Commissioner James Gordon has been one of the most overlooked heroes of Christopher Nolan’s spectacular Dark Knight Trilogy. When The Dark Knight Rises hit cinemas a couple of months ago, all the talk was around Bane’s reign of terror and Bruce Wayne’s state at the end. But one thing that was skimmed over was Gary Oldman’s once again sterling performance as Gotham’s chief of police.
Oldman is one of the finest actors working today and also one of the most overlooked. Whether he’s providing delicious over the top villainy in Leon, delivering a downbeat tour-de-force in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or brightening up the biggest of blockbuster franchises, he’s a completely dependable actor with an eye for a good project. And Jim Gordon may just be his finest performance of all.
Unlike many of the other supporting characters in Nolan’s epic, Gordon has a proper development arc over the three films, starting out as a lone good cop who, through an assault on the mob and corruption, becomes the leader of a resistance and a hero in his own right. In previous film attempts, he was more of a police liaison who explained why Batman was never arrested. For his saga, Nolan has provided Oldman with a truly great character that evolves as much as Batman and his city. Gordon is ultimately a metaphor for the state of Gotham.
And so in tribute to this excellent, but often ignored commissioner, here’s his ten finest moments from The Dark Knight Trilogy. There were lots of small moments I really wanted to include, but just couldn’t fit in. The look on his face when Batman’s return appears on the TV, the bittersweet reveal of the statue and the loving ‘this time, I saved him’ to his son; all great moments that couldn’t quite make the list. The ten moments here showcase Oldman’s versatility and show all sides of Gordon’s character. It’s no coincidence that they are also some of the best moments in the series.
We are currently seeking The Dark Knight Rises contributors on WhatCulture. To find out more about the perks of being a The Dark Knight Rises contributor, click here.
6 Comments
One of the best lists on the site, mainly because I agree with every point. Well done for balancing them all evenly throughout the three films as well.
For #7, it is also touching in that this is the first time we hear Gordon admit that Batman is a friend. In contrast with Batman’s proclamation in “Batman Begins”, “I don’t have the luxury of friends.” Great scene.
Great list. Agree with every point.
Honourable mention: Gordon’s eulogy at Bruce’s funeral, and the scene afterwards, “They know exactly who saved them. It was the Batman.”
Honestly, the last 5 minutes of Rises were my favourite of the series. Perhaps, tied with the scene that rounds off your well compiled list! :)
Also please have a look at my interpretation of what exactly happened at the end of Rises, below. There IS a reason why I rate it so highly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XcYmAXozBo&feature=plcp
Please keep posting more Batman related articles. I can literally read them all day.
It’s really difficult to choose your favourite character in the Dark Knight Trilogy, but I’ve always felt that Gary Oldman’s Jim Gordon had a slight edge over the majority of the supporting cast.
The Dark Knight Trilogy is The Best thing that happened to the genre these past years.
I Like It dearly and always sad that it has ended. IMO i think there are very few who could even match the greatness that Nolan brought to the franchise.