20 Most Important Comic Book Movie Performances

19. Gary Oldman (James Gordon) - The Dark Knight Trilogy

Gary Oldman's work as James Gordon throughout Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy is easily the definitive cinematic portrayal of the character. Throughout the trilogy, we see him rise from a mere street cop, comforting a young Bruce Wayne moments after the death of his parents (as turns out to be a majorly important scene), all the way to him becoming Commissioner after Commissioner Loeb is poisoned by The Joker. Oldman's note-perfect performance has endeared him to a whole new generation of viewers, whether it's by way of Gordon making the occasional comic quip ("I gotta get me one of those" in reference to the Tumbler), or the mortal danger he's placed in at the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises. Along with Michael Caine's Alfred, Gordon is the heart and the soul of these movies, that seemingly uncorruptable everyman who, by the time The Dark Knight Rises begins, has in fact become corrupted, allowing Batman to take the fall for Harvey Dent. His realisation of Bruce Wayne's identity at the end of TDKR may be a tad clunky, as Gordon seems to be the only person in Gotham who doesn't realise it by now, but that's more down to the awkward writing and direction of the scene rather than Oldman's portrayal. On the whole, Oldman creates of Gordon an immensely watchable supporting character who frequently overshadows Bale's Batman himself.