In the first review from the dozen top critics (the handful who really matter), Time’s Richard Corliss gives The Dark Knight a perfect 100 score on Metacritic.
It’s been one of the best summers in memory for flat-out blockbuster entertainment, and in the wow category, the Nolan film doesn’t disappoint. True to format, it has a crusading hero, a sneering villain in Heath Ledger’s Joker, spectacular chases ‚Äî including one with Batman on a stripped-down Batmobile that becomes a motorcycle with monster-truck wheels ‚Äî and lots of stuff blowing up. Even the tie-in action figures with Reese’s Pieces suggest this is a fast-food movie.
But Nolan has a more subversive agenda. He wants viewers to stick their hands down the rat hole of evil and see if they get bitten. With little humor to break the tension, The Dark Knight is beyond dark. It’s as black ‚Äî and teeming and toxic ‚Äî as the mind of the Joker. Batman Begins, the 2005 film that launched Nolan’s series, was a mere five-finger exercise. This is the full symphony.
I’ll climb through this very narrow window of opportunity to point out that The Dark Knight now teeters atop the ledge of a lofty tower, overlooking the seething city below him, from the highest peak of a 97 score on Metacritic. (With only 4 major reviews so far.) Enjoy the brief sensation of being the best reviewed film of the year… before we leap into the void. WALL¬∑E stands at 94. Iron Man at 79.¬† Where do you think The Dark Knight will ultimately alight?
I think Dark Knight could be that rare confluence of best rated and highest grossing of the year. Oscars beyond technical awards…? Ask me again in December. Or don’t because I’ll be wrong anyway.
Whoa, RRA, thanks for that. Roeper comparing The Dark Knight to Heat and The Departed is one of those quotes that doesn’t depend on hyperbole vocabulary to stick the landing and become engraved as a consensus opinion.
As a bookend to the youtube clip you’ve linked to, I saw this Ebert review in the sidebar of “related” videos.
Well, Roeper and Phillips of EBERT & ROEPER* gave THE DARK KNIGHT two super duper Thumbs Up, with Roeper saying its “worthy of a Best Picture nomination.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UELDTKPC-lo&eurl=http://www.awardsdailyforums.com/showthread.php?t=6350&page=22
Thanks to KennyRogers from the Forums for providing this link.
*=Ebert, you’re really missed on television.
At this point, I’d be kind of shocked if The Dark Knight gets anything less than 90% at Rotten Tomatoes. A significant contingent of critics seem to whine about it “being too long” (even though it’s only twelve minutes longer than Batman Begins–which received an 84%, and I don’t remember too many people saying that was too long, but I haven’t seen The Dark Knight so I can’t say how it wears its 152-minute running time).
Ryan, I would say that a healthy amount of caution may be the best approach with the film. It’s got those hurdles of being an action-packed comic book adaptation, but if all the early buzz about it boasting the scope of Heat or The Godfather: Part II holds true, this very well could be–and probably should be–the film to break the glass ceiling for these kinds of films, so long as these films are as artistically rich and deep as (I hope) The Dark Knight is.
skipping all the comments…
1 or 2 weeks til this comes out in SA!!
whoopee!
Then I can join the discussion…
… once its over!
(well, I can come back and read all the posts in the archives.)
(& make comments no one will read…)
so what is wrong with Russell Crowe?
I think Dark Knight will end up with 80%on RT.
“I don’t address specific comments most of the time”
What fun are you?
Ha, I do remember that one, and sometimes I am in sync with it! LOL!!!
Sam, I don’t have a problem with New Yorkers, but…I’m just saying that not all New Yorkers are Richard A. 🙂
Remember that DAILY SHOW slogan for New Jersey? “It’s In The Way.” LOL, just kidding. 🙂
I’m just putting out my opinion based on the thread. I don’t address specific comments most of the times.
“The trick is not minding.”
LOL RRA!!! I live minutes from Manhattan, but my disclaimer is that I’m still technically a New Jerseyite!!!
Sam, what you expect from a New Yorker like Richard A, or one with such a mindset?
Richard A. could be funny, Elessar, but the continuous way for him and others on these threads to declare their “superiority” to everyone else by always issuing negative reviews to everything. Their mentality is that a “negative”response to anything is far more “intellectually informed” than a positive response. Of course there could be nothing further from the truth.
