The Dark Knight
Important 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
ES- Gotham City
scene
• 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
Purpose of the shot- does it
Characters involved/ description 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 nondiegetic 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 selfrighteousness. 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.”