A serious contender for the title of greatest superhero film ever made, Nolan’s Bat-sequel develops his Bruce Wayne, and the network of key relationships around him, from father-figure Alfred (played with enormous warmth by Michael Caine) to would-be lover Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over from Katie Holmes).
A serious contender for the title of greatest superhero film ever made, Nolan’s Bat-sequel develops his Bruce Wayne, and the network of key relationships around him, from father-figure Alfred (played with enormous warmth by Michael Caine) to would-be lover Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over from Katie Holmes). But really this film rests on the shoulders of Heath Ledger’s Joker, the anarchic reflection of Bruce Wayne’s crime fighter. Ledger electrifies the film, with a terrifying ability to go from oddball charm to lethal violence in under six seconds. He’s compelling, clever and deeply off-kilter. Add in those extraordinary action scenes – that truck flip! – and Wally Pfister’s stunning cinematography (in one of his seven Nolan collaborations) and you’re on to a billion-dollar winner.