Christopher Nolan

Fan-Made, Fake Posters For ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ or ‘Untitled Batman Project’

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:50:31 -0600

CHICAGO – There was talk of a sequel even before “The Dark Knight” hit theaters and obliterated box-office records. That’s all we still have at this point, but we also have a pair of decent, fan-made posters for “The Dark Knight” sequel.

Though IMDb lists the poster above in its entry for the next “The Dark Knight” film, which is
currently being called “The Dark Knight Returns” or the “Untitled Batman Project,” this image
is a fan-made creation and can be found in this GameSpot discussion thread on Aug. 30, 2008.
Image credit: GameSpot discussion thread

Though so much of the project is still up in the air and unofficial, what’s currently being called “The Dark Knight Returns” (which may or may not be the sequel’s actual title) or the “Untitled Batman Project” (as it’s now listed on IMDb) has a fan-made poster above that dates back at least to Aug. 30, 2008 in this GameSpot discussion thread.

Though the poster above is currently displayed within the images for the “Untitled Batman Project” on IMDb with a release date for the film in 2011, we can confirm that it is fake. A number of other posters for “The Dark Knight Returns” have surfaced online and also have been confirmed as fake, fan-made creations (see below). While it’s too early to speculate on casting news, Aaron Eckhart has been in the news recently on the topic.

This poster for “The Dark Knight Returns” is confirmed as fake and is a fan-made creation.
Image credit: Warner Bros.

“The Dark Knight” recently hit the colossal $1 billion mark in global box-office receipts. This currently puts the Warner Bros. film as the No. 4 highest-grossing movie of all time. It’s just behind “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” ($1.066 billion), “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” ($1.119 billion) and “Titanic” ($1.842 billion).

Though there’s little conclusive information about the new film at this point, “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan may have his eyes set squarely this time on The Riddler. The Riddler (also known as Edward Nigma, Nygma or Nashton in the comic books from DC Comics) was played by Jim Carrey in 1995’s “Batman Forever”. There’s also talk about including Catwoman in the sequel.

Just like you could count on HollywoodChicago.com to bring you comprehensive and exhaustive coverage of “The Dark Knight” directly from the local streets of Chicago, so you can consider us a safe bet for our coverage on the sequel.

“The Dark Knight,” which was released on July 18, 2008, starred a powerhouse cast including the late Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Chin Han, Eric Roberts and Anthony Michael Hall from writer and director Christopher Nolan.

If you can’t wait for 2011 for the next Christopher Nolan film, though, you’re in luck now! We have a just-released teaser trailer for Nolan’s sci-fi thriller “Inception”.

“Inception” features a star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page (“Juno”), Cillian Murphy (“Sunshine”), Joseph Gordon-Levitt of “(500) Days of Summer,” Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), Ken Watanabe, Tom Berenger and Michael Caine (“The Dark Knight”). Emma Thomas is a producer of “Inception,” which is written, directed and produced by Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight,” “The Prestige,” “Batman Begins,” “Insomnia,” “Memento”).

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Video: ‘Inception’ Teaser Trailer From ‘The Dark Knight’ Director Christopher Nolan With Leonardo DiCaprio

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:10:45 -0600

CHICAGO – Riding off the ravenous wave of the explosively successful “The Dark Knight,” Warner Bros. has released a new teaser trailer you’ve got to see. It’s for the 2010 psychological sci-fi action-thriller titled “Inception” from “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan.

“Inception” is slated to hit theaters on July 16, 2010. Watch the new “Inception” teaser trailer below, see a screenshot we created from the trailer and read the film’s synopsis as we know it now!

Here’s what we know about the “Inception” plot so far:

“Inception” is a contemporary sci-fi psychological actioner set within the architecture of the mind for the serious-minded action auteur.

“Inception” from “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page and Cillian Murphy.
Image credit: screenshot created by HollywoodChicago.com from Warner Bros. trailer

Also, where do things stand with “The Dark Knight” sequel? We’re hearing it being named “The Dark Knight Returns” for now and IMDb is currently listing the Christopher Nolan follow-up film as “Untitled Batman Project,” but we do have its first poster here!

Watch more HollywoodChicago.com-hosted A&E videos.
Watch more movie videos on HollywoodChicago.com hosted elsewhere.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

The 10 Biggest Oscar Snubs of 2009

BrianTT — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:31:57 -0700

CHICAGO – Stories are released every year about the gap between the Oscars and public opinion. It’s a chasm that seems to be growing with every passing year. For the 81st-annual Academy Awards, this legendary group had a chance to close that gap and nominate two films for best picture that were critically acclaimed and commercially successful: “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E”. But they blew it.

