Psychoanalytical Criticism

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Christopher Nolan: Pysche
Early childhood - born in UK. American mother. LIved in Chicago for three years starting at 8 years old. Started making films at 7 years old with father's super 8 mm camera. By age 11, he knew he wanted to be a film director.

Career - Nolan dreamed of making a big blockbuster film after he directed Insomnia in 2002, and his big break came in 2003 when he directed Batman Begins.

Batman Begins: To begin with, Nolan wanted to revamp the batman series from the comic books to make it more realistic, which he succeded in. He also wanted to bring the grand and timeless feel of movies from his childhood back. He in addition said he became inspired by how intimidating and scary the world is today versus 10 years earlier.

Second, Nolan utilized his villains to create the mindset mentioned above. In this particular movie, for example, Nolan twisted the insane asylum doctor, who normally proves a good guy, as a pawn of the villain. The scarecrow brings in the classic and timeless horror movie character aspect to the first film of the trilogy. This proves Nolan's preference of realism in this movie with the gas and then the water supply becoming contaminated. He takes possible situations and ignites them into a slight supernatural being yet keeping the realistic aspects prevalent.

Interviews displaying his mindset and inspirations for this movie: 1. http://movies.about.com/od/batman/a/batmancn060805_2.htm

2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2005/jun/15/features.features11

Dark Knight: Nolan elaborates and developes on the symobl of Batman. He based the second movie off of the first with Wayne becoming one with his fear, but then pulling in the desperation of societal classes that the Joker (Heath Ledgar) messes with. He speaks on this:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp94gmtVTfs

Second, Nolan confesses to becoming inspired by previous Batman movies. He seems to respect those movies, but also thinks they are somewhat comical. As in the first, he brings reality into his plot, characters, and setting.

1. http://movies.about.com/od/thedarkknight/a/darkknight70408.htm

The Dark Knight Rises: In the third and final movie, Nolan closes out the trilogy with a bang. It is hypothesized by a few fans that he based his finale off of Fritz Lang's movie Metropolis from the 1920's. The critic speaks of the similarity of the social class tension, and many cannot help but agree.

1. http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/christopher-nolan-insists-the-dark-knight-rises-is/292495

Second, Jonathan Nolan comments on the inspiration from different action movies of the times such as the James Bond movies and the Avengers. Also, he hints at when he answers the question about Robin being mentioned about how children see the truth of a situation. Many fans cannot help but wonder since Christopher Nolan was interested as a child in movie making and became a success from his childhood dream, he probably based that philosphy off of his own life. Purposefully? Who knows, but nonetheless, he brought in the classic underlying theme of children see the most truth.

1. http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1609

Batman Begins:
Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is a man who inherited a billion dollar company from his parents, who were killed in front of Bruce at the tender age of eight. From this moment on as Bruce grows from child to adult, so does his anger. Bruce believes that leaving behind his home and going to college will free him from this constant anger and regret, yet it follows him. So, as the murderer goes up on trial again, Bruce returns in hopes to revenging his parents death. However, a woman commits the crime first leaving Bruce with a feeling of unaccomplishment. His meeting with a major crime boss of Gotham completely transforms Bruce. He realizes that he cannot accomplish or become anything by staying within the world his father created for him. Thus, he begins traveling the world becoming apart of it and learning to fight crime. This wanderer's mindset really sets up Bruce Wayne to grasp onto the League of Shadow because it appeals to his sense of revenge. During Wayne's stay with the League of Shadow, he evolves into a character willing to become the perfect Batman. The death of his parents shapes his anti-gun and anti-kill policies that sets him apart from Gotham's underworld criminals. Also, Bruce chooses to symbolize himself as a bat because he believes that overcoming fear is the only way to inspire Gotham to change. The oddity of Batman's character is the almost correlates with Bruce Wayne's inner conflict over his parent's death. "Batman Begins" portrays Bruce Wayne as a man who was unable to move on from his traumatic past and is searching for a purpose. The movie ends with Bruce accepting fate and his role as protector of Gotham.

