruthlessness that would be at home in "The Bourne Identity."

The film opens with a bank heist that is surprisingly unpredictable and satisfying in its execution. In fact, the only reminders that this is a superhero flick are the clown-mask disguises and the appalling lack of team spirit among the robbers. The robbery sucks you into the action almost against your will. "The Dark Knight" may not be remembered for having the most streamlined plot but it has a pulse - one that is quickly hijacked by the Joker. By the time Batman (Christian Bale) makes his appearance he has to fight his way to the center of the movie. This little bit of cinematic larceny wakes up the film. Blockbusters tend to drain the life out of talented actors but the competition for center stage keeps Bale on his toes.

The script reads like a subway map with strands heading off in every direction. The local underworld has hired the Joker to neutralize Batman. Meanwhile there's a money launderer from Hong Kong to be dealt with and Batman's love interest, Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is warming up to the new district attorney, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), who just may be the ally that Batman has been looking for in his fight against Gotham City's chronic crime wave. Spending too much time trying to make sense of the plot can only result in a headache. On the other hand, the script does boast some entertaining snippets of dialog and its share of smart action scenes.

Director Christopher Nolan grabs these bits of narrative and pumps them up with a visceral energy that results in a surprisingly compelling story. His film is a masterwork of creating substance out of atmosphere and a few good one-liners.

But the real magic of "The Dark Knight" is found in the cast. This is an action film that boasts an exceptionally deep bench of talent. Maggie Gyllenhaal brings a refreshing intelligence to the otherwise decorative role of Rachel while the unflappable Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine provide a satisfying counterpoint to the frenetic action that swirls around them. Gary Oldman does a wonderfully understated turn as the weary police lieutenant James Gordon.

But the real fun of this film is watching Heath Ledger take the Joker down a dark and twisted path. His many fans that were shocked by his death harbor the hope that he ended his career on a high note. One of the great pleasures of "The Dark Knight" is realization that he had.

"The Dark Knight is showing at Majestic Bay Theatres, 2044 N.W. Market Street and across the city.

Bruce Bulloch may be reached at bnteditor@robinsonnews.com