For nearly eight years, Michael Fishman has largely watched from the sidelines as fans continued debating why “Roseanne” disappeared from ABC so abruptly. Now, the former child star says he has had enough.

After encountering another social media comment claiming Roseanne Barr was “backstabbed” and unfairly targeted over the tweet that ended the wildly successful revival, Fishman delivered an emotional response, insisting the story some fans continue telling about the cancellation simply is not true.

Fishman addressed the controversy directly in an Instagram Reel after highlighting a comment arguing that Roseanne Barr merely made the kind of edgy joke comedians had long been allowed to make.

The commenter blamed the cancellation on changing cultural attitudes and suggested Barr had been betrayed despite making provocative jokes throughout her career.

Fishman strongly disagreed. “I get this every day. I get these kinds of ignorant and inaccurate comments daily,” the 44-year-old said, explaining that he had mostly avoided responding for years.

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“For over eight years, I’ve been dealing with it quietly,” he continued. “After eight years, turning the other cheek really isn’t helping.”

Fishman said people were “perpetuating a lie” and using a “political smokescreen to justify the indefensible.” His comments directly challenge the argument that ABC’s decision was primarily about politics or shifting standards surrounding comedy.

‘Roseanne’ Star Says The Show Was ‘Rightfully Canceled’

The controversy dates back to May 2018, when Roseanne Barr posted a since-deleted tweet comparing former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to the offspring of the Muslim Brotherhood and “Planet of the Apes.”

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ABC responded within hours. Then-ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey called the tweet “abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values” before announcing that “Roseanne” had been canceled despite the revival’s enormous ratings success.

Fishman now says the network made the correct decision. “Dehumanizing people is never a joke,” he said in his video, arguing that comedians may have freedom to tackle dark subjects but that freedom does not erase responsibility or consequences.

“The brilliant comedians help us laugh at the darkest, darkest topics,” Fishman continued. “Sadly, in this case, there was no joke.”

He then delivered his clearest verdict, saying, “The show was rightfully canceled.”

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Fishman also pushed back against the idea that Barr was the person who had been “backstabbed,” arguing instead that the victims were those targeted by the remarks and the people whose careers became collateral damage when the series disappeared.

Fishman’s Position Has Barely Changed Since The Original Fallout

Although his latest remarks are much more forceful, Michael Fishman’s underlying position is not new.

On the day ABC canceled “Roseanne” in 2018, the actor publicly condemned Roseanne Barr’s statements as “reprehensible and intolerable,” while stressing that the views of one cast member did not represent everyone involved in the series.

Fishman said at the time that he was devastated for the cast, crew, writers and production staff who lost their jobs after pouring themselves into a show he believed had championed inclusivity.

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Barr responded angrily. She accused Fishman of throwing her “under the bus,” while insisting that she had created the platform that allowed the sitcom to tell inclusive stories.

Fishman’s decision to reiterate the same basic stance eight years later therefore represents less of a reversal than a renewed defense of a position he has held since the controversy began.

That history also adds context to why Fishman now appears exhausted by fans continuing to challenge him over what happened.

Michael Fishman Says He Still Loves Roseanne Barr

Despite his uncompromising criticism, Fishman made another point clear. His condemnation of Barr’s actions does not mean he has stopped caring about the woman who played his television mother for much of his life.

“Good people make mistakes,” he acknowledged.

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Fishman said he loves “the one who made this mistake” and always will, adding that he continues to have “compassion and love” for Barr.

Barr herself initially apologized for the Jarrett tweet, telling Rabbi Shmuley Boteach in 2018 that she “horribly” regretted what she had done and was prepared to accept the consequences. She also said she had made herself a “hate magnet.”

However, Barr subsequently offered several explanations for what happened, including saying she had taken Ambien and claiming she did not know Jarrett was Black. She has continued revisiting the firing years after the controversy.

‘The Conners’ Ultimately Outlived The ‘Roseanne’ Revival

The cancellation did not ultimately end the Conner family’s television story.

ABC reworked the project into “The Conners,” which continued without Barr and eventually ran for seven seasons before concluding in April 2025.

