Nolan's Joker
Welcome to the fourth part of the Tommy D Talks Movies/Movie Parliament Batman Build-Up! In preparation for The Dark Knight Rises, Tommy D Talks Movies and Movie Parliament have joined forces (A team-up to rival The Avengers), to review and analyze Nolan’s Batman films to date. Over at Tommy D Talks Movies you can check out our reviews of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, as well as our analysis of Nolan’s Gotham by clicking here. By clicking here you can see our analysis of Nolan’s Batman and now below is the final installment, an analysis of Nolan’s Joker. The Joker is Batman’s most famous antagonist and one of the most famous characters of all time. In The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger and Christopher Nolan managed to take such a well-defined, well-known character and give him an iconic, disturbing, exciting, brave and unforgettable twist.
Nolan’s Joker is one that is not given backstory, as Burton’s Joker was. Through doing this, Nolan makes the character an unexplainable, unreasonable force of nature. He is a man who as Alfred says, “Just wants to watch the world burn” he is a self proclaimed, “Dog chasing cars” What is arguably most fascinating about Nolan’s joker however, is his contradictions. First of all, the two differing accounts he gives as to how got his scars. These two scenes are not only superbly written, directed and acted but demonstrate once again that we as an audience, as well as the other characters, have no idea as to who this man really is. In changing our perspective of the character, Nolan is attempting to place us in the disorientated mindset of the surrounding characters. However there is an inherent, unspoken, yet recognizable contradiction that the character is not expressing in order to play with his victims. The Joker claims that he is not a, “schemer”...He even asks Harvey Dent, “Do I look like a guy with a plan?” adding to expand on the earlier quote” I’m a dog chasing cars...I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it” However through his actions, the Joker is clearly a schemer, clearly somebody with a plan, yet somebody who wants to present an anarchic facade. The Joker is definitely the most deranged, yet arguably the most intelligent foe Batman has faced in the Nolan films. He understands exactly where to pressure Batman the most, he tests his resolve to not kill and in the biggest, sickest joke of them all...kills the woman that Batman loves. He pushes him physically and psychologically.
In Burton’s Batman, the Joker was a literal, physical product of the Batman’s actions. In Nolan’s Batman, the Joker is a psychological product of Batman’s actions. The Joker is introduced by Gordon at the end of Batman Begins as evidence of escalation following Batman’s appearance. The most telling quotes come in the fabulous interrogation scene, when the Joker says, “I don’t want to kill you, what would I do without you? No, no...you complete me” The Joker is not just a product of Batman, he needs Batman and without admitting it, Batman needs him. Their relationship is summed up when The Joker says, “This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object” Nolan understands that The Joker and Batman are connected in a deep way, their relationship is arguably the strongest in Batman mythology. He understands that through The Joker the unexplained is a scarier force. Nolan’s Joker is one that remains his darkly comic edge (The magic trick) yet possesses a new found dramatic edge (The scar stories) lacking in Nicholson’s more outright comedic portrayal. There is a conscious danger to The Joker’s unpredictability and anarchic spirit, yet a subconscious fear of the apparent intelligence and planning underneath the contradictory, playful facade. Nolan’s Joker is now in the hall of film villain fame for precisely these reasons. Like Nolan’s Batman, Nolan’s Joker is one that operates and is fascinating on multiple levels. The unexplained and contradictory psychological nature of the character, as well as the politics of what he represents. Nolan doesn’t only use the Joker to explore once again the psychology of fear, escalation, his protagonist and his setting but to also explore modern day terrorism and the political ramifications of the actions of people like him. My views on Heath Ledger’s performance are detailed in the review of The Dark Knight at Tommy D Talks Movies, however it is once again important to stress, Heath Ledger gave a performance for the ages. While this has been very much a, “Nolan’s Joker” centric article, the performance very much so demands, “Heath Ledger’s Joker” to be the way in which he is analyzed and remembered. Nolan’s portrayal of the character would have inspired this discussion had it just been read on a page, however Ledger’s performance took it to another level, made it memorable and historic. When essays are written decades from now about the psychological and political elements of Nolan’s Joker, it will be because Ledger’s performance, is still resonating with the world.
Tommy D's Analysis
Or Heath Ledger’s Joker. Either way, Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger bring us one of the all-time great villains in the history of cinema with a tougher, grittier (this word is inevitable when talking about anything in Nolan’s Batman series) Joker.
