Day 045: Batman

With Gotham City overrun with organised and opportunistic crime and a police force either too corrupt or so out manned that it cannot defend it’s citizens, a new approach is required.
Enter the costumed vigilante. Enter Batman.
But Batman is really the millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) and as the fame of the crusader increases, so does the interest of the press.
One such is Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), along with Alex Knox (Robert Wuhl). As romance blossoms between Bruce and Vicki though a new and unpredictable danger is born out of the violence of Gotham’s gangs. The Joker is in town and he’s he’ll bent on taking over and have a lot of fun along the way!

First the bad stuff, they should never have made the Joker an identifiable individual. This ruins the mystique surrounding the character. Of course, like many comic fans, I’m not convinced by the casting of Jack Nicholson as the Joker. He does a good job but lacks a spontaneity that I think the role requires.
Keaton was an odd choice too – at the time. The success of Beetlejuice probably sold him and director Tim Burton to the producers. Both do an excellent job though, deep and thoughtful. Distant.
The minor characters are played well and the City itself is just about brooding enough, though occasionally lacks menace. I guess even the hardest cities have to have lighter moments?

Things to look out for: lovely imagery in the Wayne Manor and Batcave, dining date with the a playboy, dining date with the Joker, Batsignal, some wonderful lines for the main protagonists, wonderful Michael Gough as Alfred, good turn by Tracey Walter as Bob (Jack Napier’s top goon), Batmobile, Joker’s special beauty products
Released: 1989
Certificate: 15
Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Jack Palance, Robert Wuhl
Rating: highly enjoyable masked crusader fun, highly recommended
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Part of the the Batman Anthology (1989 – 1997).