Hans Zimmer And James Newton Howard — The Dark Knight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Dark Knight is one of my favorite films of all time. There is almost nothing wrong with the whole thing, and the score is definitely one of the pieces they got right.
Composed while the film was being produced, Zimmer and Newton Howard worked together with director Christopher Nolan on fleshing out many motifs established in the prior film Batman Begins. The album was composed with Zimmer working on Joker themed tracks and Newton Howard on Harvey Dent/Two-Face tracks. The score was recorded in April 2008, and would release 3 months later alongside the film. The album peaked at no. 20 on the Billboard charts and sold over twenty five thousand copies in its first week. The soundtrack would go on to win the Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
I don’t have much to say about this one. I recognize all of these pieces from the movie I’ve watched dozens of times. The 9-minute “Why So Serious?” is dripping with tension as Zimmer plays notes with razor blades on string instruments. Side B begins with the hopeful and light “Harvey Two-Face.” This piece is a direct contrast to the Joker’s unhinged suite, however, the nicety of the track does belie some darker themes to represent the duality to Harvey Dent. “Aggressive Expansion” comes into the mix out of chronological order, as the opening theme is played in the final scene of the movie, a scene which never fails to give me chills. Side C opens with “Like A Dog Chasing Cars.” This track is a mixture of Batman’s theme and the darker elements present throughout the soundtrack. This side ends with “Agent of Chaos” which plays during the scene where the Joker has Rachel and Harvey tied to explosive barrels. An intense piece which takes beats for the aforementioned characters to quietly say goodbye to one another as they accept their fate. Side D concludes the album and contains “Watch the World Burn,” which plays while Two-Face threatens Commissioner Gordon’s family. A sickening and dark piece exemplifying how far Gotham’s white knight has fallen in the face of tragedy.
Must Listen To: Agent of Chaos
This track sums up the movie well. The highs and lows our characters face. The sorrow of saying goodbye to a loved one. The uncertainty of the modern world. It all comes together in this piece with great impact.
