The Dark KnightImportant scenes

Directed by Christopher Nolan

The Batman Trilogy… setting it up

• “People need dramatic examples to shake

them out of apathy and I can’t do that as

Bruce Wayne. As a man, I’m flesh and blood.

I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as

a symbol- as a symbol I can be incorruptible,

I can be everlasting.”- Batman Begins

Nolan says…• “That was a very important scene for me, not just because I knew it would

play out over three films as a theme, but I had to understand why the

imminently sensible Alfred Pennyworth would sit there and listen to his

employer explain that he’s going to dress up as a bat and fight crime as

vigilante. That’s a huge leap to make. We had to build that correctly, and

we couldn’t cheat. So in each film, we talk about the symbol of the

character being the key thing. It’s not about what he can achieve

beating up criminals one by one. We address this again at the

beginning of The Dark Knight, where you have these copycat

Batmen popping up. The idea is to ask: Is that the meaning of

symbolism? To raise an army of these guys? No. Bruce sees himself as a

catalyst for change in Gotham, and to me, in that conversation with Alfred,

it’s very clear to me that Bruce inly ever thinks of this as, a five-year plan,

a short-term thing.”

Putting it to the test…

• The Joker- a psychotic agent of chaos

– Wants to prove a point.

• Harvey Dent

• Batman

• People of Gotham

• Does he accomplish his goal in the end?

• “You truly are incorruptible, aren’t you?”

Introducing the Joker…

• “We are introduced to the Joker- Heath

Ledger’s performance is completely

convincing making him a worthy

adversary for Gotham’s great hero.”

The character of the Joker in Nolan’s

film is a diversion from previous takes

on the character.

• The film begins with the disguised Joker and various

masked henchmen robbing a mob-owned bank, and

systematically double crossing one another- killing each

other to obtain a larger slice of the money. Eventually

the only survivor is the Joker, who reveals himself to the

bank manager before taking the money and driving away

in a school bus (after shoving and detonating a smoke

grenade into the bank manager’s mouth- you all

expected him to explode admit it!) joining a line of similar

school buses just as the cops arrive.

Camera Work… Introductory scene

• ES- Gotham City

• Zoom (slight low angle)

• Two men, both wearing clown masks

• Cut

• Third man standing on the street

• Zoom- mask

• Framing

• Cut

• Original two men preparing to abseil.

• Aerial shot

• Cut

• LA- MLS

• Once again in the car the third man with the bag (who we

later know to be the Joker) is left of the frame. He is sitting in

the back of the car but it’s him who is holding the gun now.

• He’s lurking in the back, so you are fooled into thinking he’s

unimportant for now, effectively maintaining his disguise of

just another clown crony.

• Yet though he doesn’t speak, the camera focuses on him. The

other two in the car are only focused on, the driver to the

forefront, when they begin speaking about the Joker.

• Again there is a high angle looking down on the

other two clown cronies as they try to pry open

an entrance while they talk about the Joker.

• There is a low angle of the bag man (Joker),

showing how he surveys the area in his mask as

we look up at him (he is the superior one as

they all run up the steps to the bank).

Rule up a chart like this one.Note at least four other shots used in the

bank robbery sequence

Shot/ angle

Characters involved/ description

Purpose of the shot- does it suggest anything?

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Throughout the scene there are

frequent close ups of the robbers

faces and their clown masks.

– Creates tension

– Deepens the narrative

So what have we learnt about the Joker?

• They are all wearing masks, clown masks – this

is indicative of the Joker’s black sense of humor.

• In the car as the men discussed the job and

their employer they state that they could refuse

to give a cut to the brains behind the operation.

They do not expect that the Joker will get his

hands dirty nor that he is in the car with them.

•Why do you think

the Joker has

chosen the image

of a clown for

himself and for his

henchmen?

• As the scene continues there are multiple mentions of the Joker

despite the fact that we have yet to ‘see’ him. ‘I heard they call him

the Joker’ – the dialogue builds up to the dramatic entrance and

reveal of the Joker.

• ‘Because he wears make up – you know, war paint’. Rumors and

mystery surround him, building the character up.

• ‘He thinks he can sit it out and still take a slice’ the henchmen are

referring to the Joker, their lack of self-sensorship suggests that they

do not know their boss– they have not considered the possibility that

he may turn the tables on them. (They do not seem concerned

about the job ahead suggesting that their criminal behavior is not

new and relying on the element of surprise and their guns to ensure

their success.)

• What else did you notice during this

scene?

– Soundtrack

– Costume

– Lighting

Batman vs the Joker

Batman versus the Joker- it is one of the greatest

advisiarial pairings in modern mythology. The Dark

Knight demonstrates this clearly a number of times

but none so clearly as the interrogation scene where

the pair engage not in violence but in a conversation

that articulates the philosophical differences between

the pair. The Joker has absolutely no interest in killing

Batman, instead he is looking for a much bigger

prize- he wishes to invalidate Batman’s purpose.

