Put The Controller Down: The Dark Knight Heroes
July 1 , 2008 ... posted by Derek
We are now just over 2 weeks away from the opening of the Dark Knight, and I thought I would take the next two editions of this feature to get hyped up for in a non traditional way. If you have been on the internet at all over the past few weeks, you have likely already been inundated with reviews, previews, trailers, and calls for Heath Ledger to get an Oscar. So instead of more of that, here are some older flicks you may have missed that feature some of the great cast of Batman Begins. As per usual (usual being the 2nd time, and the first time was months ago), I'm not neccasarrily listing the best movies, but rather "overlooked gems."
This week: The Heroes (Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gylenhaal)
American Psycho: Christian Bale gives an unforgettably disturbing (and funny) performance as loser/yuppie/serial killer Patrick Bateman, lifting a B-level script to the level of art film. The highlight of the film is Bateman's monologue on the greatness of Huey Lois as he prepares to commit an axe murder.
Newsies: If you wonder how a guy can put on tights and pretend to be a bat and not crack a smile, check this flick out. Yes, Christian Bale has already played a singing, dancing cowboy in New York in a Disney kid's film, so I think the bat costume is a step up in the embarrassing department. Also embarrassing? I love this movie.
Stranger than Fiction: I fell in love with Maggie Gylenhaal watching this quirky little flick about a guy who's life is a novel. And it has Will Ferrell and Dustin Hoffman, so you can't really go wrong.
Hannibal: Disturbingly gory, the highlight of this particular Lecter film is Gary Oldman's nearly unrecognizable performance as Mason Verger, a horribley disfigured Lecter victim who is a monster in his own right.
Dreamcatcher: Not only a great overlooked Stephen King movie, but an a chance to see Morgan Freeman play somebody other than Morgan Freeman: Wise Older Guy.
The Quiet American: This taut, political thriller was inexplicably marketed like somekind of Romance/Period Piece. It is not. It has Michael Caine. Thats the Batman connection. Watch it.
Next week: Gems featuring the villians of Dark Knight and Batman Begins, since ya know, there are less of them.