Negative responses to everything shows 1.) artsitic limitations 2) narrowmindedness and 3.) insecurity,which is the result, of not wanting to be seen as a softie. Saying no to everything makes the person feel “important” and “scrutinizing.” Often these people issue bad reviews for films they actually like to perpetuate this sham.
And these types of charletans are not generally found among the professional critics, (who are far better writers and far more knowledgable on film than the most part than these novices) but on blog sites like this otherwise distinguished and enlightening place.
I mean WHO would you listen to: Richard A. or Manhola Dargis, Stanley Kauffmann or Andrew Sarris?
I get the biggest charge when I read reactions of a few who pompously and ludicrously go against films that get 95 to 98% positive reactions on various sites. I honesly think these individuals (as Michael said earlier) make their minds up BEFORE seeing the movie so thay can egotistically “stand apart.”
These reactions tell you more about the people themselves than they do about the film in question.
This entire issue has been nagging me for a while and I needed to get it off my chest.
Rather than polluting these sites trying to tell the world that you hate Da Vinci’s MONA LISA, Shakespeare’s HAMLET and Welles’ CITIZEN KANE, perhaps you people should be whipped in intervals every few days. Either that or look in the mirror everyday and tell yourself how great and wonderful you are.
Originally, I would have thought TDK would settle around 80-85. However, with each passing review, I think it could end up in WALL-E/LOTR territory (excellent company I would add): 90-95.
Ryan: from what I’ve heard, Leo and Mark Strong are more likely to be nominated for Body of Lies than Russell Crowe (the title was switched back to Body of Lies after House of Lies sank in market research). BTW, the trailer for BOL will be debuting with TDK. My most antcipated fall release paired with my most anticipated summer release. July 18 will be the best Christmas in July ever!
RichardA: must you always be a nattering na-bob of negatism? You seem to get a perverse kick out of dumping on a lot of my favorite films thus far.
I get the feeling that people are really gunning for this one to be good. the glass half empty side of me thinks it will end up around the 81 mark, but I would not be surprised to see a nice 92 for it by years end.
There are always those out there who go into a movie with a negative review already written just to differ themselves. Should they be allowed to be reviewers?
Having seen “The Dark Knight,” I expect it to settle around the low to mid 80s on Metacritic. My prediction: 83.
Most critics will praise it, but I bet some will be a little underwhelmed.
“simply because the movie is guilty of being two things that the Academy regularly discards:
(1) Action
(2) Comic Book
Agreed, that’s the most troubling factor, RRA. But until recently, the Academy disregarded Fantasy and Thrillers for Best Picture too.
I’m not saying we need to see a lot of superheroes soaring down the red carpet (because most are mediocre), but when 80% of studio profits come from guys who can fly and vanquish evil, then it becomes a little hypocritical if those movies don’t get invited to the party they paid for. Especially when in technical teems of craftmanship a few of the superlative summer blockbusters equal or surpass the latest angst-ridden lawyer or racial sermon in delivering pure lean entertainment value.
AMPAS wrings its hands over declining ratings for awards doled out to movies many people never heard of, and wonders how to fix that situation. When the rare film comes along that balances art and box-office, it’s hard to justify shunning that movie because of its pop origins. (Remind me again, what was Juno’s classy background? 😉 )
But it’s all about the relative strengths of films we’ll see with more traditional pedigrees over the next few months — movies now occupying de facto slots on many preliminary charts, many of which we know from experience will not live up to expectations. (Russel Crowe for Best Supporting Actor in House of Lies? I’m guessing: nope.)
I want all these movies to succeed, but will The Reader or Defiance rise above the 70s on metacritic? Let’s not forget, a few weeks ago we were all waiting to be carried away by the Indy IV Rapture.
I’m restraining myself about the script, Jon, since it’s hard to make a judgment based on trailer soundbites.
But David Goyer and the Nolan brothers gave us some great stuff in Batman Begins:
=================
Wayne holds the sword at Ra’s throat. Thinking.
Ra’s stares at Wayne with absolute conviction.
WAYNE
I will not take life.
I will not be a part of this.
RA’S AL GHUL
But you already are. You’ve given
Gotham a potent symbol of fear…
WAYNE
I frighten criminals.
RA’S AL GHUL
You frighten everybody. A giant
vengeful bat? What better apocalyptic
symbol to haunt Gothams’ dreams as
panic takes hold?
=================
Clean and simple on the surface, with plenty of depth to explore in a darker dive.
