Assessing the themes of The Dark Knight

Interesting post over on slashfilm. One viewers brain-dump on the themes presented in The Dark Knight, which I enjoyed.

Spoilers abound in the post, so if you're one of the remaining people who hasn't seen this yes, you might want to go see the movie before you read further. Or not. Just trying to meet you half way.

Either way, it's an interesting read.

The Dark Knight

Just got back from seeing this.

If you haven't already, chew through the restraints, skip the meds and head straight for the nearest theater.

Heath Ledger nailed the role. Whatever remaining camp was in characterizations of the Joker has been taken out back, carved up into chunks and fed to hungry dogs.

The writers deserve lots of praise, as they seem to have made the Joker akin to the court jester of other older stories; the one guy who has an insight into human nature and can talk about it. The idea of the Joker as an "agent of chaos" is genius.

Oh, and it's a Joker movie. Batman is almost a supporting role.

Dear Clarice...

If you'll pardon this interruption in the usual content here for a moment, and just a moment I assure you, there's a little tidbit I'd like to share with you.

Of late, I came across the movie Hannibal again. Third in the series of books by Thomas Harris featuring Dr. Hannibal Lecter, in some ways it's the best of the bunch.

The movie Hannibal contains a lovely letter from Dr. Lecter to Clarice Starling, after Dr. Lecter heard news of Starling's involvement in a bloody shooting:

Dear Clarice,

I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective.

In our discussions down in the dungeon it was apparent to me that your father, the dead night watchman, figures largely in your value system. I think your success in putting an end to Jame Gumb's career as a couturier pleased you most because you could imagine your father being pleased.

But now, alas, you're in bad odour with the FBI. Do you imagine your daddy being shamed by your disgrace? Do you see him in his plain pine box crushed by your failure; a sorry, petty end of a promising career? What is worst about this humiliation Clarice? Is it how your failure will reflect on your mommy and daddy? Is your worst fear that people will now and forever believe they were indeed just good old trailer camp tornado bait white trash and that perhaps you are too?

By the way I couldn't help noticing on the FBI's rather dull public website that I have been hoisted from the Bureau's archives of the common criminal and elevated to the more prestigious 10 Most Wanted list. Is this coincidence, or are you back on the case?

If so, goody goody, cause I need to come out of retirement and return to public life.

I imagine you sitting in a dark basement room bent over papers and computer screens. Is that accurate? Please tell me truly, Special Agent Starling.

Regards, your old pal Hannibal Lecter, M.D.

P.S. Clearly this new assignment is not your choice rather I suppose it is a part of the bargain but you accepted it Clarice. Your job is to craft my doom. So I am not sure how well I should wish you but I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun.

Tata, H.

Full of whimsy and a keen insight into the character of Starling, it's one of my favorite movie lines.

At once both contemptuous and challenging, it's also a note of concern in it's opening lines.

One finds out later in the book Hannibal that Lecter's perspective comes from the death of his sister, and the soldiers who ate her to prevent their starvation.

Of course, this point was also covered in a later film, but that was frankly a disaster not worthy of the earlier efforts.

Still, I find it an interesting thought. Those who've suffered horrible events are very different from others in their ability to endure events. What would drive others over the edge into madness they can put in perspective, so to speak.

Lecter's own "disgrace and public shaming" was the result of his capture, exposure as a serial killer and cannibal, and subsequent incarceration in a prison for the criminally insane. This seemed only an inconvenience, compared to earlier events.

Not that Dr. Lecter represents a paragon of sanity, of course. As Trevor Goodchild noted, that which does not kill us makes us stranger.

Just as Dr. Lecter gained the ability to endure lesser torments than that which broke his sanity, his sanity was nonetheless broken.

So this letter from Dr. Lecter to Clarice Starling represents both an individual surmounting events and that same individual becoming permanently divorced from mainstream humanity.

An amusing thought, to be sure.

Great Movies: Death Wish

For those that haven't seen it, the 1974 film Death Wish is worth your time.

And no, not just for the action scenes.

The story is one that's become common place in action movies. Criminals kill the wife and rape the daughter of the protagonist ( Paul Kersey in this case ). He files police reports, helps his son in law find medical treatment for his daughter, but then takes up arms and hunts down criminals himself, vigilante style.

