The Dark Knight Analyzing The Screenplay

[Assassin32]

Being a film student, a life-long Batman fan, and an aspiring screenwriter myself, I'd like us all to take a break from the "Is Harvey Dead?" and "What did the Joker say in that one scene?" threads, and take the time to examine one of the more interesting scripts to come out of Hollywood in recent memory: The Dark Knight.

Much has been made about it's structure. I've heard it described as template-breaking; some say it doesn't fit into any currently popular structure. I disagree somewhat, but, then again, I've only taken the time to read it once. At 140 pages, it takes some time to get through, but the Nolan brothers try to make it easy with unembellished description paragraphs. And it's also interesting to study that the filmed version clocked in at over 150 minutes, bending the "one page, one minute" rule.

Christopher Nolan spoke before the film was released about the role the Joker played, saying something to the effect that the character had no real arc, and simply cut through the action like a chaotic swathe of flame. This is true, and much like the film, if there is only one reason to read the screenplay, it is for the Joker. The words on the paper don't match Heath Ledger's performance - not even close. Reading the script and simultaneously wondering how the hell Heath managed to turn that into what he gave us will give you new respect for the man's talent.

David Goyer is given a story credit on the title page, but I'm pleased that Jonathan Nolan was the man who carried out the task of actually writing the screenplay. I am not a David Goyer fan, and believe that he was what prevented Batman Begins from living up to my expectations. I expect the Nolan brothers to finish up the franchise together, and see no reason why they can't reproduce the success that they had with the script for The Dark Knight in the inevitable threequel and beyond.

Give it a read, you'll be glad you did:

http://warnerbros2008.warnerbros.com/assets/images/TheDarkKnight_Script.pdf

 

[Dark Sentinel]

I have read it, and it is one of the most engrossing scripts I've ever read. Jonah has mastered the "less is more" style of writing that gives the production designers a lot of creative freedom. And Joker's lines are very riveting to read, though I agree that it doesn't come close to Heath's performance.

 

[Assassin32]

A couple of my favorite Joker lines weren't even in the script. I suppose it was just Heath ad-libbing. He's was a genius.

 

[Dark Sentinel]

My favorite joker line was actually clipped from the finished film. Its when Maroni says his "if its so simple..." bit, Joker says "Like my mother used to tell me, if you're good at something never do it for free." awesome

 

[Doctor Jones]

Being a film student, a life-long Batman fan, and an aspiring screenwriter myself, I'd like us all to take a break from the "Is Harvey Dead?" and "What did the Joker say in that one scene?" threads, and take the time to examine one of the more interesting scripts to come out of Hollywood in recent memory: The Dark Knight.

Much has been made about it's structure. I've heard it described as template-breaking; some say it doesn't fit into any currently popular structure. I disagree somewhat, but, then again, I've only taken the time to read it once. At 140 pages, it takes some time to get through, but the Nolan brothers try to make it easy with unembellished description paragraphs. And it's also interesting to study that the filmed version clocked in at over 150 minutes, bending the "one page, one minute" rule.

Christopher Nolan spoke before the film was released about the role the Joker played, saying something to the effect that the character had no real arc, and simply cut through the action like a chaotic swathe of flame. This is true, and much like the film, if there is only one reason to read the screenplay, it is for the Joker. The words on the paper don't match Heath Ledger's performance - not even close. Reading the script and simultaneously wondering how the hell Heath managed to turn that into what he gave us will give you new respect for the man's talent.

David Goyer is given a story credit on the title page, but I'm pleased that Jonathan Nolan was the man who carried out the task of actually writing the screenplay. I am not a David Goyer fan, and believe that he was what prevented Batman Begins from living up to my expectations. I expect the Nolan brothers to finish up the franchise together, and see no reason why they can't reproduce the success that they had with the script for The Dark Knight in the inevitable threequel and beyond.

Give it a read, you'll be glad you did:

http://warnerbros2008.warnerbros.com/assets/images/TheDarkKnight_Script.pdf

I disagree here. You can't just blame Goyer for the writing. Nolan is the director and it's his dicision to cut anything from the film that he pleases. He could of just said, "cut that out, etc" but he left it in. He took hand in the screenplay also. But we don't know which he wrote.