The Dark Knight:
During Batman's first confrontation in this film ends up showing him getting hurt by such simple creatures as dogs. This causes Bruce to design an entirely new suit, which indactes that Bruce has finally accepted his role as Gotham's protector and the darkness within the city. He is preparing to go against even greater foes knowing that Batman must take on greater responsbility. On the outside, Bruce keeps up the appearance of a billion playboy seen when he sleeps through an important buisness meeting. Bruce begins putting more efforts into secuding Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) away from Dent (Aaron Eckhart). The whole Bruce and Rachel raltionship shows the viewer the inner workings of Bruce as a character. Bruce tries to convince Rachel that Batman is a phase in his life, and that soon he will retire the suit, but soon Bruce knows that the Joker (Heath Ledger) is only the begining, and that he will never be able to retire completely. One the Joker begins killing policeman and inocents alike, Gotham goes crazy shouting for Batman to reveal himself. This request goes against everything Bruce believes. He realizes that the Joker came to Gotham because of Batman, putting the blame all on Bruce. When Bruce comes to this realization it cuts him to the core, because he created Batman to raise Gotham out of the preverbial ashes, yet he seems to be bringing Gotham further into chaos. The film pushes Batman to his limits because it forces him to restrain from killing which is the Joker's plan. When Bruce/Batman is forced to choose between Dent or Rachel putting him in a tight position, because either he goes for his love or Gotham's white knight. This is the first time the viewer's see Batman's selfish side. He chooses to save his love instead of saving the love of Gotham. When Batman arrives at the location to find Dent the heartache is clearly written over everyone's faces. The loss of Rachel pushes Batman into a state of mind that looks to break his no killing code, almost as if the Joker will win. The final showdown between Batman and the Joker shows the different thinking and ideologies between the two. The Joker believes there is nothing good in the world and everything leads to chaos. While, Batman is the symbol of hope and redemtion. The Joker's defeat did not entirely come from Batman, but from the people on the ferries who choose to save the others. After the capture of the Joker, Batman faces a disfigured Harvey who asks a simple question: "Why was I the only one who lost everything?". This question hits the heart of Batman, because he lost more than anybody could comprehend. He lost his parents, a normal life, and his love to his choices. This is what separates him from the rest of the world and Harvey. Harvey Dent choose to go through life playing things by chance, while Bruce believes that things happen because of choice. Batman was helpless against the Joker showing there is no defense against evil, only the strength to stand strong against it. The entire film is all about Batman being pushed to his limits and his choice in wheter to give in or not. "The Dark Knight" ends with Batman being chased through Gotham by the police showing Batman's acceptance of becoming the villain for the sake of the city he loves.

The Dark Knight Rises:
This movie begins eight years after Batman goes on the run with Bruce having gone from an extroverted playboy to a hermit. The death of Rachel and the backlash on Batman breaks Bruce both mentally and physically pushing him to turn his back on Gotham City. His tendency to hide away causes Wayne Enterprises to collapse showing the crumble of Bruce. When Bane (Tom Hardy) arrives in Gotham, he drives Bruce from hibernation. Bruce encounter with Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) shows Bruce reverting back into his former self. Their interactions wakes Bruce up and starts bringing him back into the crime fighting hero he is. Alfred's (Michael Cane) resignation is another nail in Batman's proverbial coffin. Batman confronts Bane in the sewers and ends up being defeated and broken. This scene shows the arrogance of Bruce/Batman. He believed that he could defeat Bane without any consequences and without fear of death. As Bruce lies in the Pit, he is forced to watch Gotham self-destruct. His stint within this prison forces Bruce to face both death and loss. The only way to escape is to fear death. This movie shows Bruce, a broken man, who wants to die. When Bruce rediscovers the want to live, he is able to make the jump. In the final moments, right before the bomb explodes, the viewer sees Batman sacrifice himself for Gotham. He believes that Gotham deserved his everything and therefore he gave them his life. The city erects a statue of Batman, the hero. The funeral scene only shows four or five main characters paying respects to the fallen hero that gave it all for little in return. Right before the credits, Alfred sees Bruce and Selina eating in a cafe in Italy insinuating Bruce is alive. The explosion symbolizes the death of Batman, but not the death of Bruce. Bruce has finally left Gotham and moved on from being the hero, because he literally gave Gotham his everything, and he can have peace.