The two films did land a combined fourteen nominations, but were excluded from Best Director and Best Picture, proving that the Academy still has a long way to go when it comes to actually recognizing the best of the year. But they were far from the only mistake revealed on Thursday morning, January 22nd, 2009.

Before we discuss the serious snubs, Best Foreign Language Film is too much of a joke to be considered eligible. The likely winner, Waltz With Bashir, is very deserving, but the process is so flawed that it makes the inevitable win for Ari Folman’s excellent film a slightly hollow one. The fact that the Academy still employs a process that makes one of the best foreign films of the year (Let the Right One In) ineligible and ignores one of the most critically acclaimed choices like Gomorrah from even making the short list is mind-boggling to me. It’s not snubbing, it’s utter nonsense.

Picking ten snubs from this year’s list of nominees was shockingly easy. In fact, there wasn’t a single category that didn’t have a worthy contender on the outside looking in. And how do you rank them? What’s more painful - Sally Hawkins, Christopher Nolan, Darren Aronofsky, or Rosemarie DeWitt still being unable to put Oscar nominee next to their name? Instead, we’re picking the biggest snub per category with the big eight and then two notable omissions from the other categories rounding out a top ten (well, top eleven if you’re being picky).

Dear Zachary.
Photo credit: Oscilloscope

10. “Dear Zachary” for Best Documentary

Kurt Kuenne’s amazing dissection of pure evil and immeasurable good didn’t even make the short list for a category that’s almost as messed up as Best Foreign Language Film. Man on Wire will probably and predictably win but there were so many other choices they could have made to join it then the ones they did. Trouble the Water was powerful, so that’s a great nod, but it is mind-boggling to me that Werner Herzog gets snubbed for one of the best nature documentaries of the last few years, Grizzly Man, but nominated for a film that even he would admit wasn’t nearly as good, Encounters at the End of the World. But all of it pales in comparison to the most powerfully emotional experience that I had in 2008 - Dear Zachary. Like Foreign Language Film, this will be a category that I use for a bathroom break.

Winner Bruce Springsteen for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for “The Wrestler” on stage during the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2009
Photo credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC

9. “The Wrestler” by Bruce Springsteen for Best Song

This is perhaps the most head-scratching snub of the day. It’s clearly not an anti-Boss thing, as they gave him the award for “Streets of Philadelphia”. No, I think there’s a deeper problem here. I think this category is broken. Maybe after giving the trophy to Three Six Mafia (deservedly, I might add), something snapped. How else do you explain the THREE nominations for “Enchanted” in this category last year (snubbing Eddie Vedder’s great work on “Into the Wild” and tunes by John Mayer, Rufus Wainwright, and Bob Dylan) and now this disaster? Don’t get me wrong. The two songs from “Slumdog Millionaire” are both good and it will be ridiculously cool to see M.I.A. perform on the Oscars. And I love the track from “WALL-E” by Peter Gabriel. But did they forget the other two nominees? How about “The Wrestler” and “Dracula’s Lament” from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”? Come on. It’s not too late. Just pretend there were five all along. We’re gonna need a laugh after all the “Reader” and “Frost/Nixon” clips anyway.

Let the Right One In
Photo credit: Magnolia

8. “Let the Right One In” by John Ajvide Lindqvist for Best Adapted Screenplay

I know it will be a cold day in movie hell when a foreign horror movie gets a nomination this prestigious, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t snubbed. The script for Tomas Alfredson’s stunning study of vampirism and adolescence is easily better than three of the chosen nominees and arguably second only to Simon Beaufoy’s stunning work on “Slumdog Millionaire”. No offense to the talented people chosen for this category, but could it have been any more predictable? Take the award-winning plays, the F. Scott Fitzgerald adaptation, and something called “The Reader” has to be a great adapted screenplay, right? “Let the Right One In” is a challenging, daring examination of childhood isolation through the lens of the vampire mythology. It’s a wonderful screenplay that was probably not even considered. It will stand the test of time far more impressively than “Frost/Nixon” or “The Reader”.

‘The Dark Knight’ Returns to IMAX Theaters on Jan. 23, 2009

BrianTT — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:13:48 -0700

CHICAGO – You can celebrate the very likely Oscar nominations for “The Dark Knight” or lament the film’s snubbing by the academy by revisiting Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece in all of its IMAX glory starting this Friday on Jan. 23, 2009.