What does that even mean?• Batman is fighting to preserve the

morality of Gotham and it’s citizens-

the Joker is trying to prove that

Batman is risking his life to save

citizens that will ultimately turn on

him- the morality Batman fights for

doesn’t exist.

The Interrogation Scene

• Who is winning here?

• Each violent act is a small victory for

the Joker as his ultimate goal is to

compel Batman to loose all control

and take his life- the ultimate sign of

corruption.

So, about that scene…

• The setting within this sequence is an

interrogation room and office in the

basement of Gotham police station.

• What do we expect an interrogation room

to look like? Does it look like this one?

The setting…• The interrogation room has white marked walls, a

dirty floor, two way mirrors and fluorescent lights.

– The only objects in the room are a metal table, two

chairs and a lamp.

– Secondary setting of the adjoining office- the room

where the interrogation is being watched.

– Colours

– Textures

– Contrast

Lighting…

• The lighting within the setting allows the

audience to connect with the action. The

lighting is all electrical, using lamps and

fluorescent ceiling lights.

– Sequence begins in darkness with only one ceiling

light and a desk lamp lighting the room.

– Gordon’s face

– Joker’s face/ makeup

Sound…• Non-diegetic sound is used to heighten

the tension of the sequence and show

the changes in mood.

– soft music begins to play

– Increasing volume, slowing pace

– Drum beat

– Piercing note

• Contrasted with the noises of the Joker

Camera work…

• Take note of the composition of this

scene.

• Nolan notes that he is extremely

happy with this scene- it was the first

scene they filmed and this means

they spent more time on it.

• The open framing of the scene allows the

characters to move in and out as they

wish, all except the Joker, who seems to

be the highest influence of the space.

This creates an uneasy atmosphere for

the audience as they are unable to

identify who controls the situation.

Camera work…

• Long shots

– set the scene within the interrogation room .

– demonstrate Batman’s physical dominance

• Medium close-ups

– Joker’s reactions

• Mid shots/ reverse shots

– Conversation and reactions

• Pan around characters

• Tracking follow the action

• Mid shots/reaction shots that show the

Police reaction to the action within the

room.

Camera Work…

• High angles are used to demonstrate the physical power

held by the characters of Gordon and Batman.

Throughout the scene, Batman is viewed from a slightly

higher angle than the Joker, telling the audience that he

appears to be dominant. The Joker is viewed as inferior,

through the use of low angles. The main example of this

is when Batman is beating the Joker for answers.

• Is Batman the dominant character here?

• Batman appears physically

dominant, yet the Joker is mentally in

control.

– He dominates the scene, causing

Batman to play his game and lose his

temper.

• There is one camera angle that seems out of place

within this sequence. A tilted camera shot shows

the Joker about to rise from the table. This is the

only shot like this within the scene, causing the

audience to feel disorientated.

• However, this shot could be seen as at the climax

of the action within the scene. Batman has finally

lost his temper, causing him to act violently, just as

the Joker wanted him to.

A thought… a move into analysis

Nolan appears to use this sequence to demonstrate the

Joker’s intelligence and power with words. Using camera

angles that have differing connotations to the action

taking place and non-diegetic sound that heightens the

tension, Nolan manages to influence the audience to feel

the same confusion that Batman and Gordon are feeling.

The dominance of character is shifted, showing the

audience that both characters are equally matched,

creating an intriguing inversion of connotations which

causes them to rethink their point of view.

Techniques…

• Parts of the scene were filmed using handheld

cameras and shot from a multitude of different

angels. Nolan notes that he wanted to invert the

expectation- we have all seen interrogation scenes

where someone is being given the third degree, we

expect a poorly lit room, a sense of gloom and

desperation. Having the bright, harsh and bleak

lighting allows us to see the Joker’s make-up and

notice it’s decay.

Getting it into words…Initially the scene is filmed tightly, there are tight close-ups with only

the smallest amount of drift in the camera. The filming seems

controlled, but even within that frame the Joker bobs in and out,

suggesting that Batman doesn’t yet have a deep enough sense of the

Joker and his ‘game’ (yet Nolan has filmed the scene to look a little

like a boxing match with the two sparing). If you watch this scene

carefully you will even note that the camera seems to be having a

little trouble trying to capture him (Joker) within the focal plane as a

result of his constant movement, however, this doesn’t detract from

the scene instead it offers a sense of strangeness as if we, like

Batman, are on the back foot trying to interpret and understand the

Joker. In contrast, at least until the interrogation spills over into

physicality, Batman seems very controlled and restrained.

• At the point where the Joker is dragged across the table

the cameras become handheld. This is the moment

where Batman looses the control that Gordon has

assured those watching he has; the moment where rage

spills over and he would break the rules. What the Joker

seems to show is that his motivation is in pushing

people’s buttons, finding their set rules and turning it on

them. Batman places a great deal of importance in his

rules, his morals, it is what distinguishes him from a

common vigilante. The Joker is able to twist him around

and make him question his own approach and his own

actions.

