Tuesday, March 11, 2008

New York Times interviews Nolan about "The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan, the director of this summer's Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, was profiled in the New York Times this past Sunday. Not only did the article include new photos from the movie (including this one with Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger), but it included quotes from all of the principal actors about the differences between the first and second film, the look of Gotham and dealing with Ledger's death after filming. It's a great article that shows just how much both Bale and Nolan get the character and his world.

For example, here's Nolan talking about the escalation Gordon refrerenced at the end of Batman Begins:

As we looked through the comics, there was this fascinating idea that Batman’s presence in Gotham actually attracts criminals to Gotham, attracts lunacy. When you’re dealing with questionable notions like people taking the law into their own hands,you have to really ask, where does that lead? That’s what makes the character so dark, because he expresses a vengeful desire.

Bale continues the thought:

This escalation has now meant that he feels more of a duty to continue. And now you have not just a young man in pain attempting to find some kind of an answer, you have somebody who actually has power, who is burdened by that power, and is having to recognize the difference between attaining that power and holding on to it.


Nolan says the Gotham is sleeker and shinier in the new film, which is almost completely set in the city, unlike the first film. And he describes Ledger's performance as the Joker with adjectives like "terrifying," amazing," "stunning," and "iconic."

These quotes have led to Oscar buzz for Ledger, which seems a bit premature.

The Dark Knight opens on July 18

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