“The Dark Knight” will reopen at four theaters in the Chicagoland area: the Navy Pier IMAX in downtown Chicago, the Seven Bridges IMAX in Woodridge, Ill.; the Lincolnshire 20 in Lincolnshire, Ill.; and the Randall IMAX 15 in Batavia, Ill.

True Heath Ledger fans and “The Dark Knight” junkies may feel the need to see the film on opening night at Navy Pier because they will also be admitted to a special screening of “Batman Begins” at midnight for no additional cost. Yes, the 9 p.m. show of “The Dark Knight” at Navy Pier IMAX scores you tickets for this one-time event. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for children and can be bought at the Navy Pier IMAX Web site.

Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action drama “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Stephen Vaughan

All across the country, Warner Bros. is bringing back the IMAX presentation of “The Dark Knight” to give audiences one more chance to see the film on the big screen.

Dan Fellman (president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures) said in a statement: “‘The Dark Knight’ is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word. We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.”

Christopher Nolan has already received a Directors Guild of America (DGA) nomination and producers Nolan, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas have garnered a Producers Guild Award nomination. A Writers Guild of America (WGA) award nomination for best adapted screenplay has gone to Chris Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer.

Cast member Heath Ledger received a Screen Actors Guild award nomination and has also won a Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award and numerous other critics groups’ awards for best supporting actor.

“The Dark Knight” also won the Critics’ Choice Award for best action film and swept the People’s Choice Awards in five categories including favorite movie and favorite cast. It will very likely score a number of Oscar nominations when they are announced on Jan. 22, 2009. Heath Ledger’s searing performance is a front runner for best supporting actor.

“The Dark Knight” is being rereleased by Warner Brothers Pictures and stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. It was written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan and directed by Christopher Nolan. It will be rereleased in IMAX theaters on Jan. 23, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Dark Knight’ Slideshow: 10-Image Gallery of New DVD, Blu-Ray Collector’s Sets

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:57:49 -0700

CHICAGO – In anticipation of the DVD and Blu-ray release of “The Dark Knight” on Dec. 9, 2008, we now have high-quality collector’s set images for your viewing pleasure and details about where to get them.

“The Dark Knight” from director Chris Nolan stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Chin Han, Eric Roberts and Anthony Michael Hall.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All image credits for this “The Dark Knight” slideshow are from here and here.

thedarkknight1: Best Buy will have a collector’s set in DVD and Blu-ray with a scaled-down version of the mask Heath Ledger wore as the Joker in the opening bank-robbery scene.
thedarkknight2: Best Buy will have a collector’s set in DVD and Blu-ray with a scaled-down version of the mask Heath Ledger wore as the Joker in the opening bank-robbery scene.
thedarkknight3: Best Buy will have a collector’s set in DVD and Blu-ray with a scaled-down version of the mask Heath Ledger wore as the Joker in the opening bank-robbery scene.
thedarkknight4: The steelbook version of the DVD and Blu-ray case, which will be available from Futureshop in Canada and FYE in the U.S.
thedarkknight5: The steelbook version of the DVD and Blu-ray case, which will be available from Futureshop in Canada and FYE in the U.S.
thedarkknight6: Walmart will sell a gift set for Harvey Dent believers. The two-disc DVD has his luck coin and a comic book.
thedarkknight7: A Blu-ray release for “The Dark Knight” with a scale model of the batpod.
thedarkknight8: “The Dark Knight” Blu-ray.
thedarkknight9: “The Dark Knight” Blu-ray.
thedarkknight10: “The Dark Knight” DVD.

Read our comprehensive film review of “The Dark Knight”.

See our 35-image “The Dark Knight” red-carpet slideshow.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Dark Knight’ Bestows Role of a Lifetime For Heath Ledger, Epic Proportions For Itself

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:01:00 -0600

CHICAGO – With only three short words comprising the film’s enigmatic title, “The Dark Knight” also boasts three epic claims to fame: the role of a lifetime for the late Heath Ledger as the hauntingly deranged Joker, one of the best films of 2008 and one of the greatest superhero films of all time.

In a year when Hollywood has the superhero woody comparable to when westerns where the greatest thing since sliced bread, “The Dark Knight” not only fares well against blockbuster competition with films like “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk” but also manages to rise above chartbuster status into a whole new league of undisputed justice.

