Bale Goes full Circle and Bane Breaks Bones. The Dark Knight Rises Reviewed.

The end of an era. Nolan passes on the torch, leaving me with a tear in my eye and a hard on downstairs. 

What can you say about The Dark Knight Rises that hasn't already been said? I want to write something insightful, eloquent and probing because this film has capped off a series that I, like most of you, have truly come to love. However, all I can think to say is that it was awe-inspiring and I am itching to watch it again like a heroin addict for his next fix.

Of course it's not totally infallible, nothing is. There are plot holes, character flaws and things that generally make no sense (which if you would like to explore & debate see here: http://sequart.org/magazine/13903/why-the-dark-knight-rises-fails/) but no final instalment comes without that inkling of anticlimax- see Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Legally Blonde etc- but the fact of the matter is Nolan's Batman has been a game changer. DC's original vigilante has single handedly elevated the genre it unwillingly inhabits to new heights; finding the perfect balance between mainstream appeal and intelligent film making.When a man who dresses like a 6 foot bat is kicking it with the The Godfather on IMDB and Metacritic then you know, as a generation, you have witnessed something special.

To avoid becoming sidetracked and falling into an unintelligible fanboy ramble I have limited my review to two main topics/trains of thought. 

1. What do the new additions to the Batman family bring to TDKR?

&

2. What does the future hold for this stupidly good film series?

Here goes...

1. The Newbies

Tom Hardy as the indomitable Bane

In terms of physicality villains do not come much bigger than this. His delts look like two skin covered mountains sitting atop his shoulders and he has a stare so menacing it alone would knock me the funk out. Hardy's character even manages to make good of a jacket that looks like it was ripped off the back of a Big Issue salesman! In short, the man is an absolute weapon (and accidental style icon). However, physicality alone does not make a good villain -as demonstrated so handsomely by Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr Freeze. Fortunately, Hardy's character does not resemble an overpriced frozen drink; he has a bit about him does this hunk of meat, and it quickly becomes apparent that he prefers a nice long game of chess over a quick-fire bout of checkers. Make of that what you will. 

Brains Over Brawn

The most important aspect to Bane's character is his ability to inspire fear without raising a single one of those ice-cream-tub sized fists. It's his probing eyes and long drawn out voice that instigate most of the squeaky bum moments, not his twitching muscles. The "mind over (substantial) matter" approach that this character thrives off is established from the get-go; with Bane offering himself over to the CIA on a mussel clad platter. Of course, the fact he nullifies his most obvious threat is nothing more than a simple serving of misdirection. As chaos ensues Bane barely has to lift a finger. His plan unfolds before him like well rehearsed play and the CIA agents meet a grizzly end without the big man breaking sweat. What Nolan & Co show us during this early sequence is that Bane's indomitable physique is merely a disguise for even scarier cunning. Only the Batman (as Gary Oldman calls him) warrants a fisticuffs and even then he puts poor old Bruce Wayne over his knee like a temperamental child. Bane's pre-emptive strikes show that he prefers to control his enemies rather than destroy them, treating life as game wherein the only reward he seeks is the demise of the weak. If the Joker was anarchy Bane is the embodiment of oppression. The sequence where Scarecrow hosts the sadistic "court room" proceedings provides one of the few moments that perfectly captures the essence of Bane's character. As the vociferous cries for either "Death" or "Exile" ring around the chamber Bane stares at spectacle with empty eyes, seemingly disengaged by the pantomime nature of it all. Yet, as the camera pans slowly across his face it appears that he is emanating a deep rooted sense of satisfaction because someone, somewhere, is meeting their maker.

I think it's safe to say that Hardy makes Bane well and truly his own. His virtuoso performance gives the character a chilling sense of invincibility; he isn't just your classic "brains and brawn", he is the quintessential predator. Although the characters motives for keeping Gotham hostage are relatively unclear (seeing as he is going to blow it up anyhow) he is still a thoroughly engaging character, albeit a confusing one. After seeing Hardy portray bald lunatics such as Charles Bronson and Bane I genuinely think the guy has an inner maniac. I wouldn't be surprised if the scene where he punches through a concrete pillar was real. I thoroughly look forward to seeing the Brit in the re-imagining of Mad Max.

Foxy Lady. Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle.

I was a tad sceptical about Anne Hathaway at first. Previous to TDKR I never imagined her to be the femme fatal sort. My old dear informed me she was "really quite good" in The Devil Wears Prada but my most prominent memories of her were still from Disney's The Princess Diaries. Don't judge me. However, any reservations I had about her were quickly dispelled as she sauntered sexily around the screen as the captivating Selina Kyle.

