The Dark Heath

So I'm not sure how to start this little entry.


I liked the film The Dark Knight very much. I almost loved it. But I think I'll love it more and more over time. I've read all the great reviews. And I've read a couple negative ones. But mostly all great reviews. Deservedly so. For the spectacle of it all. All the emotions going into the film....

Whether you watched Heath's films or not. Or regardless of how much you knew about the actor. His sudden death this year is obviously a sad moment. Who would ever want to lose a gifted artist from the populace? We all know that our most treasured people are those who give their lives to entertaining us, inspiring us, and giving us something that exemplifies the moment, and that given time in history... Art reflects all of that.... To enlighten? (It's hard to imagine a film enlightening ones self, but then again art evolves does it not?)

This film affects me in a different way as well. When I was growing up, my brother, Christopher, introduced comics to me. He had a great collection of Marvel silver-aged comics. I loved looking at his guarded books. Kept immaculate under their plastic sleeves, backed with pristine white boards. Even if some weren't worth much, he'd still sleeve and back most, just because I think he felt all comics were worth something, to him. I admired that. His favorite characters were Spider-man, the X-men, and Fantastic Four, and he had some serious old issues of all of them. And some awesome 1st appearance issues. He had the 1st appearance of Wolverine, Punisher and the Silver Surfer... (for those unaware, that means the first time those characters saw the light of day, and entered our imaginations, ever.)

Before Hollywood got a hold of our beloved heroes they existed on the page only. I remember days at our local comic shop just dreaming that we might someday see them on the big screen. (Now that most have graced the big screen since, looking back, I don't think that dream was so great. I think the characters are best within the pages of comic books...)

When Chris picked up Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns we realized, maybe not as much then, that we were in the midst of a revolution, or evolution of sorts, for comics. That they could be darker, that they could haunt our dreams, that comics could encapsulate all of our most boldest imaginations, better then any other media ever could, or ever will. The film The Dark Knight is a mere moving visual homage to the piece of art that that comic is. Chris found something real special. And I loved him when he allowed me to read it after he was finished. Thanks Chris.

My brother and I have always loved comics and the fantastical world within them. The infinite possibilities of wonderment in story-telling. Reading that graphic novel as a ten-year old boy was a great moment in artistic discovery for me. The way someone might feel standing in front of their first Jackson Pollock painting. Or maybe how a kid might feel hearing Miles Davis for the first time in 1970. Any analogy is deserving and fitting. The comic is so much deeper and thoughtful then most would surmise but comics are only recently being recognized for their cultural impact. Ask Michael Chabon and Jonathan Lethem about that, two amazing modern novelists who have written Pulitzer winning novels themed around comics... (Chabon's book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001, too bad we were focused on other events to notice...)

When Hollywood decides to reap the whirlwind with a motion picture adaptation of a comic us purveyors of comics become guarded. I was very guarded and expectant before sitting down for Nolan's Dark Knight film...


I have to say I agreed with New York magazine's negative review of the Dark Knight probably the most. But skeptically, and not completely. But I definitely understood the author's review and what they meant by their criticism. Like the action in the film, the fight scenes in particular, they weren't shot very smoothly, or the way a good Hong Kong director might capture a kung-fu sequence. There's a technique that Christopher Nolan was definitely missing. And there were a couple of other comments they made regarding some obvious acting issues, if one wanted to be so picky.

The thing about this movie is that the emotional weight of it, in reality, and that which exists in the film, pulls the viewer away from being picky, and allows us simply to be in awe of this comic epic that is haunted by an amazing acting job by Heath. His death absolutely will challenge you not to emote for the tragedy while watching this mesmerizing role. Heath's Joker makes you forget about the little issues, and the movie has few if hardly any, and sucks you in.

It was like hearing the first Nirvana song that came on after you got word that Kurt shot himself. Well, not nearly like that... but something similar.

The Dark Knight is one of the greatest comic films ever made, if not the best. But I don't like number one's in art. I can say what I like the most, but I can't say in which order they should come, or it's hard to be fair. So many great films. I fucking loved Iron Man. But I'm biased. He was my favorite comic character. And I have Iron Man #1 to prove it. (Dreaming of his 1st appearance issue.)

Jack Nicholson's Joker was better. But it's like comparing 1960s Batman to 1990s Batman, you really can't, and they both earn their due. I think Jack absolutely nailed the Batman of the comics from the Golden era. Do I think Heath nailed Frank Miller's Batman, yes, but I think if there was a follow-up film he would have brought the character to new heights...

You can't but feel completely bummed by the end of the film. (Spoiler) It's impossible to think that Nolan didn't intend on bringing Heath back for more. I just think the Joker would obviously have had another showdown with Batman. Something left me feeling jaded and unsatisfied at the end. But maybe that's just the death of Heath talking.

The film will only grow better and better for me. It will be impossible for me to separate, Heath's tragic death from the character he created with the Joker. And it's just fun to watch such a fantastic characterization of an iconic character.


Heath would have wanted it this way. No one wants to die. But we all do. Heath goes out in legendary fashion. The sadness is ours to bear but the honor is theirs to claim. And us living, make that so. We decide. To remember or forget. How could anyone forget this film, the role, and the life shortened thereafter. Because of it, related to it, maybe even directly correlated to it? Who knows. What does it matter?

Heath did a great service to those who cherish their comic books. To the art form that grew out of our own need to create wonderfully limitless worlds spawned from our imaginations so that a world could exist, at least in our hearts and minds, where a hero could sweep down out of nowhere, in the nick of time, and save you before an untimely accident or death.

But in the real world we have nothing like that. Except common people doing their best. Or worst. With this film, people did their best. And that should be enough.

Chris and I watched the film together on opening night. We were satisfied enough. We'll watch it again. And that's all that matters right? Another possible escape from the harsh reality of our common lives has been added to our heap of comics, books, music, posters and films...