Nolan notes, “The rage is very much a central part of the story in

The Dark Knight, and that interrogation scene is the fulcrum on

which the whole movie turns. I think Batman finds out- and Bruce

Wayne finds out- a lot about himself in that scene.”

• “You have nothing to do with all of your strength.”

There’s this sort of impotence of the strong, armoured and

muscular Batman; he’s very powerful, feared by many, yet there

is nothing he can do, there is no useful way his power can be

exercised in this scene- the Joker is not afraid of him. Each

movement, each enraged punch merely plays into the Joker’s

game and allows him to see which buttons to push. Batman has

to confront that. When he drops the Joker, he has realised the

futility of what he’s done. You see it in his eyes. How do you fight

someone who thrives on conflict?

Who has won the battle?

• Look at the contrast between the two

figures: the dark, brooding, muscular

figure of Batman and the scrawny,

awkward and comically made up Joker.

• Do the costumes set us up to have certain

expectations of the outcome of this

encounter?

• Note that while Gordon’s part in the scene

is small it is important- he knows Batman

and has orchestrated the interrogation but

he also knows when things go wrong and

tries to get into the room.

– Batman also knows Gordon- he moves to place

the chair under the handle. The chair briefly

remains the focal point of the shot to

emphasise this.

• Nolan notes about this scene, “I’m

realizing this now about that scene- I

haven’t thought it through before-

the synthesis of all the different

elements that I am most interested

in come in that scene.”

The Corruption of Harvey Dent

• The Joker’s corruption of the physically and

emotionally scarred Harvey Dent is a seduction into

the world of villainy by way of surprisingly logical

rationalisation. The Joker, dressed in a nurse’s

uniform, successfully tempts Dent with the idea that

he will never be expected to plan again- this of

course is ironic because the Joker has many plans and

Dent has been a central figure in his biggest one.

• “Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the

established order, and everything

becomes chaos. I’m an agent of

chaos. Oh, and you know the thing

about chaos? It’s fair!”

• Harvey is at an all-time low point, he feels deeply

wronged- he has after all been a defender of honour

and justice; he has fought for the American dream; he

is physically deformed (refusing help for his injuries)

and deeply feels the loss of his fiancé- the sense of

injustice is overwhelming he did everything right.

With the Joker bending his ear Dent finds a new sense

of fairness, one where everyone has the same odds;

Dent is no longer making his own luck but is placing

his sense of fairness and morality in the flip of a coin.

• “I took Gotham’s white knight and I

brought him down to our level. It

wasn’t hard. You see, madness, as

you know, is like gravity. All it takes

is a little push!”

Your mission…In groups of three you will analyse either this scene or the following

(Batman’s sacrifice). You will need to create a resource that can be

photocopied for others in the class. Your resource must look at a range

of techniques.

What techniques are used?

-What is the effect of the technique?

-For what purpose is the technique used?

-How does the use of the technique help to further the message of

the scene, the film as a whole?

-What is the director’s purpose? Why did Nolan use this scene?

Why did he film it this way? (make a judgment)

Do you think this scene is successful? Why/ why not? (Make a

judgment)

Batman’s Sacrifice• Night after night, Batman has put his life on the line to protect

and inspire the people of Gotham. His selflessness reaches an

all-time high though when he sacrifices his legacy to protect

that of Harvey Dent and reward the citizens of Gotham for their

belief in him.

• The Joker won by corrupting Gotham’s White Knight to the tune

of multiple murders and taking Gordon’s family hostage.

• Batman’s intervention- saving young James Gordon, Jr. results in

Dent’s death.

Batman’s Sacrifice

• “You either die a hero or you live long

enough to see yourself become the

villain.”

• “Sometimes the truth isn’t good enough,

sometimes people deserve more.

Sometimes people deserve to have their

faith rewarded…”

• Why does Batman take the blame for

crimes he did not commit?

• “This is what happens when an unstoppable

force meets an immovable object… You

won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense

of self-righteousness. And I won’t kill you

because you’re just too much fun. I think

you and I are destined to do this forever.”

Batman’s Sacrifice

• Gordon objects, but ultimately complies with Batman’s

plan to lie in place of a truth that isn’t good enough.

The last line of the scene and the film belongs to

Gordon who essentially knights Gotham’s protector. In

epic, poetic fashion, Batman earns his titular nickname,

The Dark Knight, by learning for himself (and teaching

the audience) just how adaptable a symbol can be. He

is whatever Gotham needs him to be; he will always be

whatever we need him to be.

• “Because he's the hero Gotham

deserves, but not the one it needs

right now. So we'll hunt him.

Because he can take it. Because he's

not our hero. He's a silent guardian.

A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.”