In The Dark Knight, Nolan and Ledger take on the challenge of portraying an updated version of Batman’s archenemy. To match the grittier (there it is again!) tone of the films in relation to other takes on the Batman franchise, Nolan’s vision of the Joker – which was born in large part due to Ledger’s creative ideas as well – is a meaner, tougher, more unkempt, and volatile interpretation of the character. His hair is completely haggard and his creepy smile is formed by scars that could be the result of any one of a number of horrific stories he tells us (“You wanna know how I got these scars?”).
The other key thing about Nolan’s Joker is his purpose. He is not just bent on creating hell for Batman. He is driven to expose and amplify corruption, making him Batman’s polar opposite and natural enemy. As we know, Batman’s primary motivation is to erase corruption in Gotham. The Joker, in trying to create and intensify corruption, actually embraces Batman in an odd way, even scoffing at the notion of killing him. “I don’t want to kill you!” the Joker says. “What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers?” Batman gives the Joker more purpose than ever before.
“I’ll show ya…when the chips are down, these civilized people – they’ll eat each other.”
This is what the Joker wants to do. He wants to take away rules and expose people for what he believes they really are. As he goes on to say after this, “I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.”
It is this sick yet brilliant thinking that enables the Joker to put Batman and the rest of Gotham into physical and moral quandaries . Who should we save? How can we possibly win in this situation? Do we detonate a bomb on a boat full of people just so they don’t do it to us? These are the kinds of predicaments the psychopathic Joker bestows upon the people of Gotham. In his greatest triumph, he succeeds in turning Gotham’s most well-respected public figure—Harvey Dent—into a completely corrupted monster.
This is why the Joker is Batman’s archenemy. He doesn’t best Batman physically—he can’t—but he pushes him and Gotham to the very edge (and some, like Dent, over the edge) psychologically, and through elaborate schemes where someone or something is unavoidably going to come out damaged or dead.
Combine this extraordinarily compelling character with the beyond perfect way that Ledger portrays him, and you have one of the greatest movie villains of all-time, right up there with the likes of Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter. If Ledger’s Joker character spanned more than one film (sadly not possible due to Ledger’s tragic death, in which playing the Joker had an indirect role), he would probably be mentioned even more often with these names. But this character in this film alone will surely prove to be legendary enough over time.
Now, I’m eagerly anticipating Batman’s new foe—Bane (played by Tom Hardy)—in The Dark Knight Rises. Said to be able to challenge Batman both psychologically and physically, we will see what the Caped Crusader can do. Of course, I don’t think Ledger’s Joker can be topped, so I plan to go in with a fresh perspective as far as the villain is concerned.
Nolan’s Joker is one that is not given backstory, as Burton’s Joker was. Through doing this, Nolan makes the character an unexplainable, unreasonable force of nature. He is a man who as Alfred says, “Just wants to watch the world burn” he is a self proclaimed, “Dog chasing cars” What is arguably most fascinating about Nolan’s joker however, is his contradictions. First of all, the two differing accounts he gives as to how got his scars. These two scenes are not only superbly written, directed and acted but demonstrate once again that we as an audience, as well as the other characters, have no idea as to who this man really is. In changing our perspective of the character, Nolan is attempting to place us in the disorientated mindset of the surrounding characters. However there is an inherent, unspoken, yet recognizable contradiction that the character is not expressing in order to play with his victims. The Joker claims that he is not a, “schemer”...He even asks Harvey Dent, “Do I look like a guy with a plan?” adding to expand on the earlier quote” I’m a dog chasing cars...I wouldn’t know what to do with one if I caught it” However through his actions, the Joker is clearly a schemer, clearly somebody with a plan, yet somebody who wants to present an anarchic facade. The Joker is definitely the most deranged, yet arguably the most intelligent foe Batman has faced in the Nolan films. He understands exactly where to pressure Batman the most, he tests his resolve to not kill and in the biggest, sickest joke of them all...kills the woman that Batman loves. He pushes him physically and psychologically.
