The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

2012. USA/UK. Directed by Christopher Nolan. Christopher Nolan’s cinematic reinvention of the Batman saga culminated with the release of the trilogy's visceral final chapter. With New York City visibly standing in for Gotham (Chicago was used in the previous chapter), and grappling with themes of income inequality, rogue terrorism, and vicious vendettas, it is hard to ignore the resonance with actual events. Christian Bale’s wounded hero and Tom Hardy's evil-incarnate Bane are slyly outshone by Anne Hathaway's Catwoman, a smooth, smart cat burglar with a heart. Already a part of the cultural vernacular, Nolan’s films have changed the way we look at heroism. Print courtesy of Warner Bros. 165 min.