I did not really care for Batman Begins and I doubt I’ll the Joker will make a dent in what I thought to be a really boring and overwrought foundation built by Nolan. Even if Heath Ledger does a great of job of being a Joker, I still have to deal with the stiff Christian Bale and dull Aaron Eckhart (Aaron Eckhart is at his best when he plays arrogant assholes, like In The Company of Men and Thank You For Not Smoking; his other roles are limp. It will be in this one.).
“Keeping these thoughts in the comments for now, and will hold off on making a main-page fool of myself until after we actually see the movie.]”
Too late Ryan. 🙂
I think Ledger will be the strongest Oscar possiblity for DARK KNIGHT, and if simply because the movie is guilty of being two things that the Academy regularly discards:
(1) Action
(2) Comic Book
I mean, if Alan Rickman couldn’t get an Oscar nod for DIE HARD, and shit like BOURNE ULTIMATUM was relagated to technical crafts, but the glass ceiling kept it from more serious contention….
But who knows, maybe this winter will be a shitfest and DARK KNIGHT could pull through.
Yet I just have this feeling that Nolan will be like one of his heroes, Sir Ridley Scott…..admired, got several cool movies under his belt, a proud name in the British Film Industry….maybe some Best Director Oscar nods, but never THE WIN.
Lifetime Honorary Oscar? That’s the rate for ole Ridley.
That was amazing Ryan! I really hope.
Not that it matters, but the average score on RT is completely skewed, it should be somewhere around 9.
I’ve always felt that Nolan’s best shot would be for Adapted Screenplay although the majority of the heavy-hitting baity films reside there. I just would love to see Nolan acknowledged somehow.
While we’re all letting our imaginations direct the movie we’re hoping for, and wondering what level of greatness The Dark Knight might achieve, I’ll reveal my expectations. I’m getting the feeling that this could be the superhero movie that transcends the genre straitjacket and breaks out into categories beyond the usual token Sound and Visual Effects nominations.
5 or 6 solid nominations. Or more:
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger
Best Art Direction: Nathan Crowley (2nd most likely nomination, I think. Crowley nominated once before for The Prestige.)
Best Cinematography: Wally Phister (appears to surpass the work he was nominated for in Batman Begins… and those IMAX sequences!)
Best Editing: Lee Smith (juggling all these overlapping storylines coherently in a structure as complex as Atonement.)
Best Score: James Newton Howard, Hans Zimmer (if the dual composer thing is not ineligible)
Best Sound, Best Sound Mixing, Best Make-Up all seem extremely likely, and if the Academy will acknowledge that not all great effects originate inside a motherboard, then Best Visual Effects too.
Those are 9 strong possibilities. When a movie reaches that magic number, is it too crazy to expect some respect from the guy who pulled these elements all together? If The Dark Knight can resonate on deeper levels (as a grim reflection on terrorism and unbridled authoritarian power, maybe) then it’s not unreasonable to wonder about a Best Director nomination for Christopher Nolan (who already has 3 films in the top 100 at IMDb).
So ok, here’s me and my wildest dreams precariously perched on a gargoyle: 6-9 Oscar nominations for The Dark Knight.
Peter Jackson’s King Kong got 4 Oscar noms. Does anybody think The Dark Knight won’t be at least twice as strong?
[Based purely on extrapolating from Batman Begins, and trusting in what we’ve all been hearing. Keeping these thoughts in the comments for now, and will hold off on making a main-page fool of myself until after we actually see the movie.]
Kevin Smith called DARK KNIGHT the “GODFATHER PART II of Comic Book Movies.”
Take that as you will…..
Indeed, Ryan, indeed. That factor is huge!
I just looked at Rotten Tomatoes, a site which is inferior to MC, due to the fact that the voting contingent is watered-down, but it still tells you a lot when the grade for DARK KNIGHT right now is 100%, 12 to 0 favorable to unfavorable and a stunning 8.4 average critical rating.
The planets are indeed aligning, Ryan.
I don’t know how often The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both concur with simultaneous 100’s, but it does feel like the planets aligning, Sam.
That said, we shouldn’t completely disregard the Corliss-Time-Warner factor.
Well Ryan, the evidence you have presented does make a strong claim to a prohibitively favorable concensus. It is very hard to amass those kind of numbers at MC–RT is a lot easier.
With an art-house director like Nolan at the helm, and the celebrated cast, it is not difficult to see a great big critical hit unfolding here.
I can see a grade of around 90. Amazing.