In Burton’s Batman, the Joker was a literal, physical product of the Batman’s actions. In Nolan’s Batman, the Joker is a psychological product of Batman’s actions. The Joker is introduced by Gordon at the end of Batman Begins as evidence of escalation following Batman’s appearance. The most telling quotes come in the fabulous interrogation scene, when the Joker says, “I don’t want to kill you, what would I do without you? No, no...you complete me” The Joker is not just a product of Batman, he needs Batman and without admitting it, Batman needs him. Their relationship is summed up when The Joker says, “This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object” Nolan understands that The Joker and Batman are connected in a deep way, their relationship is arguably the strongest in Batman mythology. He understands that through The Joker the unexplained is a scarier force. Nolan’s Joker is one that remains his darkly comic edge (The magic trick) yet possesses a new found dramatic edge (The scar stories) lacking in Nicholson’s more outright comedic portrayal. There is a conscious danger to The Joker’s unpredictability and anarchic spirit, yet a subconscious fear of the apparent intelligence and planning underneath the contradictory, playful facade. Nolan’s Joker is now in the hall of film villain fame for precisely these reasons. Like Nolan’s Batman, Nolan’s Joker is one that operates and is fascinating on multiple levels. The unexplained and contradictory psychological nature of the character, as well as the politics of what he represents. Nolan doesn’t only use the Joker to explore once again the psychology of fear, escalation, his protagonist and his setting but to also explore modern day terrorism and the political ramifications of the actions of people like him. My views on Heath Ledger’s performance are detailed in the review of The Dark Knight at Tommy D Talks Movies, however it is once again important to stress, Heath Ledger gave a performance for the ages. While this has been very much a, “Nolan’s Joker” centric article, the performance very much so demands, “Heath Ledger’s Joker” to be the way in which he is analyzed and remembered. Nolan’s portrayal of the character would have inspired this discussion had it just been read on a page, however Ledger’s performance took it to another level, made it memorable and historic. When essays are written decades from now about the psychological and political elements of Nolan’s Joker, it will be because Ledger’s performance, is still resonating with the world.
Tommy D's Analysis
Or Heath Ledger’s Joker. Either way, Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger bring us one of the all-time great villains in the history of cinema with a tougher, grittier (this word is inevitable when talking about anything in Nolan’s Batman series) Joker.
In The Dark Knight, Nolan and Ledger take on the challenge of portraying an updated version of Batman’s archenemy. To match the grittier (there it is again!) tone of the films in relation to other takes on the Batman franchise, Nolan’s vision of the Joker – which was born in large part due to Ledger’s creative ideas as well – is a meaner, tougher, more unkempt, and volatile interpretation of the character. His hair is completely haggard and his creepy smile is formed by scars that could be the result of any one of a number of horrific stories he tells us (“You wanna know how I got these scars?”).
The other key thing about Nolan’s Joker is his purpose. He is not just bent on creating hell for Batman. He is driven to expose and amplify corruption, making him Batman’s polar opposite and natural enemy. As we know, Batman’s primary motivation is to erase corruption in Gotham. The Joker, in trying to create and intensify corruption, actually embraces Batman in an odd way, even scoffing at the notion of killing him. “I don’t want to kill you!” the Joker says. “What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers?” Batman gives the Joker more purpose than ever before.
“I’ll show ya…when the chips are down, these civilized people – they’ll eat each other.”
This is what the Joker wants to do. He wants to take away rules and expose people for what he believes they really are. As he goes on to say after this, “I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.”
It is this sick yet brilliant thinking that enables the Joker to put Batman and the rest of Gotham into physical and moral quandaries . Who should we save? How can we possibly win in this situation? Do we detonate a bomb on a boat full of people just so they don’t do it to us? These are the kinds of predicaments the psychopathic Joker bestows upon the people of Gotham. In his greatest triumph, he succeeds in turning Gotham’s most well-respected public figure—Harvey Dent—into a completely corrupted monster.
This is why the Joker is Batman’s archenemy. He doesn’t best Batman physically—he can’t—but he pushes him and Gotham to the very edge (and some, like Dent, over the edge) psychologically, and through elaborate schemes where someone or something is unavoidably going to come out damaged or dead.
Combine this extraordinarily compelling character with the beyond perfect way that Ledger portrays him, and you have one of the greatest movie villains of all-time, right up there with the likes of Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter. If Ledger’s Joker character spanned more than one film (sadly not possible due to Ledger’s tragic death, in which playing the Joker had an indirect role), he would probably be mentioned even more often with these names. But this character in this film alone will surely prove to be legendary enough over time.
Now, I’m eagerly anticipating Batman’s new foe—Bane (played by Tom Hardy)—in The Dark Knight Rises. Said to be able to challenge Batman both psychologically and physically, we will see what the Caped Crusader can do. Of course, I don’t think Ledger’s Joker can be topped, so I plan to go in with a fresh perspective as far as the villain is concerned.