 

[The_Joker7895]

I think the main reason that the screenplay to The Dark Knight is so vastly superior to to the screenplay to Batman Begins is the lack of Goyer. While the screenplay to Batman Begins is not in any a bad screenplay, it is nowhere near the quality of the other screenplays the Nolan brothers have written, such as Memento, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight.

That being said, the reason they hired Goyer instead of just writing Batman Begins themselves was because Nolan felt he needed a Batman expert because he didn't have what he thought was sufficient enough knowledge and general understanding of the character and the history of the character. Goyer's screenplay, while good in terms of themes and ideas, had way too many endless monologues that seemed to kind of ramble in circles. There was very little meaningful conversational dialogue. However, The Dark Knight had almost none of these "Goyer-speeches", and relied on character driven dialogue to explore the themes of the film, while also maintaining a focus on character development. Also, as you said, Heath took a lot of his lines and either changed up the wording or ditched and replaced them altogether.

 

[Anjow1060]

I think that's the biggest load of BS I've ever seen. TDK had it's fair share of lame one-liners and such "The Lamborghini then....that's much more subtle"

I hate that line with every inch of my body.

If you want to compare screenwriters, removing Chris from the equation, then I prefer Goyer over Jonah. Begins was a much more emotionally sound film as opposed to TDK which is just "plot, plot plot".

I hate that Dent has the arc. I really am. It should be Batman's arc that's focused on. I remember watching the end the first time and being like "wtf?" Sure, Dent's turn to 2face was well done because of this, but IMHO, they neglected too much time with Wayne/Batman to see what he was going through to get him to that point in the end.

Whether or not they'll reflect on the events of TDK in BB3, idk. I would hope they will since TDK is just one big sprint. No time to soak anything in. That's one of the prime reasons it's better with repeat viewings. I personally have seen the film over 100 times to date and by now I've seen it's flaws, but also see everything it has, but the general audience won't watch it that much. Most of them are sheep and don't want to be ostracized for disliking the film.

In my opinion Begins is still better than TDK.

- Jow

 

[Anjow1060]

I think the main reason that the screenplay to The Dark Knight is so vastly superior to to the screenplay to Batman Begins is the lack of Goyer. While the screenplay to Batman Begins is not in any a bad screenplay, it is nowhere near the quality of the other screenplays the Nolan brothers have written, such as Memento, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight.

That being said, the reason they hired Goyer instead of just writing Batman Begins themselves was because Nolan felt he needed a Batman expert because he didn't have what he thought was sufficient enough knowledge and general understanding of the character and the history of the character. Goyer's screenplay, while good in terms of themes and ideas, had way too many endless monologues that seemed to kind of ramble in circles. There was very little meaningful conversational dialogue. However, The Dark Knight had almost none of these "Goyer-speeches", and relied on character driven dialogue to explore the themes of the film, while also maintaining a focus on character development. Also, as you said, Heath took a lot of his lines and either changed up the wording or ditched and replaced them altogether.

"You either die a hero..."
"Endure master wayne...take it. Don't be a hero..."
"He's letting harvey take the fall for this. He's not being a hero...."
"I'm not a hero. Not like dent....
"He's not our hero, he's a watchful protector..."

Oh yes, there were no reptetitive speeches in TDK at all.

- Jow

 

[Assassin32]

I disagree here. You can't just blame Goyer for the writing. Nolan is the director and it's his dicision to cut anything from the film that he pleases. He could of just said, "cut that out, etc" but he left it in. He took hand in the screenplay also. But we don't know which he wrote.

I just don't like David Goyer in general. He gets way too much credit for being one of the numerous co-writers of Dark City, which is really Alex Proyas' baby, and once he was granted full control over the Blade series he wasted no time in ****ting all over it.

The Batman franchise is better without him. The Nolan Brothers are both superior writers.

 

[sabahi2]

"You either die a hero..."
"Endure master wayne...take it. Don't be a hero..."
"He's letting harvey take the fall for this. He's not being a hero...."
"I'm not a hero. Not like dent....
"He's not our hero, he's a watchful protector..."

