Re: [Marxism] David Walsh on Dark Knight

["Joaquin Bustelo" <jbustelo@xxxxxxxxx>]

David Walsh just doesn't get it:

"In the first place, in what universe does this type of 'terrorist' exist?
The Joker's freakish and depraved personality is an invention, which, again,
is meant primarily to make an impression. It doesn't speak to any
substantial reality. Such a figure as a social being is not to be found
outside a certain kind of fevered or panic-stricken imagination."

That "certain kind of fevered or panic-stricken imagination," however, is
PRECISELY the one that describes the US public in the wake of 9/11, and that
has far from subsided. Where does the "Joker" live in the real world? In
Washington's endless "war on terror" propaganda. And it is also the way many
alleged criminals are portrayed, especially on local and cable TV news. 

Of course, this movie is not "socialist realism" nor a dreary morality play
but a story, but it is quite clearly and sharply a story with social
relevance, from relatively small details, like that the banks are in bed
with the mafia or that it is the big, murderous-looking Black criminal in
the orange prison suit who acts decisively out of human solidarity to not
blow up one of the two ferrys while the white everyman in the suit coat and
tie comes within a hair's breadth or murdering everyone aboard the other
ferry, to the overall outcome of the movie, which is that the Joker wins IN
REALITY and it is only through the lie of presenting a psychopathic killer
as a pure-as-the-driven snow hero, pinning his murder spree on Batman, and
covering up the corruption in the police department that made it possible
for the Joker to turn the Gotham's fair-haired wonderboy into something out
of a Stephen King movie that the illusion of civilization can be maintained
(coupled with --I assume-- heavy doses of Batman's continued extra-legal
vigilantism).

My son Luke wanted to go and as it was the last day I'd be with him for
three weeks (he's at summer camp) I bit the bullet and did the daddy thing
and took him, preparing myself psychologically for a dreadful three hours
and quite predisposed to hate the movie. I liked it so much I've seen it
again.

That's despite uninspiring performance by much of the cast --especially
Batman-- and (Walsh is right about this) a lot of pretty random editing in
the "action" sequences. But Heath Ledger was way beyond brilliant, and
Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman quite dependable in supporting roles.

Joaquin


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