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The spinoff killed off Roseanne Conner and centered the remaining family members, including John Goodman’s Dan, Sara Gilbert’s Darlene and Lecy Goranson’s Becky.

Fishman remained part of the franchise as D.J. Conner through four seasons of “The Conners” before revealing in 2022 that he had been told he would not return for Season 5. He later said he held no resentment over being absent from the show’s eventual series finale.

That makes his continued defense of the original cancellation notable. Fishman himself lost a long-running television home twice, first when “Roseanne” collapsed and later when “The Conners” moved forward without him.

Yet eight years after the original controversy, he still insists ABC’s decision was justified.

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Kaia Gerber is opening up about her experience with “disordered eating” and commentary about her body.

In an interview with Vogue published on Tuesday, August 11, the Shards actress said that she is constantly compared to her mom, supermodel Cindy Crawford, and admitted she is “jealous” of her mom’s body.

“We’re clearly in one of those cycles right now where people are very, very, very thin,” Gerber, 24, said. “As someone who’s been thin most of my life, I’ve always been compared against my mom — like, ‘What’s wrong with Kaia?’ I’m so jealous of my mom’s body. I would have loved to be born with boobs and a butt.”

“People have always commented on my body, which is hard because I’m not always ready to comment on my own body, you know?” Gerber continued. “I’ve had disordered eating in my life. People are like, ‘You look terrible,’ and it doesn’t exactly make you go, ‘Oh, good. Let me get over this mental illness then!’ Negativity has never saved someone’s life.”

Gerber previously commented on the comparisons between her and Crawford, 60, admitting that she doesn’t think they look alike.

“In all seriousness, it’s an honor when people tell me I look like my mom,” she told Yahoo Entertainment earlier this month. “I wish I did. I think even on my best days, I’m not even close.”

“I think she’s just the most beautiful woman inside and out,” Gerber said of her mother. “And so if there’s any way that I remind anyone of her, it’s just, like, the largest compliment.”

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In her Vogue interview, Gerber, who Crawford shares with husband Rande Gerber, also opened up about her relationship with fellow actor Lewis Pullman, the son of Bill Pullman. According to the outlet, she described it as the “healthiest and most adult relationship of her life.”

Related: Kaia Gerber Admits She Doesn’t Think Mom Cindy Crawford Is ‘Cool’

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Cindy Crawford may be a supermodel and a ‘90s icon, but to daughter Kaia Gerber, she’s just mom. “When you were younger, did you think, ‘Oh my mom is so cool,’” host Kyle MacLachlan asked Gerber, 24, in Us Weekly’s exclusive teaser clip of the Thursday, September 18, debut episode of the “What Are We […]

“There are so few things you get to protect as a famous person, and being defined by who you date when you’re 18 is something I find challenging,” she said. “I think I’ve been labeled in ways that are quite misogynistic: serial dater, slut, greedy. My mom is always like, ‘Just don’t make the same mistake twice.’ And I’m pretty good at not. I think the ultimate goal is that your relationship doesn’t change you, that you’re not code-switching between relationship, friendship, professional life. I would love to always feel like me, and in this relationship I’m having the pleasure of doing that.”

If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Eating Disorders (NEDA) website or call their hotline at (800) 931-2237 to get help. 

Brandy is the new singer of the reboot theme song of ‘A Different World,’ and fans are excited after seeing her stellar performance.

RELATED: Sibling Love! Brandy And Ray J’s Reunion Has Fans In Their Feels (VIDEO)

New Theme Song Singer For ‘A Different World’ Reboot Is Brandy

Brandy is the new theme song singer for the reboot of ‘A Different World,’ and she wasn’t playin’ in new video footage shared by Netflix on Tuesday, August 11.

‘The Cosby Show’ spin-off premiered in 1987 on NBC and aired for six seasons. The show featured Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet, as she went off to college. The cast also included Dawnn Lewis, Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Marisa Tomei, and Loretta Devine.