Oh yes, there were no reptetitive speeches in TDK at all.

- Jow

IMO there is no need to disrate any of the films' Begins was perfectly done in terms of understanding bruce wayne,, i mean look at the previous works on batman ,they just didn't have enough motive to put on a cape and beat the crap out of villains, begins was about understanding BATMAN and how he becomes it, while TDK was about how the others affect the character whom was shown as a guardian of gotham, i don't think there would be a disagreement that TDK was about GOtham and batman sacrificed himself for it, he's the hero that gotham needs,,.
i seriously think that this francise is about batman and batman alone[in terms of characters] TDK was way too faster than BB and it needed the energy and this much of speed, to be such a good movie, they perfectly portraited characters,alot of us have seen different francise and i think that part 3 would be very different than these two films.

 

[Anjow1060]

IMO there is no need to disrate any of the films' Begins was perfectly done in terms of understanding bruce wayne,, i mean look at the previous works on batman ,they just didn't have enough motive to put on a cape and beat the crap out of villains, begins was about understanding BATMAN and how he becomes it, while TDK was about how the others affect the character whom was shown as a guardian of gotham, i don't think there would be a disagreement that TDK was about GOtham and batman sacrificed himself for it, he's the hero that gotham needs,,.
i seriously think that this francise is about batman and batman alone[in terms of characters] TDK was way too faster than BB and it needed the energy and this much of speed, to be such a good movie, they perfectly portraited characters,alot of us have seen different francise and i think that part 3 would be very different than these two films.

I think Nolan already said if he did another one it'd be like Begins and a much slower film. Which is fine and what's needed IMO.

- Jow

 

[Mr. Earle]

I think that's the biggest load of BS I've ever seen. TDK had it's fair share of lame one-liners and such "The Lamborghini then....that's much more subtle"

I hate that line with every inch of my body.

If you want to compare screenwriters, removing Chris from the equation, then I prefer Goyer over Jonah. Begins was a much more emotionally sound film as opposed to TDK which is just "plot, plot plot".

I hate that Dent has the arc. I really am. It should be Batman's arc that's focused on. I remember watching the end the first time and being like "wtf?" Sure, Dent's turn to 2face was well done because of this, but IMHO, they neglected too much time with Wayne/Batman to see what he was going through to get him to that point in the end.

Whether or not they'll reflect on the events of TDK in BB3, idk. I would hope they will since TDK is just one big sprint. No time to soak anything in. That's one of the prime reasons it's better with repeat viewings. I personally have seen the film over 100 times to date and by now I've seen it's flaws, but also see everything it has, but the general audience won't watch it that much. Most of them are sheep and don't want to be ostracized for disliking the film.

In my opinion Begins is still better than TDK.

- Jow

I agree, TDK was filled with plot to the point that it was too much. BB was more balanced as a film and it actually gave you time to relax and enjoy it.

As for the one liners, i believe that TDK was a lot better in that aspect. It barely had any. The one with the Lambo is just alfred's phlegmatic english humor. Its one of his traits. I was more offended by the guy running shotgun with Gordon in the truck and by how cheesily Nolan portrays the people's amazement when they encounter batman.

1) that dude picking his teeth when the pod rips his car's mirror
2) the workers that witnessed the birth of the batpod. The camera was focused on that guy's sandwitch to show us that he was just a normal joe and stuff. It could have been less cheesy.
3) Batman and Rachel landing on the taxi. Not cheesy, just stupid. Again batman ruins a car roof and noone was harmed even though they were falling so fast. I cringed.
That said, i want Nolan to show us how people are amazed at the sight of the superhero. He should always be special and provoke awe and shock. I just want him to do it in a subtler way that doesnt involve "nice rides" and huge sandwiches. And btw i loved bruce's joke to himself in BB:"you should see my other car". That kind of humor i like and find spot on.

"You either die a hero..."
"Endure master wayne...take it. Don't be a hero..."
"He's letting harvey take the fall for this. He's not being a hero...."
"I'm not a hero. Not like dent....
"He's not our hero, he's a watchful protector..."

