Daring to hate 'Dark Knight'

David Edelstein dared to go against the critical mass and now his e-mail inbox is paying the price.

Edelstein writes film reviews for New York magazine and he walked away from "The Dark Knight" with a strong opinion that the film was ponderous and bleak with a disturbing cruel streak. Here's an excerpt:

"We’re now in a modern, untransformed Manhattan, where the Joker’s opening bank heist unfolds in a tense, realistic style with multiple point-blank shootings. It’s a shock — and very effective — to see a comic-book villain come on like a Quentin Tarantino reservoir dog. But then the novelty wears off and the lack of imagination, visual and otherwise, turns into a drag. The 'Dark Knight' is noisy, jumbled, and sadistic. Even its most wondrous vision — Batman’s plunges from skyscrapers, bat-wings snapping open as he glides through the night like a human kite — can’t keep the movie airborne. There’s an anvil attached to that cape."

Yes, he made a bit of a hometown error there (the Gotham scenes of the movie were made in Chicago, not in his own New York) but it's his point of view that really sent fans into a rage. The hate mail reached such a avalanche level, he responded with a second essay. Here's his intriguing explanation:

"Why — apart from narcissistic injury — do I respond to the abuse? Because there has been a lot of chatter in the last few years that criticism is a dying profession, having been supplanted by the democratic voices of the Web. Not to get all Lee Siegel on you, but the Internet has a mob mentality that can overwhelm serious criticism. There is superb film writing in blogs and discussion groups — as good as anything I do. But there are also thousands of semi-literate tirades that actually reinforce the Hollywood status quo, that say: 'If you do not like The Dark Knight (or The Phantom Menace), you should be fired because you do not speak for the people.'"

Well, the people don’t need to be spoken for. And a critic’s job is not only to steer you to movies you might not have heard of or that died at the box office. It’s also to bring a different, much-needed perspective on blockbusters like The Dark Knight.

Columnist Patrick Goldstein, my distinguished colleague here at The Times, has a take on this too at his must-read Hollywood blog, The Big Picture.

-- Geoff Boucher

Update: Some readers inferred from my post that Edelstein left the screening of "The Dark Knight" early. He didn't (as far as I know) so I have edited the post above to eliminate the imprecise language. The line "walked out of 'The Dark Knight'" is now "walked away from 'The Dark Knight.'"

Image from "The Dark Knight" courtesy of Warner Bros.

Comments

[Jack]

I was deeply upset with the movie. I expected so much more.

[ed]

Martyr complex much? Reading his review, Edelstein simply gets it wrong. Numerous factual errors indicates he didn't understand the movie and it's just a poor constructed and poorly supported review.

The writer of the blog, and the comments here would make you think that just being contrary or going against the crowd is somehow HEROIC in itself. When you take a stand for something correct and righteous that is heroic. When you wave a flag to be contrary and get attention that is petulant.

What exactly is the problem here? The guy wrote a review and people gave him feedback. This article paints him heroic because.... his email got blown up? How HEROIC, not only is he among the small percent of dissenting reviewers (dissent = heroic no matter the circumstances). NOW he is HEROIC yet again because he is the only person ever to get critical emails, let's write another article about how terrible it is to suffer a small dose of your own medicine.

Bottom line is this review rang false with many readers. Of course when an elite East Coast reviewer with an office shoots off a dissenting article, THAT is heroic. It's epic even. Yet when the rabble in middle america shoots off a dissenting email to that dissenting article... it's HARASSMENT? GROUPTHINK? An Internet-driven witch-hunt perhaps? Of course it couldn't actually be Edelstein's WORK could it? It's inconceivable that the ignorant masses out in America actually had a valid criticism of a ELITE EAST COAST/NY writer??? The man has titles! and an office! how dare the rabble inject their opinions!

And what is the upshot that merited not 1 not 2 but 3 articles about his state of persecution? Is he being fired? Is he being persecuted (aside in his own head)? He wrote a review that huge numbers of people think is ridiculous and a small portion of those people are letting him know about it. That is heroic? Professionalism OF COURSE means dishing out criticism, never being SUBJECT to criticism. Is it ironic that someone who grades others' performances for a living finds it so outrageous to himself be subject to that same criticism?

Get a clue people. Edelstein may thrive on drama but there's nothing much to see here other than a nasty mix of persecution complex, an unsupported feeling of elitism, and smug outrage at actually being called on crap you spew.

[Noah Jones]

I have never really understood the relevance of critics. I can't tell you if this movie is worth while because I haven't seen it yet. The trailers and packaging look good ... but so does the packaging on a can of spam.

I don't see the need for anyone to tell me if a movie, tv show or play is worth watching from someone who as seen far too many movies, tv shows or plays and who has a perspective distinct from my own. Let Mr. Edelstein and any other critic write what they want ... it is a valid opinion to themselves alone.