The popular show is important to the culture because it featured students attending a fictional Historically Black College or University, Hillman College. Brandy said she was a fan of ‘A Different World’ and remembers how the theme song made her feel.

“Singing this iconic theme song for A Different World means everything to me,” she told the press. “It was one of those shows that I had to watch every time it came on. I remember the song and how it made me feel.” 

Brandy isn’t the only one in her feelings. After fans saw her perform the theme song on TSR’s Instagram page, they were shook as they left remarks in the comment section. Furthermore, Roomies co-signed the performance.

User @ohheytaaay replied, “SANG Brandy ! ❤️❤️❤️❤️.”

@tezlynfigaro added, “The original HBCU theme lets go!!!!”

@glamstylistxoxo wrote, “Chilllllllsssss 😭 I was not prepared 😩🔥🔥🔥🔥.”

‘A Different World’ Theme Song Was Performed By Phoebe Snow Season 1

Actress Dawnn Lewis co-wrote the original theme song to ‘A Different World,’ and she told Denny Directo from Entertainment Tonight that she was originally hired to sing it. Additionally, Lewis was cast as Jaleesa on the show. Subsequently, producers hired another singer to perform the them song, Phoebe Snow.

“So, I wrote the theme song, booked the acting gig, and they had no idea they’d hired the same person until after they had hired me for both jobs,” she recalled.

Not only that, Lewis also shared a widely unknown fact about the theme song. As it happens, ‘Let’s Stay Together’ singer Al Green also sang a version of the theme song. Furthermore, Lewis says she has proof, chile!

“The next person to sing it was Al Green in the recording studio.” she revealed. “I have the  tape.”

Aretha Franklin Also Sang The Theme Song

Aretha Franklin sang the theme song for ‘A Different World’ for Season 2, and some fans consider it the best version of the song. In addition, Boys II Men also performed the theme song.

As the reboot gets underway, Hardison’s words about the importance of the show back in 2017 seem poetic.

“We’d never seen black kids in college on television,” he said, per NBC News. “Here comes this show and if it caught you at 14 years old it took you through high school and propelled you into college and it created a lot of successful, education-first minded people who can’t let go who know what it was like for them and what it did for them and they want it back. They want it back for their kids and this new generation.”

‘A Different World’ will premiere on Netflix on September 24.

RELATED: Really Her? Brandy’s Random Encounter Turns Hilarious After Men Mistake Her For An Impersonator (VIDEO)

Rosie O’Donnell wasn’t banking on so much sex when she checked into the city for a cameo on And Just Like That.

The actress and comedian, 64, appeared as a nun who ends up losing her virginity to Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes in the season 3 premiere of the Sex and the City spinoff. But according to O’Donnell, filming an intimate postcoital moment in bed together was “horrifying.”

“I was so nervous!” O’Donnell shared on the “Good Hang With Amy Poehler” podcast on Tuesday, August 11.

“First of all, I love her. I love her and have so much respect for her,” O’Donnell said of Nixon. “She called me and she was like, ‘Ro, Tufayel Ahmed Michael Patrick [King] wrote you a scene and it’s with me. Will you do it?’ I said, ‘Of course I’ll do it with you.’ And then I read it and I’m in bed with just the sheets and then I’m like, ‘Oh, my God.’”

Related: Cynthia Nixon Reveals What She Hated About ‘Sex and the City’

Cynthia Nixon says she cringed while rewatching Sex and the City. In an interview with Grazia published on Monday, May 26, Nixon says she watched all six seasons of the iconic HBO series before reprising her role as Miranda Hobbes in the spinoff And Just Like That.  Nixon, 59, thought that 90 percent of the […]

O’Donnell continued, “I was nervous with Cynthia and then Michael said, ‘You guys can be a little bit more…’ and I was thinking, ‘I can’t, really!’”

“The kissing wasn’t hard, but the laying in bed and the wanting us to act like we had just done it … I’m a little immature when it comes to that,” she added.

In June 2025, Nixon, 60, revealed how her good friend’s And Just Like That cameo came about.

