Only a few years ago, the name Batman had returned to the realm of mockery, thanks to a few unfortunate sequels that offered worse interpretations than Adam West. Then Christian Bale redeemed the mysterious hero in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Now The Dark Knight continues the Batman story while introducing The Joker (Heath Ledger, in his penultimate screen appearance) and Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart) into the mythology. Bale chatted with us about the movie, his predilection for playing dark characters like Batman, and the loss of his co-star Ledger.The Wave: Does it hurt your throat to do the Batman voice?
Christian Bale: Not anymore. On the first one, it took me a while to really get accustomed to it, but it’s like riding a bike. For the second one, I could just switch on and off any time.
TW: This is obviously another physically demanding role for you. Are you ever tempted to just relax and take a break?
CB: Absolutely. There’s a temptation to find a role where preparation involves drinking a lot of wine and eating a lot of pasta and just putting on a lot of weight. I think I put my body through enough transformation in the past few years that at my age now, getting to mid-30s, I’m starting to think, “Yeah, I might start to have consequences if I keep doing this to myself too much.” I’m starting not to quite feel as invulnerable as I always have. But I enjoy the notion of strenuous work – I don’t like particularly taking it easy.
TW: Heath Ledger’s death was so tragic, and he’s so great in the movie. What were your impressions of him, and what did his performance do for you?
CB: First of all, it’s wonderful that people are recognizing that. I love the fact that Chris [Nolan] has created in this movie even the possibility that people are talking about accolades for an actor in a superhero action genre movie. Usually that is never even considered, so kudos to Chris for doing that – and to Heath for coming forward with that devastating performance. He has raised the bar, completely, with it. He was absolutely committed; I enjoyed working with him immensely. Clearly it is tragic that this [was] his last complete performance. I would love it if he were to walk in the room right now – he’s great company. I looked forward to working with him many times in the future, to being his friend for many years to come. But this movie can be a celebration of his talent – and thank you for saying that, because he truly deserves that. He was a fierce talent and I was very fortunate to get to witness that talent and work with it, and know the man during his lifetime.
TW: You’re oh so suave as Batman. Are there any fun mishaps or bloopers for the DVD where you don’t look so cool?
CB: I’m not sure if there will be [any bloopers] – I think that kind of thing is really appropriate for comedies and stuff. Actually, I’m anti-extra information on DVDs. It’s just become normal, and I’m seen as being a real old-fashioned kind of grump when I express my attitudes toward it, but I think that movies, like magic, should maintain a mystery. I think if you want to find out how things are done, you should really have to work at that and search it out. I don’t like [that] things are offered up so easily, with all the behind the scenes footage and how things were shot.
TW: Do you see Batman as a hero or vigilante?
CB: A little of both. He’s only needed because the system has failed. You want to believe that citizens will stand up and fight for justice in a position where the system has failed. Bruce Wayne wants to create a foundation where the system can succeed and you get elected officials like Harvey Dent who have integrity, [so that] you don’t need Batman – he becomes obsolete. That’s what Bruce Wayne is looking for. But he’s a multifaceted character. That’s what I enjoy about this portrayal…. The Dark Knight sums him up very well. Usually it’s a white knight in shining armor that shows up. This guy has a desire to do good, an altruism born from his parents, but he also has a great deal of violence, anger and a lust for revenge – very negative emotions that he has to keep in check all the time. So there’s always that question mark: Is he going to cross the line? He looks demonic, not like a knight, and for a superhero he’s very conflicted.
TW: Do you understand his fascination with the extreme?
CB: I think I share a fascination with the extreme, like many people do. I think it’s a case of testing people’s mettle when the chips are really down. In the same way, dark characters are often more intriguing. We’re fascinated with people who break the rules of normal society. The shadow side is in all of us, the desire to destroy on occasion, and when people do that, it’s always fascinating. Of course, as an actor, I find that interesting. In saying that, I don’t want to become predictable in my choices, but there’s no doubt that those types of characters get more noticed and remembered more vividly. The good guy who toes the line is the harder character to play, because he’s not that memorable. I like variety. I want to be able to play the whole spectrum. That’s what a good actor does.
TW: Then why do you tend to be attracted to so many dark roles?
CB: I think I’ve played many light characters as well, but it’s human nature that people are interested in the dark characters more. The villain always gets more attention. It’s a reflection of what Batman is battling with. Everybody has a shadow side. We all have a recognition, if we’re not insane, of the codes of civilized society and the way that we should behave. But we all have another side to us, which we keep in check – not quite in the extremities that Batman does, but everyone is fascinated when they see somebody cease to keep that in check and when they start breaking all the rules.
TW: What do you look for in roles?
CB: First of all, I’ve just got to say, I haven’t always been in this situation where I’ve been able to be quite so picky. I’m very fortunate that I’ve found myself in that situation right now, and that could end at any minute. I wouldn’t have gotten into this if I just wanted to have no risk at all, so I enjoy meeting with and working with new directors and taking a risk with that. Then clearly the script has something…. I don’t have the arrogance to assume that I know anything about what people in general are going to want to see. I can only answer what I’m going to want to see myself, so that’s always how it begins.
Source: The Wave Mag
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