FULL REVIEW
Read Adam Fendelman’s full “The Dark Knight” review.

RELATED IMAGE GALLERIES
View our exclusive Chicago red-carpet slideshow.
View our full, high-resolution “The Dark Knight” image gallery.

RELATED READING
Read our comprehensive news on “The Dark Knight”.
More film reviews from critic Adam Fendelman.

Rating: 5.0/5.0
(rarely perfect)

Though a decidedly dark and outcast Batman is the heart behind the marketing machine for “The Dark Knight” from writer and director Christopher Nolan (who also directed the film’s first iteration in 2005 entitled “Batman Begins”), Christian Bale in the seminal role has his show stolen by Ledger’s villain.

While to some it may be surprising to classify Bale’s performance as “B” list and Ledger’s as “A+” list, you almost feel modesty in Bale’s screen time to honor the true man of this film’s 142 minutes.

While “The Dark Knight” completed principal photography prior to Ledger’s death, Bale delivers an intricately muted role as compared to Ledger. While entwined with the power inherent in his superhero marauding, Bale’s also humbled from working with another man who was delivering the culmination of his life’s work.

Health Ledger disappears so convincingly and completely into the Joker that you struggle to remember him in anything else.

This is a telling testament to an illustrious – albeit too short – career of an actor who memorably broke free in transformative roles in films including “Brokeback Mountain”. Nolan – who for this film was significantly influenced by the 1995 film “Heat” – says he selected Ledger for the focal Joker role based on his “fearlessness”.

Ledger’s Joker is developed to the finest of details even down to his unruly tongue action and the sounds of his excess saliva. Moreover, Nolan and co-writing brother Jonathan Nolan (David S. Goyer was also integral in the film’s story) deliver to Ledger the best profundities of any talent in the star-studded film.

“The Dark Knight,” which is directed by Christopher Nolan and features Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall, Colin McFarlane, Joshua Harto, Michael Jai White and William Fichtner, will open everywhere on July 18, 2008 in traditional theaters and in IMAX. The film will show in IMAX for a continuous 72 hours for its opening Chicago weekend.

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “The Dark Knight” review. View our exclusive red-carpet coverage of “The Dark Knight” in Chicago.

Heath Ledger stars as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros., copyright DC Comics

Gary Oldman at Chicago’s Navy Pier for the red-carpet premiere of “The Dark Knight” on July 16, 2008. In the film, Oldman plays Lt. James Gordon.
Original photography for HollywoodChicago.com by Kris Kasperek of iKLiKphoto

Christian Bale as Batman on his Batpod in “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros., copyright DC Comics

Continuing reading for Adam Fendelman’s full “The Dark Knight” review. View our exclusive red-carpet coverage of “The Dark Knight” in Chicago.

Exclusive 35-Image ‘The Dark Knight’ Slideshow: Director Christopher Nolan, Gary Oldman, Walk Chicago Red Carpet

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:01:00 -0600

CHICAGO – This exclusive, 35-image slideshow contains original HollywoodChicago.com photography from the July 16, 2008 red carpet for “The Dark Knight” at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Our full review of the film by critic Adam Fendelman can be read here.

You can either click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photo credits for this slideshow go to professional Chicago photographer Kris Kasperek of iKLiKphoto.

thedarkknight_chicago1.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago2.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago3.jpg: A Chicago interpretation of the Joker
thedarkknight_chicago4.jpg: A Chicago interpretation of the Joker
thedarkknight_chicago5.jpg: A Chicago interpretation of the Joker
thedarkknight_chicago6.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago7.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago8.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago9.jpg: Batman fans on the red carpet
thedarkknight_chicago10.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago11.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago12.jpg: Chin Han plays Lau in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago13.jpg: Chin Han (left) plays Lau in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago14.jpg: Chin Han plays Lau in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago15.jpg: Michael Caine plays Alfred Pennyworth in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago16.jpg: Michael Caine plays Alfred Pennyworth in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago17.jpg: Michael Caine plays Alfred Pennyworth in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago18.jpg: Michael Caine (left) with CIFF founder Michael Kutza
thedarkknight_chicago19.jpg: Michael Caine plays Alfred Pennyworth in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago20.jpg: Unknown
thedarkknight_chicago21.jpg: Unknown
thedarkknight_chicago22.jpg: Unknown
thedarkknight_chicago23.jpg: Gary Oldman (center) plays Lt. James Gordon in the film
thedarkknight_chicago24.jpg: Gary Oldman plays Lt. James Gordon in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago25.jpg: Gary Oldman plays Lt. James Gordon in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago26.jpg: Gary Oldman plays Lt. James Gordon in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago27.jpg: Gary Oldman plays Lt. James Gordon in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago28.jpg: Gary Oldman plays Lt. James Gordon in “The Dark Knight”
thedarkknight_chicago29.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet in Chicago on July 16, 2008
thedarkknight_chicago30.jpg: “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan (right)
thedarkknight_chicago31.jpg: “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan
thedarkknight_chicago32.jpg: “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan (right)
thedarkknight_chicago33.jpg: “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan (right)
thedarkknight_chicago34.jpg: Christopher Nolan (second from right) with his wife
thedarkknight_chicago35.jpg: “The Dark Knight” red carpet at Chicago’s Navy Pier