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“Michael Patrick King, who writes our show and is one of the chief writers on our show, has been trying to write a part for Rosie every season, and it’s never quite worked out,” the Emmy winner told People. “So this time when he told me what the idea was, I thought, ‘Oh, this is fantastic,’ and he let me text her myself and describe it and say, you know, could we please send you this script? With all our fingers and toes crossed.”

“She is so funny and she is so funny in the part, but she’s so centered and so real,” Nixon said of O’Donnell’s performance in the episode. “I think that we knew she would be hilarious, but I think we were unprepared for how moving she would be in the part, how incredibly sincere and how much she would wear her heart on her sleeve.”

And Just Like That, which reunited Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw) and Kristin Davis (Charlotte York), aired for three seasons from 2021 to 2025.

Jeffrey Manke’s cousin wrote a letter to the court one day after he and his two daughters were found dead in his Winneconne, Wisconsin, home, speculating that his divorce from ex-wife Lindsay Lewandowski “drove him insane.”

“My cousin Jeff Manke was found dead + his (2) daughters (yesterday),” Jolene Manke wrote in the letter dated Tuesday, August 4, which was obtained by Us. “I can’t bear the pain. I assume his divorce drove him insane or police involvement.”

As Us previously reported, Jeffrey, 57, and his two daughters, Jaelyn Manke and Lenora Manke, were found dead at his home just hours after he finalized his divorce from their mother.

Lewandowski, 38, filed for divorce in 2024, and the former couple shared joint custody as they battled it out in court over a permanent custody arrangement.

Related: Amanda Karolkiewicz’s Family Shares Tribute After She Died in a Murder-Suicide

Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz’s family paid tribute to their late family member in a joint statement after she and her six children were killed by her husband, Kristopher Karolkiewicz, in an apparent murder-suicide. The family’s GoFundMe page explained that the fundraiser was intended to help Mandy’s mother, Becky Lawwill and her stepfather, Steve Lawwill, with the […]

Us also viewed an affidavit from Jeffrey from March 26, 2025, in which he detailed troubles he had with Jaelyn, 16. He said that his eldest child was struggling with the divorce and that she started going to counseling.

Jeffrey went on to claim that Lewandowski continuously exposed their daughters to her new partner, whom he believed exhibited threatening behavior after incidents at the children’s taekwondo class and at his church. “He was asked by the instructor why they broke boards, and he made a comment about breaking heads and looked at me,” Jeffrey claimed.

Another issue Jeffrey discussed in the affidavit was that Jaelyn and Lewandowski’s significant other were “texting and or calling each other repeatedly,” which he felt was not “appropriate” and was “interfering with my relationship with my minor child.“

Jeffrey also claimed that he believed one of his children had been encouraged to spy on him after Lewandowski expressed her concerns about his alcohol consumption.

“I was drinking a 7-Up, and I put olives in it with no liquor. When I arrived at the dance to pick up my child, the police said I had an anonymous report that I was drunk driving and I was approached by three officers. I talked to the officers and offered to take a breathalyzer, but they said they were convinced I was not drinking,” he said. “I believe she was encouraged to report that to the police.”

After claiming that Lewandowski made threats including that “the harassment will stop once you give up your parental rights to my daughters,” he argued that their kids “should not be exposed to significant others.”

“I believe it is in the best interest for the minor children for the court to order that neither party can expose the minor children to a significant other during the period of pending divorce during their periods of placement and act their activities,” he said.

Jeffrey then claimed that Jaelyn “admitted she counted the amount of times [he] went into [his] bedroom” during therapy. “Again, I am suspicious, where this behavior is coming from. I need a no significant other order to bring normalcy to their situation,” he said.

Lewandowski responded to Jeffrey’s complaints in her own affidavit the following month, refuting his claims regarding her significant other: “The close bonds and connections have grown naturally overtime [sic] and are not some sudden occurrence as [Jeffrey] may suggest,” adding that she and her boyfriend are both involved in the community and attend the same church and tae kwon do classes.

