The Hero Rises

Director Christopher Nolan’s epic “The Dark Knight Rises” opens with a breathtaking aerial display as skydivers propel into the vertical aircraft fuselage. No CGI here. You can also feel the impact as Christian Bale’s Batman trades vicious martial arts blows with the muscled monstrosity Bane, terrifying muzzled Tom Hardy. However, the Dark Knight truly rises in the quiet humanity of the authentic relationship of Bruce Wayne (Bale) and his guardian Alfred, played by Michael Caine. Intentionally becoming the reclusive martyr for the good of Gotham City, lonely broken Bruce confesses to Alfred, “There is nothing for me out there.” Caine is mesmerizing as he tells the story of when Bruce was missing for 7 years that he would travel to Florence every year hoping to glimpse Bruce at peace in his life. Everyone deserves to find that modicum of peace in life, including the hero. What is the karma of the hero? This pursuit resonates in Christopher Nolan’s cinematic parable.

“The Dark Knight Rises” completes this amazing trilogy, and is the distinct end of the hero’s journey for Bruce Wayne. Nolan said, “Every great story deserves a great ending.” Chris Nolan has done so on a massive scale, that is so eloquent and personal in catharsis. He leverages the classics quoting Dickens, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better resting place that I go to, than I have ever known.” Nolan brilliantly comes full circle in the hero mythology. I have read several critic reviews praising “The Dark Knight Rises” that understates Christian Bale. To be clear: Christian Bale is powerful. The amazing actor makes “The Dark Knight Rises” satisfying and complete.

In the story by Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, and David S. Goyer, 8 years has passed since “The Dark Knight”. Batman framed himself for District Attorney Dent’s murder, making himself a vigilante fugitive. Commissioner Gordon, played with tortured gravitas by Gary Oldman, reluctantly furthers the conspiracy for the greater good. Bale’s Bruce is a hollowed man, nearly crippled from his injuries and suffering a broken heart—the love of his life murdered. In the Batman mythology, Bruce created Batman as a symbol to inspire others, to be incorruptible and immortal. The paradox was that Batman also was born out of Bruce’s story of his powerlessness as a child to prevent his parents’ brutal murder.

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Bale captures Bruce’s anger and emptiness beneath the charming visage. Here Nolan creates Bruce’s younger reflection in charismatic and intense Joseph Gordon-Levitt as police officer John Blake. This is the unfamiliar Bruce Wayne, whose soul seems more ravaged than his body. Blake believes in heroes; he believes in Batman. Bale brilliantly hints at the fire within Bruce, waiting for a cause. He tragically inhabits a man who fears life, more than death. Strong and compassionate Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle pleads with Batman, “You’ve given them everything!” Bruce says, “Not everything. Not yet…”

Every great hero story is defined by a great villain. That is Bane. Tom Hardy is awesome as the nearly indestructible Bane. Hardy put on 30 pounds of muscle to play the ferocious Bane. He is sheer force. Bane is the enigmatic bald hulk with a mask that treats the unbearable pain of an unspeakable injury. The mask distorts his voice, sounding like Darth Vader. At times it is incoherent; however, Hardy’s commanding intentions are distinct. Bane is the paid terrorist, who was excommunicated from the League of Shadows, the Ninja Clan that also trained Bruce. Their mentor was Ra’s Al Ghul (charismatic Liam Neeson). Nolan strokes Bane as more anarchist than mercenary. The merciless Bane is strangely noble. Perhaps, the difference between the hero and the villain lies in the choices he made?

Nolan’s exposition is as ambitious as the action and visuals. He viscerally paints the post 911 world on the tipping point of economic collapse, fear, and class warfare. He also incorporates storyline with Wayne Industries’ shelved fusion project for clean sustainable energy source that gets turned sideways. Enter Miranda Tate (beautiful and mysterious Marion Cotillard), Wayne Board member, who has a strong attraction for the reclusive Wayne.

Anne Hathaway as sleek cat burglar Selina Kyle steals Bruce’s valued keepsake and something invaluable tied to the shadowy conspiracy that ultimately leads to Bane. Intrigued Bruce enrolls CEO Lucius Fox (solid Morgan Freeman) to get him back into the game. Their bond has morphed into an unspoken caring. Hathaway is stunning. Though she is never called Cat Woman in the movie, she looks amazing in the skin tight leather, and kicks martial arts butt. The weird part, her mastery in kickboxing and Aikido is never explained. Beneath the bravado, Hathaway displays a tender soul. The hero always sees and believes the best in people. Bale and Hathaway have that quality, and that belies Nolan’s poignant theme of redemption.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is the best movie of the year. Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale are awesome. The epic journey of the hero comes to an end, and we are inspired. All is complete.