Gotham City has crime problems. Some clowns (men in clown masks) are doing a bank robbery with a twist. At each stage one shoots his partner until there are few to divide the money between. Is it greed in a city without regard for others? A sign of our times, just as valid as the Thirties? But money is NOT at the heart of this anarchy. It's the Joker. He tells his story of woe a number of times to whoever will listen, but it's different each time. In other words, the reason is a sham. Another sign of our times, finding anybody to blame; doesn't matter who. Anarchy (living without laws) has no bounds. Harvey Dent is the new D.A. sworn to clean up the mess of crimes, and he quickly gets embroiled in the problems involved. A Chinese guy out of Hong Kong is working with the Gotham mob, and the Joker wants a piece of them. In other words, there's no clear distinction of good and bad guys. Everybody has a greedy, macho stance and they're carrying guns and not afraid to use them on a dime, or millions of dollars. Again, another sign of our times, Nazi Germany and the Thirties. There's a clear need for a hero (Batman) to rise up and save the city, but his very presence facilitates the need for someone like the Joker to press his buttons. Or can democracy (equal vote per person) prevail as seen in the two boats sequence?

All the elements of the film are brilliantly executed here without missing a beat. The score by two of the best in Hollywood is exquisite, the acting first class all around and the lines they say written in a robust screenplay are a joy that resonates as real drama. This is a comic book that earns the right to be taken seriously, and hopefully Oscar will reflect that soon enough.