Related: 911 Call Reveals Karolkiewicz Home Was ‘Full of Smoke’ After Murder-Suicide

Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz and Kristopher Karolkiewicz‘s home was “full of smoke” after he killed her and their six children in an apparent murder-suicide, according to a 911 dispatch call from the incident. Police said that they believe Kristopher, 47, fatally shot Mandy, 39, and their six kids before he set their home in Grand Haven […]

“At no point in time leading up to the divorce did [Jeffrey] claim that our children should have no contact with him”

Lewandowski said her significant other is “certainly not dangerous” and is actively involved in their church, teaching classes at Bible school and working with youth programs.

She claimed that his allegations are “indicative of his inability to be accountable for his own actions. Rather than try to meaningfully mend his relationship with his children, [he] lashes out and blames the third party for why his relationship with his children is on the rocks.”

Lewandowski also discussed his struggles with substance abuse and claimed he would drink alcohol under the influence of prescription pain pills. She went on to allege that Jeffrey would store liquor in their bedroom and would mix his drinks there during their marriage.

She said that his drinking affected the whole family and that his “intoxication provides their kids with a great deal of anxiety.”

While Lewandowski confirmed that Jeffrey was cleared by police when they were tipped off that he was allegedly driving under the influence, she said that bodycam footage indicated that her daughter told police that “she is uncomfortable with that idea (of going home with her father) because he is really mean to her.”

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Related: Kristopher Karolkiewicz Likely Killed His Wife Amanda Before Their Kids

Kristopher Karolkiewicz likely killed his wife, Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, before he fatally shot their six children in an apparent murder-suicide. Death certificates obtained by News 8 revealed that Kristopher, 47, Mandy, 39, and their six kids were found dead after they were shot in the head at their home in Grand Haven, Michigan. Ottawa Sheriff’s […]

“She reports that she would be more comfortable having mom drive her home,” Lewandowski said of her daughter. “An officer asks Jaylen if her relationship with dad is not good right now, and our daughter responds that it never has been.”

While Jaelyn, Lenora, 11, and Jeffrey’s causes of death have not yet been confirmed, Lewandowski took to Facebook to claim that her kids felt “unsafe” with him before they died.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

It’s easy to grab basic black flats, ones that do the bare minimum, and head out the door. But Margot Robbie showed Us that the right black flats are the opposite of boring, and we found her chic, elevated style for only $36 on Amazon!

Strutting around Paris, Robbie wore a silky two-piece set, a leather shoulder bag and sleek Mary Jane flats. Her outfit radiated high-end energy, polish without even trying, and this timeless shoe style is the secret. Whether for running errands or boardroom meetings, it makes you look and feel like a million bucks.

Get the Lookyno Mary Jane Flats for $36 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

These Lookyno Mary Jane Flats nail the details that matter. Like Robbie’s, they feature a trendy square toe, minimal strap and matte black finish, so they go with everything and read expensive from across the room. Better yet, the adjustable strap means they fit your foot, not the other way around.

Distinct from most flats, your feet won’t ache for sneakers. These comfy flats have a cushioned insole, which is the difference between all-day wear and cursing your decisions by noon. But don’t just take our word for it. One happy shopper said they’re plush enough to wear for 10 to 12 hours at a time.

Another five-star reviewer highlighted the style, noting that these flats “look 100% rich.” They wrote, “I needed a Madewell or J.Crew-esque pair of brown flats that looked like real leather . . .  I already own Madewell black ones, genuine leather, and frankly, I keep forgetting that I just don’t have two pairs of the same shoe.”

Clearly, you don’t need to book a flight to France to copy Robbie’s vibe. These Mary Jane flats are the secret, and they make even a comfy lounge set appear luxe. Pair them with flowy trousers, a midi skirt or straight-leg jeans, and suddenly, your Tuesday feels a little more Left Bank.