Chicago Filmmaker Jerry Vasilatos to Shoot Short Film ‘The Dark Knight Project’ This Weekend

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:55:33 -0600

CHICAGO – Chicago filmmaker Jerry Vasilatos says “no copyright infringement is intended” by his shoestring-budgeted short film “The Dark Knight Project,” which he announced to HollywoodChicago.com in the middle of the night on June 13, 2008.

The timing is but hours before the June 14 and June 15, 2008 shoot this weekend. Asserting he’s not looking to get rich or famous with the effort and is merely doing so for the love of the game, Warner Bros. may perhaps empathize.

With his “The Dark Knight Project,” Vasilatos is slyly piggybacking on a buzz-building train for a film that will potentially be 2008’s most prominent.

“The Dark Knight Project” from Chicago filmmaker Jerry Vasilatos will shoot in Chicago from June 14 to 15, 2008.
Image credit: Jerry Vasilatos

The news of “The Dark Knight Project” comes on the heels of our announcement of “72 hours of Batman” whereby “The Dark Knight” will be shown for a consecutive 72 hours in IMAX at Chicago’s Navy Pier beginning on July 18, 2008 for opening weekend.

The following statement about “The Dark Knight Project” was issued to HollywoodChicago.com and is being used with permission.

With the theatrical release of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” approaching in July [2008], an intrepid group of Chicago filmmakers will take to the streets this weekend to shoot a Batman fan film that bridges events between 2005’s “Batman Begins” and the upcoming Warner Brothers blockbuster.

“The Dark Knight Project” chronicles the adventures of Gotham Midtown students Heather Nolan and Mikey Bale (played by Allyssa O’Donnell and David Sanchez).

Intent on being the first people in Gotham City to capture actual video of [Batman] in action for a school project, they set out with their video camera to interview people on the streets.

[They] witness the evacuation of a city block by police in the middle of a bomb scare and ultimately encounter Batman in the middle of a back alley break-in where he saves both high schoolers from a menacing group of thugs working for the Joker.

“I always wanted to shoot a Batman story. He is one of my favorite characters. Since I sincerely doubt Warner Brothers will ever ask me to direct one for them, I decided to use the resources I have available and do one myself,” jokes Chicago filmmaker Jerry Vasilatos, who wrote the story and is also producing and directing it.

“Every time I am downtown, I am reminded of the fact that we live in virtual Gotham City,” Vasilatos said.

He added: “Shooting an HD movie and emulating the same universe that Christopher Nolan created for ‘Batman Begins’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ allows us to brand our short film with a certain authenticity and production value that we hope will have people thinking our story really could have taken place between the feature films.”

Assembling a talented group of filmmakers and cast from Chicago’s creative community, Vasilatos teamed up with co-producer Zoe Triantafillou and director of photography Trevi Albin to produce the film on a shoestring budget. [They are] relying on the downtown locations and authentic costuming to bring the short film to life.

“This is a complete labor of love,” Vasilatos said. “We’re not selling it. We’re not making any money off it.

“I just wanted the opportunity to shoot a short Batman story with high production values and share it with other fans in tribute to the character as well as director Christopher Nolan, who I think has finally nailed the type of Batman movie fans have always wanted to see on the big screen.”

Vasilatos’ crew shoots the film this weekend in several downtown locations leading to the climactic alley fight being shot off Van Buren on Sunday night between Batman (being played by Chicago actor Chris Nendick) and the Joker’s thugs.

Vasilatos also created a MySpace page for his two fictional characters Heather and Mikey where they have been blogging about their efforts to capture video of Batman to visitors. Their MySpace page is at www.myspace.com/darkknightproject.