Oh yes, there were no reptetitive speeches in TDK at all.

- Jow

The movie was about heroism and how batman redefines the term. Just because those sentences share the word "hero" doesnt mean that it was repetitive. Only when Batman repeats Dent's "die a hero" quote, do we have a real repetition. Stop being so pedentic about things that werent noticeable when we watched the film.

 

[Mr. Earle]

IMO there is no need to disrate any of the films' Begins was perfectly done in terms of understanding bruce wayne,, i mean look at the previous works on batman ,they just didn't have enough motive to put on a cape and beat the crap out of villains, begins was about understanding BATMAN and how he becomes it, while TDK was about how the others affect the character whom was shown as a guardian of gotham, i don't think there would be a disagreement that TDK was about GOtham and batman sacrificed himself for it, he's the hero that gotham needs,,.
i seriously think that this francise is about batman and batman alone[in terms of characters] TDK was way too faster than BB and it needed the energy and this much of speed, to be such a good movie, they perfectly portraited characters,alot of us have seen different francise and i think that part 3 would be very different than these two films.

I think that we can blot the few flaws that the movies had and enjoy them for what they offered.

Look at batman's origin. Look how Nolan thought of everything, how he handled every little detail. For example, Nolan replaced the movie with a theatrical play because of the deconstruction (a movie hero watching a movie) and they changed the play from being about Zorro, to being about something irrelevant to crime fighting so that Bruce comes up with this response himself.

As for TDK, one can only admire the story and the complexity. The joker was fantastic. I dont think that the joker has ever been written better than that. Look at his schemes, his plans, his smart joker-arsenal (pencil trick, phone trick). He was trully a mastermind! I can only whine about the movie losing some atmosphere from BB and for Dent getting too much attention.

Sure Bruce was in the spotlight as well, but Dent was more and the conclusion that focused on him was trully unexpected for me. "Dent, Dent, Dent, Dent, Dent. Hey guys, i just remembered this is a batman movie. Yeah, Bats....he is a dark knight and stuff...."

I think Nolan already said if he did another one it'd be like Begins and a much slower film. Which is fine and what's needed IMO.

- Jow

Well it was more balanced. It had everything for me. I especially loved how half of the film took place in wonderful locations before ending up in gloomy gotham. It helped me not get tired and depressed. But i understand that they cant do that again because of the plot. Batman is in gotham. I am just saying that the prison, bruce's training, the manor, all those beautiful scenes apart from the classic batman ones made the movie for me.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I just don't like David Goyer in general. He gets way too much credit for being one of the numerous co-writers of Dark City, which is really Alex Proyas' baby, and once he was granted full control over the Blade series he wasted no time in ****ting all over it.

The Batman franchise is better without him. The Nolan Brothers are both superior writers.

Superior yes, but people put too much blame on Goyer. BB had a poetic screenplay and I thought it was great. All of Ducard's lines are gold. People need to stop kneeling at Nolan's alter and give David Goyer alot of credit for being one of the reasons BB was so good and successful.

 

[namtaB]

The writing really made this film, notably how well the Joker was written. He was a better written Joker than the one in 89. He was psychotic, intelligent, philosophical, humorous, ruthless. They nailed it.

 

[Mr. Earle]

Superior yes, but people put too much blame on Goyer. BB had a poetic screenplay and I thought it was great. All of Ducard's lines are gold. People need to stop kneeling at Nolan's alter and give David Goyer alot of credit for being one of the reasons BB was so good and successful.

Agreed. Goyer gave Nolan direction in Batman's huge mythos as well. It was goyer that convinced him not to scrap the cape and grapple gun because "they were too cheesy for a realistic film".

 

[Octoberist]

The cape and grapple gun thing, i don't believe that at all. It's like the BS that I've heard about Nolan not wanting Scarecrow to have the mask. I swear, you cannot find that crap anywhere on google.

 

[Doc Samson]

I think it's good to remember that these are still tent pole summer blockbusters, so some cheese will be there, no matter how "dark" they try to go with it.

