Life Through the Lens: There is no triumph without traumas
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"Endure, Mr. Wayne. Take it."
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We are creatures bound for binding but destined for destination.
We are born into a struggle, and that struggle will be a constant in life. There is not a person on earth that is not mid-struggle. Like all things, though, there is a balance to the universe. You cannot "overcome" without a tribulation. With a pitfall comes the ladder of resurgence. With pain comes the promise of a relief.
Every opportunity offers both trauma and triumph. Ride those waves!
It was a normal Thanksgiving Day in the neighborhood: food, laughter, fellowship. The Dovers and the Birches couldn't be closer, both geographically and relationally. As the night winds down, the two youngest kids cross the neighborhood to swap houses … but disappear in the process.
Amidst the growing panic, the teenage kids mentioned a creepy RV parked out front earlier. Your mind doesn't want to go there, but it is impossible not to: kidnapped?
Detective Loki is put on the case and quickly follows the leads to the RV's owner. Could it really be that easy? Turns out, nothing in life is that easy. The suspect is released, and justice sputters to a halt. If the police can't solve this case, where every passing second haunts the families, then maybe extreme matters should be taken outside of the law.
To what lengths would you go for someone you love?
Trauma does crazy things to your brain. It confines -- it confounds -- it confuses. It turns what you used to know upside down. It removes assurance and replaces them with doubts and dead-ends. For most, trauma creates unsolvable labyrinths and inescapable prisons.
Instead of operating inside of these boxes, break free. Self-imposed prisons rely on isolation and darkness. There is power to be had in the recognition: you are not alone. Your trauma does not speak to an end; instead, it speaks to a beginning. There is life after trauma.
Find connection out of confusion. Find community out of brokenness. Seek (and accept) shared-experience instead of shamed-exclusion. You are not alone in your trauma.
Speak up instead of shut down. Reach out instead of recoil in. The labyrinth you find yourself in has an exit through acceptance. The prison of trauma will crumble under the new weight of purposeful community.
Prisoners is a powerhouse of a thriller! Director Denis Villeneuve delivers on a grand scale as well as in the eerily intimate. His control of every moment is masterful, and his handle on tension is flawless. The music by Johann Johannsson is suspenseful and gripping. The cinematography by Roger Deakins is amazingly instinctual and creative. The production design by Patrice Vermette is incredible in its grit and grunge.
The acting is astonishing in its breadth and depth; it is truly an ensemble for the ages. Hugh Jackman is at his best as Keller Dover. Jake Gyllenhaal is unforgettable as Detective Loki. Viola Davis (as Nancy Birch) and Maria Bello (Grace Dover) act as the film's heart. Terrence Howard is raw as Franklin Birch. Melissa Leo is affecting as Holly Jones. Paul Dano changes the atmosphere every time he appears as Alex Jones. There is not a moment of hesitation within the cast -- they are always on!
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REPORT CARD: Prisoners
Grade: A+
Assessment: A perfect cinematic experience
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Bruce Wayne is at a crossroads of sorts: should he continue to do good for people who don't appreciate or accept his help? His intervention is called unjust and unwanted. Should he continue to risk his life and safety for a group of people who label him as the problem?
Along comes a new threat. Not the threat of robbery and violence; that he can handle. This threat is the imminent approach of chaos. The Joker wants no money, no power, no control; instead, he wants all establishment and order to burn. To dissolve. To cease. That end justifies any means for the Joker. Bruce must now choose between the people who reject him and the reality which discards him.
It is a sobering thought -- everyone struggles. You cannot wish your way out of struggle. You cannot plan your way out of struggle. You cannot buy your way out of struggle. It isn't because you are evil -- it isn't because you are deserving -- it isn't because you are lacking … it just is. Struggle is a guarantee, a certainty in life. Sorry. Even Batman, a larger-than-life hero, must struggle. It isn't because he deserves it -- it is inescapable. If Batman struggles, don't be surprised when struggle finds you. Sorry … again.
If struggle is inevitable, it can be a freeing feeling. You can be released from blame and guilt. You can be comforted by the fact that bad things happen. Bad things happen and your only option is to "Endure, Mr. Wayne. Take it." Alfred's advice to Bruce is my advice to you: you must endure. Does that mean you will enjoy it … no. Does that mean you will always recognize the light at the end of the tunnel … no. Does that mean the struggle will end with smiles and butterflies … no. Does that mean you will always see the bigger purpose … no. Struggle can take and never replace -- struggle can maim and never heal -- struggle can steal and never gift … but the fact remains: struggle is inevitable -- you must endure.
With all of this being said, it comes down to this question: what is the "right thing" to struggle for? You are going to have to so … do it for the right things.
When it comes to superhero movies, The Dark Knight is in a (justice) league of its own. The aesthetic, the consistency, the precision … it is unmatched! Director/writer Christopher Nolan had a vision and executed it to perfection. His Batman trilogy arch is textured, authentic, and inspired. The music by Hans Zimmer is an audible feast. The art direction and the production design (by Nathan Crowley) establish a terrifying yet grounded reality. The costume design by Lindy Hemming is the best Batman has ever had! The cinematography by Wally Pfister is stunning and surreal.
The film sports some wonderful performances, capped by the Oscar winning performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker. Ledger's character-work and dedication deserves all the praise it receives -- it is truly something to behold. Christian Bale as Batman is not one to be overlooked, though; his Batman is rich in meaning and expression. Michael Caine is warm and accepting as Alfred. Gary Oldman is strong and reliable as Gordon. Morgan Freeman is charismatic as Lucius Fox.
My only real criticism is the performance of Aaron Eckhart. He is perfectly cast as Harvey Dent … but things become unhinged later in the film. For me, it doesn't work. Unlike the Joker, Two-Face is caricaturish and amateur. He rings very false with me.
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REPORT CARD: The Dark Knight
Grade: A
Assessment: Batman at his best!