Get the Lookyno Mary Jane Flats for $36 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more chic flats, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Flip-flop season is far from over. Take it from Jennifer Lopez, who clocks trends before they even happen (when she’s not starting them herself). On her late-summer vacation, Lopez brought out this sleek, elevated flip-flop style, and fashionistas are already following suit. Lopez walked around Italy wearing a loose mini dress, an oversized woven tote […]

It takes a special kind of canonical classic to feature a line of dialogue so memorable that anyone could identify what movie it comes from without any context. “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” uttered by Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) in The Dark Knight, fits the bill. In what is likely to remain his culturally definitive and most popular movie, Christopher Nolan, for better or worse, changed the film landscape forever by making a superhero movie feel like an American epic about crime, justice, and society’s belief in costumed vigilantes as religious dogmas.

While often celebrated for his visual panache and as a groundbreaking pioneer of IMAX photography in narrative films, Nolan writes every one of his movies. However, his clunky and on-the-nose dialogue is a point of contention for many critics, but there’s no denying the power of Dent’s line in The Dark Knight. There’s one problem: Nolan didn’t write that line—it was his brother, Jonathan Nolan, and the director is still haunted by him stealing his thunder.

Jonathan Nolan Wrote ‘The Dark Knight’s Most Iconic Line

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Christopher Nolan is a singular, uncompromising visionary, but Jonathan Nolan is frequently right by his side as a co-writer, contributing to the source material for Memento, and the scripts for The Prestige, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, and Interstellar. It rounds out the family enterprise nature of Nolan’s filmography, as all his movies are produced by Christopher’s wife, Emma Thomas. Since their last collaboration, Jonathan has developed his own autonomous career as the creator of Person of Interest and Westworld on television, as well as producing and directing Prime Video’s Fallout.

No contribution will ever match the legacy of one line of dialogue in an early scene in The Dark Knight, where Harvey Dent, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), and Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) discuss the legality and morality of Batman’s existence as a vigilante crime-fighter roaming the streets of Gotham. For anyone in a position of power, whether a Caped Crusader or Gotham District Attorney, there are only two destinies: die with honor, or live in infamy.

In an interview with Nolan and his longtime collaborator and Oppenheimer star, Cillian Murphy, the director revealed that the “die a hero or live enough to see yourself become the villain” quote was actually coined by Jonathan Nolan. “I’m plagued by a line from The Dark Knight, and I’m plagued by it because I didn’t write it,” Nolan said, especially because the line was the one that “most resonates.” When Jonathan first conceived Dent’s line, Christopher admitted that he was puzzled by it, but the latter’s skepticism was proven wrong, expressing that it “kills” him that he can’t claim authorship of the line. “In this story, it’s absolutely that. Build them up, tear them down. It’s the way we treat people,” Nolan continued.

It’s easy to overlook him, but Jonathan Nolan’s understanding of genre mechanics and elaborate concepts, as demonstrated in his television shows, helped turn his brother into a commercial juggernaut with mass critical appeal. With films like The Prestige and Interstellar built around ornate ideas and executions, Christopher could’ve easily gotten lost in his own orbit, but Jonathan grounded these structures while maintaining their innate grandeur.

The Underlining Thematic Impact of This Famous Line from ‘The Dark Knight’

No one would think twice about who wrote the film’s most iconic line, as it feels very much in tune with Christopher Nolan’s style of dialogue. Characters in The Dark Knight, between Alfred (Michael Caine) analyzing the Joker’s (Heath Ledger) anarchic plan or the Joker himself sharing his philosophy on chaos, often sound like viewers and critics discussing the meaning of the film and its themes, which leads to a fair share of didactic moments where the message is conveyed with little subtlety, such as “Some men just want to watch the world burn,” and “This town deserves a better class of criminal.”

Complain about them all you want, but there is no denying the enduring, instantly recognizable magic of these lines. Nolan’s dialogue may not always be the most natural, but is that what we should expect from a movie about a billionaire dressed as a bat fighting crime? These lines, particularly when delivered with conviction by Eckhart, Caine, and Ledger, are poetic treatises about the mythos of superheroes and the disillusioned sentiment of America in a post-September 11th world.

Without Aaron Eckhart’s austere, earnest delivery, “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” would’ve been an awkward line. It is also saved by the fact that it is the succinct thesis of The Dark Knight and its central thematic figure in Harvey Dent, who secretly dies disgracefully but is remembered fondly by the city of Gotham.