The Joker (Heath Ledger)

 * Joker's testimony usually true when carrying out threats, yet somewhat contradictory and lied about past, specifically the origin of his scars. Once mentioned an abusive and alcoholic father as the origin; later said at Bruce Wayne's party that he hated his father: implies that it is likely he did have a poor relationship with his father. Another story mentioned his wife getting scars like his from debt inforcers and then gave himself the same scars to say that he didn't care about her appearace but she left, damaging his psyche. No one knows the extent of the truth behind these stories. Some believe he is so insane he recreates his psyche and history daily, making it possible that he actually believed what he was saying.
 * 3 police theories of Joker's origin: an escaped patient from Arkham Asylum; he was from the Hayley brother's circus, who had been known to associate with the mob (possible that he was an angry former employee of the mob); a former soldier suffering from PTSD, explaining his ease with weapons, and effictiveness in combat.
 * Claimed not to be insane but "ahead of the curve". Has a morally nihilistic mindset, and yet also exhibits instances of failing mental health. He has no empathy which makes him doubt how deep human morality goes. Sadistic, no care for his own safety. Exhibits symptoms of an antisocial personality as he disregards laws and social norms much more than usual "deviant behaviour". Low inhibition, a drive to disturb the status quo.
 * Holds philosophy of chaos above himself; describes himself as an agent of chaos. Doesn't care about money; only used money to cripple the mob's power.



Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart)
Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart, plays the two-faced secondary villain in the very end of The Dark Knight and is threaded throughout The Dark Knight Rises because of his large role in the plot even after his death. First, Dent is portrayed as the guardian and symbol Gotham needs to be redeemed. Dent locks many men behind bars in the second movie, and this fact earns him what seems like eternal respect from the people of Gotham. He symbolizes the guardian angel to many, and honestly, he starts to think that of himself. Over the course of time, his ego skyrockets; however, he has an undying love

for Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhall) that propels the good character inside of Dent up until the very end. When Dent dies in the very end and Batman takes the blame, it truly reveals and demonstrates a perfect example of the Christian viewpoint in this story. People die like Dent, and Batman, who symbolizes Jesus, takes the blame and the suffering that comes along with the bad deeds of the man who died. Batman lifts the burden from Harvey Dent, so he could save Gotham by keeping Dent as a symbol of hope, which carries on into the third film. In the very end of the second movie, before Dent dies, he becomes bitter because his love was killed when he wanted to die in her place.



The Joker, who symbolizes the devil, tempts Harvey into becoming Harvey Two-Face by playing on his emotions, which ultimately leads to Dent's fall, literally and hypothetically. This demonstrates the classic and realistic theme of how every man has a downfall and a secondary personality as well as how suffering can produce hatred and resentment. The duality in Harvey shows his mind and how he ticks, half-heartedly good and half evil due to life. Dent's life only goes to show the duality of man and the downfall when he becomes the idol of many. Next, in The Dark Knight Rises, after Dent has already died, he still symbolizes the hope that Gotham needs, but because of that symbol, his good image gets torn down by Bane (Tom Hardy) when Bane reads the truth from a letter written by Commission Gordon (Gary Oldman). Dent's turn to evil in the second film propels the plot in the third because of the Dent Act that put so many criminals, who were mostly accomplices of Bane, behind bars. Without Dent, the third movie would not exist and the psychoanalytical mindset would not unfold as it does.



Showing Harvey's Inner Turmoil:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY7xhnJtlkE













Bane (Tom Hardy)
Bane is an excommunicated member of the League of Shadows who comes to Gotham to fulfill the original plan: destroy Gotham. Throughout the movie, he is depicted as both extremely physically fit and very strategic. Bane was a prisoner of the Pit, a hell on earth. When he speaks of the pit he tells Batman that he was "born in darkness" and molded by it. Within the prison, he became the protector of a young girl and sacrifices himself for her. He was rescued from the pit and ends up giving his life to the League of Shadows. The years within a prison with some of the most vial of criminals creates a strong character, because one must be strong to survive the darkness. The mask helps relieve the constant pain he endures from the attack within the pit. The pain becomes his constant reminder of what he has been through and fuels him. Bane dominates the film because he is the only character to defeat Batman, and he does with a calmness that is astounding. Unlike the other villains in the series, he has many layers. He is a leader with many followers, but he is also a many who loved a young girl enough to risk his life for her. Nolan makes this Bane a human, not a science project, because it is his humanity that makes him even more scary. He outwits an entire nation with a simple plan. Bane is one character that leaves that viewer in awe because of who he is and where he comes from.