That being said, you also have to account that TDK, like so many superior superhero sequels, didn't have the burden of introduction like an origin film does. The Joker character, just from a source material standpoint, allows for clever writing and exposition. Ras, IMO, was just as well written and acted, the Joker just happens to be a more flamboyant character so naturally, he's going to steal scenes, at least upon initial viewing. BB had the same amount of great writing and acting, but with the burden that all origin movies have, more time was spent introducing the world and the principle players rather than being able to dig a bit better

 

[Anjow1060]

Just because those sentences share the word "hero" doesnt mean that it was repetitive. Only when Batman repeats Dent's "die a hero" quote, do we have a real repetition. Stop being so pedentic about things that werent noticeable when we watched the film.

They weren't repetitive because of that. They were repetitive because they shoved it down our throat "he's our hero, but he's not A hero." Hell it's the name of one of the sound track pieces. Nolan was prolly like "yo Zim, just in case they didn't get it could you name track 2....."

PS: WTF does "pendentic" mean? Do we really have to try and use obscure words around here so much so we sound all high and mighty?

PS: On a lighter, more buddy-buddy note - I do believe the sandwhich the man was holding was a falafel. A reference to Begins.

- Jow

 

[Anjow1060]

The cape and grapple gun thing, i don't believe that at all. It's like the BS that I've heard about Nolan not wanting Scarecrow to have the mask. I swear, you cannot find that crap anywhere on google.

it was in Empire magazine i believe. Idk, I have it somewhere in my basement, I'll try and dig it out and scan it for ya Oct. I know Goyer said it, but I do believe it was a tongue in cheek reference. Like he was just trying to put it in general terms about the debates he and Chris had. Like Chris played devil's advocate and Goyer had to pick out which things were necessary and which weren't.

- Jow

 

[namtaB]

it was in Empire magazine i believe. Idk, I have it somewhere in my basement, I'll try and dig it out and scan it for ya Oct. I know Goyer said it, but I do believe it was a tongue in cheek reference. Like he was just trying to put it in general terms about the debates he and Chris had. Like Chris played devil's advocate and Goyer had to pick out which things were necessary and which weren't.

- Jow

Yeah I remember that too. I recall it not being literal but more of an exaggeration.

 

[Mr. Earle]

PS: On a lighter, more buddy-buddy note - I do believe the sandwhich the man was holding was a falafel. A reference to Begins.

- Jow

LOL!!!


To answer the rest of your post, when BB debated fear, ethics of vigilantism, etc, TDK debated what it takes to be a hero, so a lot of the dialogue was about that.

 

[Anjow1060]

LOL!!!


To answer the rest of your post, when BB debated fear, ethics of vigilantism, etc, TDK debated what it takes to be a hero, so a lot of the dialogue was about that.

I don't dispute that. Begins was "fear fear fear."
TDK was "not a hero, not a hero, not a hero."

Nolan has a tendency to be quite literal in his dialogue. It is, after all his film. He writes the final draft. They're his words, weather or not he decides to change the words from the previous drafts written by Goyer or Jonah.

"Things are always going to get worse before they get better"

I remember him saying that in several interviews before TDK, and then low and behold - Alfred says the same line in the movie. I think Goyer is responsible for exactly with what he's credited with = the stories. The entire Begins story is credited to him. The screenplay is him and nolan. Screenplay is actions and dialogue. Begins was written by Goyer and Chris. TDK was by Jonah and Chris.

Anyone see the common element? My argument is that I think Goyer had .0001% input on dialogue this go around, and there's very similar inklings of the same kinds of dialogue, thus he's most likley not responsable for the "harping speeches" or the "cheesey dialogue" ( I gotta get me one of those ------ I hope you got some moves pal. I didn't sign up for this!")

- Jow

 

[Anjow1060]

Double your pleasure, double your post. Double mint gum.

- Jow

 

[Doctor Jones]

It baffles me, people try to defend Nolan for every single damn thing. But it's all Goyer's fault? Like I said, Nolan is the goddamn director, he can choose to cut out whatever he wants and put in whatever he wants.

So I guess we'll come to the defense of the Nolan's with that annoying SWAT officer in the truck chase?

"That's not good."

"Okay, that's NOT good!"

Oh, but that was Goyer's idea. Christ, people.