One of the most welcome aspects about Hathaway's character is that she provides a much-needed respite from the intensity of the others; she breezes through her first few scenes, giving the impression of someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. The film does not delve into her past, there is no strange cat rituals to explain her abnormal reflexes (see Halle Berry); we are fed just about the perfect amount on Mrs. Kyle to enjoy her presence without questioning her motives too scrupulously. She's like a smokescreen, one minute she's Waltzing with Batman, the next she is speeding off in his favourite Lamborghini. And who is her female companion? The levels of intimacy they share during the opening sequences definitely hint at an ongoing romance but she disappears all too soon as the story progresses. Promiscuous indeed. I was waiting on bated breath for a Black Swan moment.  Sadly, it never came. Ahwell.

What I found most impressive about Hathaway's performance was her ability to change her demeanour without compromising her cool streak. Her character experiences a wide spectrum of emotions throughout the film but she rarely betrays the "sole survivor" ethos the character embodies. She gazumps us all when she leads the caped crusader into Bane's dungeon but in doing so she cements her status as someone not to be reckoned with. The look on her face as she leaves Batman to face certain peril tells of remorse but you get the impression she'd do it again if she had to. She's ruthless yet vulnerable and that's what I like about her. And the suit. And when she rides motorcycles. Phewf. Selina's crowning moment has to be during the bar scene- a display of slick shooting, crocodile tears and pure feminine cunning that ensure she is a worthy addition to the Bat-family.   

                                        Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Blue Nose John Blake

Like Hathaway, Joseph Gordan-Levitt has started to redefine his acting profile. Even after his superb turn as Arthur in Nolan's other lovechild, Inception, many of us would still have referred to Gordan-Levitt as "that guy out of 500 Days of Summer". However, after his convincing and gritty performance as Gotham City good-cop "Blake" it's safe to say he is steering away from his softer side.

Blake is similar to Selina in that we are left to fill in a lot of the blanks concerning his past. The only substantial information we are given on him concerns the early demise of his parents- which subsequently ties him to a local orphanage. This is not a character who gives an awful lot away; he is extremely focused and this intenseness limits our affections towards him. A lighter more charismatic side to John Blake wouldn't have gone amiss but I suppose opportunities were limited by the dooms-day/oppressed city plot. Maybe, just maybe, little details regarding this hard-boiled blue nose were left a little blurry for future adaptations...

Despite his icey persona our John is still an extremely gripping character. This is no mean feat considering he is missing for large parts of the film, but thanks to the sheer screen presence of JGL there isn't a minute wasted when we are with the policeman come detective. One of the Blake's more obvious and admirable qualities is his unrelenting willingness to throw himself into the firing line. Early on in the film he earns a reputation as an impulsive "hot head" (following an alarming keenness to jump down a manhole that has just erupted in flame) which goes some way to garnishing our affections; everyone loves a rebel. Brucey‐boy is evidently impressed by his characteristics and soon earmarks him as a vital component in the continuation of the Batman legacy. Much to Blake's dismay Wayne takes him out of the front line amidst the final battle and gives him the responsibility of evacuating the cities most vulnerable and needy. The ensuing bridge sequence solidifies Blake's image as someone who is willing to "put the people before himself", a virtue that leads him to be entrusted with the secret location of the revamped Batcave. Blake is eventually revealed as "Robin" but is this simply a tongue in cheek reference or a sign of things to come...?

Will John Blake be the Next Batman?

Cracking little article on this particular theory can be found here: http://entertainment.time.com/2012/07/25/the-next-batman-is-john-blake-the-new-bruce-wayne/

The topic of Blake and the Batcave leads us nicely to our next topic...

2. How Will The Legacy Continue?

Nolan

Well that is that for Chris Nolan and rightly so. He has dedicated 10 years of his film making career to the caped crusader and after its colossal success he is now arguably the most powerful director in the world. He is currently producing the eagerly anticipated Man of Steel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jKWJZsjm5U) but after that it is a guessing game to what the Brit will do next. Will he go back to small budget films with mega tight story lines, e.g Memento, Insomnia, or will he be lured by something of similar size and spectacle to Batman. I personally would love to see him front a Justice League film, but that may be wishful thinking as the project has struggled to get off the ground before...

Nolan had a final bit of advice for the franchises next director before he walked off into the Gotham sunset, which went a little something like this: "The only advice I would have is that ... when I first met with Paul Levitz of DC Comics prior to 'Batman Begins,' he explained to me clearly that Batman, of all superheroes, has thrived on reinterpretation and almost is strengthened by it. And I'm talking about over the years in the comic books but also in the movie. So when the time is right, whenever someone does whatever the next iteration of the character is, they simply need to be true to whatever it is they want to see, to what they believe in, not worry too much about what everyone else is telling them it should be." 

Simple enough eh?

Where does the story go from here?