Unlike later movies in the Death Wish series, the first goes beyond mere action to ask some interesting questions, like this line:

Paul Kersey: "What do you call someone who when faced with a condition of fear does nothing about it?"

Jack Toby: "Civilized?"

Looking beyond the action there's some interesting questions; questions which seem as relevant today as they did so long ago.

Hannibal Lecter on NPR

As part of NPR's series of character studies they've put Hannibal Lecter under the microscope.

I'll admit an affinity for the character; more for the written version in the Thomas Harris series of books than the films, although the films can be quite good.

Speaking of the films, if you need something to fill out your netflix list check out Manhunter. Based off the book Red Dragon, this 1986 film was directed by Michael Mann who also directed the Miami Vice series. It has a unique feel from the other Lecter movies produced; a very 80's feel combined with the cold savagery of the material.

Interestingly, William Petersen, who'd go on to star in CSI states in the extra DVD footage on Manhunter that the role of Will Graham stayed with him even after the production was long over. One can see echos of that character in his early work on CSI.

All in all, it's both good reading and good watching. I know I'm an avid fan.

The Thing, in legos

A version of John Carpenter's movie The Thing, in legos:

Mr. Brooks

Recently released on DVD, I've come to like Mr. Brooks quite a lot.

The rotten tomatoes review doesn't really do this film justice. I suspect that's because the plot doesn't fit on the back of a cocktail napkin.

The main characters are the title character, Mr. Brooks (Kevin Costner), his murderous alter ego Marshal (William Hurt), the police woman who's trying to solve a series of murders (Demi Moore) and the slacktastic Mr. Smith (Dane Cook) who witnesses Mr. Smith's handiwork and becomes a sort of avid fan.

The story centers in large part on Mr. Brooks. In almost a character study, we're shown him interacting with Marshall, attending AA meetings to stop himself from killing, dealing with a daughter ( with her own secrets ), and taking Mr. Smith out on hunting trips ( as Mr. Smith has photos from the last time Mr. Brooks "slipped" ).



What really attracts me to this movie is the interplay between Costner and Hurt. As Marshall, he's the inner voice urging Mr. Brooks on to mayhem, but also a consoling force and even at times a moral conscience.

Some have likened Marshall to the parts of ourselves we don't much care for; those things we're ashamed of about ourselves. That's a shallow view, and misses something perhaps unique to those of us who deal with addictive natures.

Marshall, as the embodiment of a darker nature, isn't completely destructive. Yes, he does drive Brooks to commit heinous crimes, but he also assists Brooks in getting away with those crimes. He serves in scenes as Brooks's memory, providing details which escape him. When things go very wrong with Brooks's daughter Marshall is there both to console and caution him.

Not entirely altruistic, of course. The most persistent virus does not kill it's host, so keeping Mr. Brooks out of trouble serves Marshall's purposes. He does enjoy life, if he does say so himself. Helping Mr. Brooks serves that end.

That duality; that darker aspect of one's inner nature which is both destructive and helpful rings true.

An obsessive compulsive type is very annoying... unless he's the one spending nights and weekends pouring through the tax codes trying to find more deductions for your income tax return.

The glib social peacock, who can change her interests and personality to match her audience is at least shallow, if not an outright lier lacking in substance, but I'll bet she's great at marketing and/or sales.

We deny our inner nature, both the good parts and the bad, at our own peril.

For most, if not all of us our Marshall isn't going away. To pretend otherwise is to forget our Marshall is there, and then when Marshall whispers an idea in our ear we can forget where that thought comes from. Might even seem like a really good idea, if we're not careful.

That said, our Marshall isn't entirely harmful. Kept in check, it can be a source of strength. If only to help people with their own Marshall.

Might as well make some sort of peace with him. He isn't going anywhere.

PS: For those of a firearms enthusiast bent, watch the gunfight between the police woman (Demi Moore) and the serial killer Meeks (Matt Schulze). Whomever did the fight choreography threw in some nice details. Note how Moore uses a proper shooting stance, cover, and some tactical consideration in taking out the overhead lights. Meeks and his silent girlfriend blaze away one handed, illustrating perfectly the adage that there's always more air than meat to hit. Nicely done.