I also don't see the purpose of award shows. The number one album of the year for me is the one i decide to listen to most often. What critics think, or even what you think for that matter, are irrelevant to me.

[Richard]

I'm on the fence regarding this article.

Yes, the Dark Knight did in fact overdo a lot of the explosions, and greatly suffered from less intelligent dialogue than it's predecessor, as well as having some truly bad points that stretched the film an hour too long.

However, the acting truly carried this film and made it better than it should have been. Never before have I seen such a maniacal and sinister bad guy performed so well. Heath Ledger's joker was truly above this film. Without him, the film would have been terribly average.

So if Mr. Edelstien walked out of the film, surely some of this was missed. If people are to criticize a movie critic, shouldn't it be due to him doing half of his job? Personally I believe he suffers from trying to overhype his own opinion, just as the critics who have healed praise on this film.

[staunton]

i haven't seen the movie yet so I can't agree or disagree on his opinion. But the writer is just doing his job, which is being a critic. I frequent the rottentomatoes website and notice that for big blockeblusters like this, any critic that gives the movie a bad rating gets all the comments from the internet users while the critics that give good ratings will see nothing in their inbox.

[Ben W]

I completely agree that critics need to be out there giving their informed opinions about movies especially when they go against the grain, but I still disagree with David Edelstein's review of the movie. I went to go see it and was blown away by some great performances. For the first time ever I actually felt the dispare that the characters in the movie felt because there wasn't an easy way out through a very predictable resolution. Yes, the movie was dark. It was supposed to be. It's Batman and that's how the comic goes. As far as blood and gore, there wasn't anything excessive. Yes, there was killing, but they weren't showing the blood and guts of it. If you're looking for those cheesy Batmans of old, then yes you will be disappointed. It was just how it should have been.

[Peter Catizone]

I went expecting to like the movie but it dragged and it did not meet our expectations. The best part of the movie was the begining bank robbery scene and it never picked up steam from there. Oscar winning hardly! Jack Nicholson was better.

[Marni Parker]

I think there is a misunderstaning about "walked out." I believe that means after the movie was over--not before. I haven't seen the movie yet and probably won't. I go to the movies to be entertained not horrified, disgusted, or terrorized. While this is undoubtedly a well done movie, it isn't my kind of thing.

[BBQ Platypus]

Geez, reading the comments on this page only reminds me of what the Internet does to people. Even though I loved The Dark Knight, I agree that it is Mr. Edelstein's job to give his honest opinion of the film.

However, the fact that many of the people seem to think that the only reason people claim to have enjoyed this movie was because they are drooling slaves to Hollywood marketing is equally disrespectful (if not MORE so) than the hate mail Edelstein has received. A lot of people liked the movie and some hated it. Get over yourselves - it's a movie.

Also, what the hell did he expect? When your work is published where everyone can read it, you can expect for it to be read, judged, and criticized. Getting negative feedback doesn't make ANYBODY a martyr, no matter how insanely over-the-top they went.

The very fact that this is even news is saddening. People are placing WAY too much value on themselves and their own opinions.

[JB]

Wow. I must say I too applaud any critic who has the guts to go against the masses these days. Bravo Edelstein. Either you're courageous or mad because your check from the studio is late. Either way, I have no faith in popular movie criticism these days. Can anyone really say this rambling, painfully long, shamble of a movie was good? How about the cliche-ridden dialogue and pointless subplots that never went anywhere? Can Aaron Eckhart please milk the coin toss ONE MORE TIME? Needless to say, a wonderful concept but sad screenwriting and a gigantic misuse of talent with the exception of Heath Ledger's wonderfully creepy performance. Have we slipped this far to think this is quality entertainment? A popcorn movie and nothing more...shame on the masses of critics who are playing into the studios hands like so many sheep!

[Drew]

Pft. Edelstein is just a troll and he's being disingenuous by blaming the Internet for being pissed at something he brought on himself.

[liloleme]

I saw the movie last night and I was less then impressed. So I guess that Mr. Edelstein speaks for at least one member of the community. I was so relieved to see the movie was over and then it drug on for another 45 minutes. The flashing, spinning scenes made me dizzy. The dialogue was often hard to understand and the script seemed patched together. I actually talked two other people into going to see it with me. They enjoyed it and I didn't. Go figure.

[Robert R]

Amen! A critic with the courage to point out that The Dark Knight is this summer's version of The Emperor Who Had No Clothes. Batman Begins was excellent and complex. This is a massively overhyped, very average film. Heath Ledger's performance wasn't outstanding; it wasn't any better than the work he did in A Knight's Tale,that laughably bad picture that brought him to the big screen.