So will Gordon-Levitt be the next Batman? Me-thinks not. However, the next instalment could continue where Nolan left off, with John Blake or "Robin" being left to source someone who is worthy of becoming Gotham's Dark Knight; thus bringing the story back to a Batman & Robin set-up... Wishful thinking indeed. I think starting from a clean slate is probably more realistic but a break away from the Dark Knight trilogy would be something a bit different. What we do know is that Sony have just successfully relaunched Spider Man 5 years after Sam Raimi's final shindig, so will it be that long before we see those pointy ears and big old wingspan gracing the silver screens again? Probably not. Lets have a look at some potential candidates for the lead role...

Batman

1. Michael Fassbender

He is young enough, has a diverse acting range and has dabbled in the super hero genre before (Marvel's X-Men:First Class series). He has also shown (in films such as the critically acclaimed Shame) that he can convey someone who is charismatic yet dark and broody. With the Fass just starting to get into the swing of things I think he has got to be a big contender.

2. Ryan Gosling

Too pretty you say? The same guy out of the Notebook? Pah! Well those of you that have seen him reduce someone's skull to a pile of mash potato in Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive will agree the guy has a darker side. Gosling definitely has the swagger and charm to pull of Bruce Wayne's playboy image should the series be totally rebooted. An outsider but I think still a very decent candidate.

3. Joel Edgerton

The man is an absolute beefcake, as displayed in UFC film Warrior where he somehow managed to dispose of Hardy. Wasn't given enough screen-time in the re-boot of John Carpenter's The Thing but is set to star in Baz Luhrmann's vision of The Great Gatsby. Has the physique and charm to pull of a more traditional Bruce Wayne but is perhaps approaching the peak of his acting career to soon.

4. Jon Hamm

After watching an episode of the hyped up Mad Men on AMC I thought to myself that Hamm is very much in the vein of a 1940/50's Batman- the time period our hero originated from. Pulls off a sharp suit like nobody's business and could be part of a Batman series that goes back to it's roots, rife with fedora hats and tommy guns. Highly unlikely but mindless speculation is half the fun.

5. Wild Card: Robert Pattinson

Scoff all you may but the one thing Pattinson has on his side is time. If, like Spiderman, Batman is rebooted 5 years down the line then I think Pattinson will be a prime candidate to step in. He has started to move away from the much-maligned vampire flicks and towards more challenging material like David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis. Admittedly I haven't seen it yet but the story line doesn't sound too dissimilar...

Villains

1. Leonardo Di Caprio as The Riddler

Was reported to be Warner Brothers first choice of villain for The Dark Knight Rises way back post Batman Begins but evidently it never materialised. Leo is one of the best actors of our generation and has shown that he can play characters mentally tortured by a mysterious past on numerous occasions. Could be ace as a re-imagining of The Riddler although it would be extremely difficult to get Jim Carrey's ridiculously camp version out of my head.

2. Ben Kingsley as Hugo Strange

For me this combination is a match made in heaven. Ben Kingsley could bring a bit of Don Logan (from Jonathan Glazer's Sexy Beast) to the role and combine it with the cool, calm and unnerving approach he displays in Shutter Island as Dr. Cawley. Kingsley is a very busy man, according to IMDB anyhow, but Im sure a Batman reboot would be too appealing to turn down. He is already set to star in Iron Man 3 so maybe that will whet his appetite for the comic book genre. Doesn't exactly bring a physical threat to the role but that could be solved with the introduction of a handy sidekick.

3. Andrew Scott as The Penguin

Anyone who has seen Scott play Jim Moriarty in the BBC's Sherlock adaptation will know of his ability to play a nasty little b*stard. Has an extremely unsettling array of vague expressions and can flip on a sixpence. Definitely more bark than bite but his physique and demeanour could make for a perfect "Gentleman of Crime". Wouldn't carry the biggest star appeal but the Batman series thrives on producing wild cards. I could have just said Phillip Seymour Hoffman like everyone else but I thought I'd go out on a limb.

4. Jean Dujardin as Black Mask

The Black Mask comes from a similar background to Batman. His parents mingled in the same circles as the Wayne's but unlike Bruce's parents they despised anyone whose social status hovered around the ordinary. Dujardin could be perfect for the role; he is likeable, charismatic and has an aura which suggests wealth and power. His profile is rapidly increasing after his turn in The Artist and he has just been signed on to Scorsese's latest flick The Wolf of Wall Street. 

- Of course these were just the first guys to pop into my head, I would love to hear about any alternative versions that you guys may have conjured. 

To summarise (extremely briefly), TDKR isn't as intriguing as Batman Begins nor as gripping as The Dark Knight but Nolan finds a masterful balance in his final instalment, making for the perfect sign off to the greatest Super Hero trilogy of our era. 

Now if Nolan and Bale could team up for a Bond movie then that would be swell...

This blog has really taken it out of me, so adios amigos.

Twitter- @CPHamill