A dedicated URL for the release of the film online is at www.darkknightproject.com. The short film will be released online in early July before “The Dark Knight” hits theaters.

Vasilatos, who returned to the Chicago production scene last spring, spent 10 years in Los Angeles working as a producer, director and editor with clients including Universal Home Video, The Reelz Channel and Fox Atomic.

His previous producing and directing efforts include the nationally syndicated entertainment news show “Made in Hollywood” and the Chicago Christmas movie “Solstice,” which was originally broadcast on Lifetime and is now enjoying a second life on Amazon.com under its new title “The Night Before Christmas”.

He also recently served as an editor on four episodes of the popular History Channel series “Gangland” during its first and second season. For more information or to arrange a visit to the set on June 14 or 15, call 323-309-7691.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Chicago’s Navy Pier to Feature ‘72 Hours of Batman’ For ‘The Dark Knight’ IMAX Premiere

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:08:17 -0600

CHICAGO – “The Dark Knight,” which for hordes of moviegoers across the U.S. is 2008’s most anticipated film, won’t just open on July 18, 2008 in Chicago to everyday fanfare. It was announced on Wednesday that the film will have “72 hours of Batman” that weekend at Chicago’s Navy Pier for its IMAX version.

Beginning with the first public showing at midnight on Friday, July 18 (late Thursday night), the film will show consecutively all weekend until late Sunday, July 20 (the midnight show). As well, various Batman-themed games, contests and prizes will add to the buzz throughout the weekend.

A scene from “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: The New York Times on March 9, 2008

Just in time for Father’s Day, tickets for every show that weekend go on sale this Thursday, June 12. Because it’s IMAX, the price is jacked up a bit to $15 for adults or $13 for children. Tickets can be obtained at http://www.imax.com/chicago. This is the film’s description:

“The Dark Knight” reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne. Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of lieutenant Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets.

The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.

The film also stars Academy Award winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) as Alfred; Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”) as arch villain The Joker; Gary Oldman as lieutenant Jim Gordon; Aaron Eckhart as district attorney Harvey Dent; Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) as Lucius Fox.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Three Months Early, First Review For ‘The Dark Knight’ Surfaces Online

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:05:10 -0600

CHICAGO – With today being April 9, 2008 and with “The Dark Knight” scheduled to open on July 18, 2008, the difference between the two dates, of course, is more than three months. Even so, the first review for the monolithically anticipated film has just hit the Web in Portuguese.

Contributor Alexandre Winck for the respected Batman site Batman-on-Film.com reports that the review comes from a “well-known blog in Brazil” that’s part of the “largest media corporation” there, which is known as Globo. Winck says the author is a “respected journalist”. While the translation into English is a bit rough, you’ll get the gist. The following information may contain spoilers.

Director Chris Nolan on the set of “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Released by the New York Times on March 9, 2008

My secret agent between the Armani suits saw a super private session for “The Dark Knight” and came out drooling. It will be a great success, he guarantees.

The gadgets – especially the [Batpod], [which is] responsible for an acclaimed action sequence – are crazy and Heath Ledger might receive a deserved [award?] for his Joker. [He is] a mixture of a fool/clown, schizophrenic, sadistic and crazy.

The guy delivered, got himself into the role and it’s unrecognizable. There will be no other Joker after him.

Many great scenes. Impeccable effects. Music and sounds pretty loud, but helping the story. They have a heartbeat they use in a sensational way [that helps to anticipate] the next scene [as] a psychological trigger [like in “Jaws”].

The cast is awesome. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman [steal] scenes in which all are present. Maggie Gyllenhaal [is] fantastic replacing Katie Holmes and Aaron Eckhart [is] a great surprise as the politician with a heart of gold whose personality changes after a horrible accident.

Another surprise is Eric Roberts as the mobster he knows so well how to do. Christian Bale [is] solid as ever [and] cool since Bruce Wayne is a rich playboy and Batman is the opposite. The film plays a lot with this duality. All the characters are complex, [have] ambiguities [and are] very interesting and delicate.

The humor … is totally dark. The movie is very dark and, in this version, a little too long. [It] will blow [everyone] away.

Due to its sensitivity, part of the next sentence is whited out in case you don’t want to read it. If you do, select it with your mouse.

Another scene … with Ledger [as] the Joker playing dead inside a body bag caused adverse reactions in the audience for obvious reasons. It will possibly be cut.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com