I sat in the audience thinking, "Am I missing something?". When the final credits rolled and the audience began, literally, booing the movie, I realized that my opinion was shared by quite a few others.

[OMG]

I saw TDK yesterday afternoon and was pretty disappointed. Like many, I think my initial focus was Heath's Joker which was good for what the character was but everything else about the movie disappointed me. I hear there will be a third one. Batman Begins is still the one to beat.

[Frank]

I recall several years ago another "critic" that walked out on a film. The now-departed Celestine Sibley (1914-1999), in her review in the Atlanta Journal, scathed the Hollywood machine for its lack of moral fiber and its contribution to the decline of society.

Celestine recalled those "uplifting" films of her days, when Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland thrilled us with their galavanting antics.

The film?

The Shawshank Redemption.

Perhaps if she had the fortitude to watch through the entire movie she would have experienced one of the most uplifting films ever made.

Shame on her. Shame on you, Mr. Edelstein. Try to be a professional and do your job - or, perhaps, you are just getting a little long in the tooth.

[HipsterDoofus]

What made the Godfather an all time classic? Is it that it was just that good or was it more like we were TOLD it was that good and if you didn't believe it you should be burned at the stake. Don't get the wrong impression, I loved the Godfather 1 and 2, but why is it they are considered the greatest movies ever?
The Dark Knight is a epic movie for what it is just like the Godfather. You cannot compare the Dark Knight to the Godfather 1 or 2 or to any other "classc" movies because they are not the same. You "enlightned" people need to get off its back and appreciate it for what it is, A MOVIE!! By the way, a movie that will make close to $500 million in North America alone, so evidently they are doing something right.

[Gregory]

>

Eli Langer above nails it. I could not agree more.

[Brad]

Tess,

The purpose of the critic is ABSOLUTELY NOT "to assist people in deciding whether to spend their hard earned cash watching a movie." The job of a critic is to offer honest criticism from their own unique perspective. That's it. Do your own research, watch the trailer. that's your job.

[kevgood]

"Edelstein writes film reviews for New York magazine and he walked out of "The Dark Knight" with a strong opinion that the film was ponderous and bleak with a disturbing cruel streak. Here's an excerpt:

"We’re now in a modern, untransformed Manhattan, where the Joker’s opening bank heist unfolds in a tense, realistic style with multiple point-blank shootings."

It is hilarious to me that a guy who writes film reviews for New York magazine thinks the opening scene of The Dark Knight was filmed in Manhattan. Hello! Ever heard of a place called Chicago, brainiac?

[JM]

I have no issue with going against the status quo in reviews as long as they have a good argument. After all, critics are just educated opinions based on an a sound education in film history.

However, in SF Bay, we have Jan Wahl who bashes any film that isn't all happy-happy with no real educated data aside from "depressing and gross" or what she hijacks from our best reviewer Mick LaSalle. The last film she panned a flick as heavily as the "Dark Knight " was "No Country for Old Men".

Point: the reviewer in this article had some good observations and was able to argue them. Fine, his opinion. If I want nothing great reviews of this film, I'll go to Batman fan site.

[Stanislaw]

I think move good movie! If you dont aggre with me, than your are a movie bad reviewer! Heth leger amazing! Good great movie!

[Sin Amos]

Thank God for IRON MAN. Haha. The Dark Knight is Shakespear compared to that FLUFF. Hahha. If you couldn't digest this version, then you have the palette of a preemie. Nolan has done what no other filmmaker has done. He made a real movie; not some caricature/cartoon freak show. HE MADE ART.

[Ray]

I'm on the fence when it comes to critics. Normally I write them off as complete windbags. Some are ultra-liberal crazies who back any piece of garbage produced by Hollywood. Others are sheltered suburbanite conservative soccer moms (this includes golfer men) who consider any film to be the work of the devil and the reason for civilization's collapse. However, on the flipside, there has been nothing but crap movies that consistently become blockbusters because most people in this country have been reduced to drooling imbeciles as a result of consuming nothing but reality tv and fast food. They spend their days texting their empty heads off and living for Paris Hilton gossip never realizing that they really have no right to life and are merely cannon fodder. I want to see The Dark Knight but when I noticed to quick theatre sellouts and long lines I winced and thought, "Uh oh! Another Spidey or Episode III?" So now I'm reluctant. These days you don't know who to believe, critics, your doped up A.D.D. buddies or the drunk relatives. I say kudos to this guy for not going with the masses bt at the same time, he might be trying to be "different guy" which is equally annoying. Wait for DVD I say.

[jordan]

The Dark Knight is without any dought the BEST movie of the summer! The only sad thing is that Heath isnt around to see how fans react to his roll as the Joker. This movie was amasing! Honestly if you do not like this movie you have bad taste in movies.

[Edom]

Deep movies like The Dark Knight are the only reason I'm still willing to attend superhero movies.