The Dark Knight Rises

A-  ★ ★ ★½

Directed by Christopher Nolan
Story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer
Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan Based off the Characters by Bob Kane
Christen Bale: Bruce Wayne/Batman
Gary Oldman: Commissioner Gordon
Tom Hardy: Bane
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: John Blake
Anne Hathaway: Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Marion Cotillard: Miranda Tate
Morgan Freeman: Lucius Fox
Michael Caine: Alfred Matthew
Modine: Foley Juno Temple:
Jen Alon Aboutboul: Dr. Pavel
Ben Mendelsohn: Daggett
Burn Gorman: Stryver
Daniel Sunjata: Captain Jones
Liam Neeson: Ra’s Al Ghul
Cillian Murphy: Dr. Jonathan Crane/ Scarecrow

Lane J. Lubell

Save an amazing opening sequence, the film begins with a dinner party honoring Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), a villain from The Dark Knight (2008) and Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) honoring him despite the fact that he knows the truth. The event is held at Wayne Manor though their hostis nowhere to be seen. This is also where we meet Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) posing as a maid who, under Alfred’s (Michael Caine) direction, goes to lay down a bowl of soup upstairs when she sees Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) for the first time. We learn he has become a recluse who limps around everywhere he goes, with a cane. She then trips him and runs out having successfully stolen what she needs, only to then kidnap a high ranking official.

Bane (Tom Hardy) is on a whole other level with story lines that are immensely complex. Both Selina and Miranda (Marion Cotillard) serve as love interests for Bruce. Gordon has many flaws and those are helped greatly by officer-turned-detective, John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). This movie was on track to be as good as The Dark Knight, except for one thing: a bomb. Having a ticking time bomb ruined some of this film’s originality. Also, the fight scenes…there was so many fight scenes. I didn’t like that. I wanted to see more intimate conversations. Afterall, that is where most of the drama is. However, those things were made up for by Nolan’s fantastic direction, the Nolan brothers’ brilliant writing, and the acting ability of the whole ensemble. Christian Bale delivers a great performance but no better than he has in the previous Batman films. Michael Caine delivered what is probably the best male performance in the film, with Anne Hathaway receiving the honor for best female performance. Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman, Ben Mendelsohn, Burn Gorman, Daniel Sunjata, Liam Neeson, and Cillian Murphy were all fantastic in their respective roles (though I wish Daniel Sunjata was replaced with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). The other big standout (save Anne Hathaway) is Gary Oldman who, along with Tom Hardy, probably had the most lines in the movie. As a whole, this is a great movie but it is not as good as The Dark Knight (2008).

Oscar Hopes: Near-Definate Nominations: Best Art Direction**: Paki Smith (Set Decoration), Nathan Crowley (Production Design), Kevin Kavanaugh (Production Design) Best Cinematography: Wally Pfister Best Film Editing: Lee Smith Best Sound Editing**: Randle Akerson, Michael Babcock, Richard King (Supervisor), Michael W. Mitchell, Jeff Sawyer, Brian O. Watkins, and Hugo Weng Best Sound Mixing**: Michael Babcock, Mark Goodmote (NY), Greg Landaker, Ryan Murphy, Ed Novak, Thomas J. O’Conell, and Gary Rizzo Best Visual Effects**: Chris Corbould (Supervisor), Amanda Dyar, Sebastian Foxx, Bruce Y. Kuroyama (Pyrotechnician), Sebastian Lochman (designer), Toby Marrow (modeller), Alec Muradian, Andrew Smith (Supervisor)

Good Shot: Best Picture**: Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, and Emma Thomas Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Michael Caine Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Anne Hathaway Best Costume Design: Lindy Hemming

Dark Horse: Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Best Actor in a Supporting Role Tom Hardy Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Gary Oldman Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Marion Cotilliard Best Adapted Screenplay: Jonathan Nolan (Screenplay) & Christopher Nolan (Story/Screenplay) & David S. Goyer (Story) Best Director: Christopher Nolan Best Make-up: Luisa Abel (Make-up Head), Janice Alexander (Hair Head), and Maggie Elliot (Crowd Make-up Supervisor) Best Original Score: Hans Zimmer

Long Shots: Best Actor in a Leading Role: Christian Bale

Longer Shots: Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Ben Mendelssohn Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Matthew Modine Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Juno Temple

Extreme Long Shots: Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Morgan Freeman Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Cillian Murphy Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Liam Neeson **I don’t know for sure who would get the nomination.