Podcast: Listen to me Gush about "The Dark Knight"

Back in 2021, I was a guest on the Cinema Gush podcast, where I got to talk about one of my all-time favorite films — The Dark Knight. I’ve loved this movie since it hit theaters. It felt like a turning point for the superhero genre — gritty, intelligent, and endlessly rewatchable. Christopher Nolan’s direction, the noir influences, and Heath Ledger’s unforgettable performance as the Joker changed the game. After seeing it in theaters multiple times, I was obsessed. Heath Ledger’s Joker had me absolutely glued to the screen — I had never seen anything like it. That performance was a masterclass in chaos.

That guy for sure farted.

The Dark Knight also launched me into a deep dive of Batman comics as a teen — The Long Halloween, The Dark Knight Returns, Year One, and more. I started reading Frank Miller and Alan Moore because of this film. It made me look at stories differently, and for a while, it was all I could think about creatively. I’ve loved Batman since I was a kid — from the animated series to action figures to pretending to be him on the playground. What’s wild is how the character has grown with me. As a kid, he was just cool. As a teen, he was intense and brooding. As an adult, he’s layered, flawed, and more human than most heroes. The Dark Knight came at the perfect time in my life when I was old enough to appreciate the moral complexity.

As a teenager, this film didn’t just make me want to watch movies. It made me want to read more, write more, and create more. It showed me that pop culture could be mythic, could be smart, and could push people to look deeper. That’s why it stuck with me. That’s why I gushed.

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Episode Description:

"Today we bring you the gush that so many of you have been waiting for. THE DARK KNIGHT. Actor, comedian and all-around awesome recently engaged dude Gary Miller gushes to us about one of the greatest movies ever made and dare I say (Nic) that this is the best superhero film ever? I DARE DO!* Please enjoy!"

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Did you know Nic Lishko co-wrote Long Walks On The Beach?

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