Daily Dialogue — July 24, 2012

The Joker: Oh, you. You just couldn’t let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren’t you? You won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won’t kill you because you’re just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.

Batman: You’ll be in a padded cell forever.

The Joker: Maybe we can share one. You know, they’ll be doubling up, the rate this city’s inhabitants are losing their minds.

Batman: This city just showed you that it’s full of people ready to believe in good.

The Joker: Until their spirit breaks completely. Until they get a good look at the real Harvey Dent, and all the heroic things he’s done. You didn’t think I’d risk losing the battle for Gotham’s soul in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine’s Harvey.

Batman: What did you do?

The Joker: I took Gotham’s white knight and I brought him down to our level. It wasn’t hard. You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!

— The Joker (Heath Ledger), Batman (Christian Bale), The Dark Knight (2008), screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is famous last words, suggested by Vic Tional who also suggested The Dark Knight.

Trivia: David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan collaborated on the story of the film. The script itself was written by Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan. After watching ‘The Dark Knight’, Goyer stated “I can’t believe my name is on a movie this good”.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Vic makes this observation: “As far as screenwriting takeaway, it sums up the relationship between The Joker and Batman beautifully, it’s funny, it’s memorable. They’re not that different, the two of them — ‘unstoppable force meets an immovable object’, which one’s which? The reversal where The Joker makes his revelation about Harvey Dent to get the last laugh, pulling the rug from under everyone, is fantastic. Just a perfect closing moment for a great character.”

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