Batman – 1989

Back in the 1980’s if you ask anyone who their favorite superhero was it would have to be Superman.  Thanks to the iconic Christopher Reeve, the hijinks of Gene Hackman, and John Williams soaring musical score, the man of steel was the symbol of heroism and morals due to the popularity of the films.  So it made sense that the next superhero to have a film franchise would be Batman.  Warner Brothers went ahead with the project, but it would be approached in a darker direction with Tim Burton.  His resume leading up the 1989 Batman film included two comedies Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and  Beetlejuice with no experience in the action picture genre.  With a big budget, Jack Nicholson and Prince, the studio had ambitious plans for this film and it was vital that this film would be a box office hit to ensure that Batman would endure for future generations.

The 1989 Batman movie takes place in a dark, crime ridden Gotham City where ordinary citizens are accosted and terrorized. However a masked vigilante dressed as a bat arrives on the scene to clean up the streets and provides a reprieve for the city.  Behind the mask is billionaire Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) who, despite his wealth, has been scarred by the murder of his parents as a little boy. His heroics however have not only made criminals take notice, but also the press and the police who aren’t exactly sure what  to make of him.  These include a photographer Vicki Vale, Commissioner Gordon, and hit man Jack Napier.  Jack and Batman cross paths for the first time during a police raid on a chemical plant which results in the apparent drowning of Napier in a tank full of gas.  Bruce and Vicki start a romantic relationship which Bruce seeming distant leaves Vicki bewildered.  Napier survives and after suffering the deformity of his face that forces him to smile, renames himself as the Joker.  The Joker begins a reign of terror from murdering his ex crime boss, his men, and poisoning random citizens of the Gotham through a mixture of chemicals.  He also becomes intoxicated with Vicki after seeing a picture and pursues a relationship with her.  He meets up with her after poisoning her fellow guests at a museum showing.  He nearly kills her when Batman arrives and rescues her. 

Meanwhile Bruce and Vicki’s relationship grows more strained as Wayne’s secrecy of his origins and his alter ego leaves him more detached.  Also adding to his troubles is that Napier was the murderer of his parents and has become more and more dangerous as the Joker who kills, yet presents himself a clown.  The two finally face off at the end when the Joker takes over the Gotham City Parade, promising free money for anyone who attends.  It inevitably leads to him gassing the public, when Batman arrives to spoil his plans.  Vicki who is covering the event is kidnapped by the Joker and Batman must come to save her from the clutches and to finally rid the clown prince once and for all.

There are a lot of things good about this film.  First is the mood and setting of the film.  Tim Burton does a great job in creating the world of Gotham City with full of foreboding and darkness.  His background in art and animation is in full display from the dirty, wasted Gotham City, the expressionist influenced setting of the Batcave, and the chilling, yet holy Gotham Cathedral at the climax.  Even the setting of Axis Chemical the site for the first big action sequence is beautifully done. The city’s mood is a perfect symbol of the obstacles that Bruce has to overcome to find peace in his life.  Even at his happier moments with Vicki Vale, he is haunted by those shadows of his parent’s death and his balance of his two personalities.  

Another strength was the casting of Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne.  The selection of Keaton for the lead was controversial at the time, but I think he is perfect.  His boyish charm and personality are perfect in capturing the personality of Wayne.  While from the outside, he is a wealthy philanthropist, a billionaire, but he is a scarred individual who is very unsecure and uncomfortable with his success.  Keaton captures that perfectly and makes us relate to him on an emotional level that is very unusual towards someone from the upper echelons of society.  For that reason, Keaton’s portrayal of Wayne, is still my favorite version of Wayne from any film.  

Also, this film has a great group of supporting actors that add to the film.  Jack Palance is great is the crime boss Grissom, Billy Dee Williams as the suave, yet well meaning Harvey Dent, and Robert Wuhl as the acquisitive reporter who in vain tries to woo Vicki and find the identity of Batman.  A special mention goes to the dignified performance of Robert Gough as Alfred the Butler who as the guardian of Bruce who portrays a sense of class and kindness done in the best British tradition  With lesser talents these characters could’ve been overshadowed and forgotten, but this cast does a great job in making them important and interesting.

This film also has one of the best musical scores of all time.  No, not from Prince, but Danny Elfman.  The main theme and the “Waltz to the Death” really are the standouts as the create that excitement and energy required in an action film.  I was very disappointed when future Batman films started to mess with the theme and ultimately removing it entirely.  Prince is ok, but he is no match for Elfman’s great work.  

The highlight of the film though is Jack Nicholson.  Throughout the film, whether being the gangster Jack Napier or the pathological Joker, he’s brilliant.  He’s so good being a gangster with the fedora and trench coat that it would’ve been a great character even without being the clown.  His cynical personality and cockiness brings back memories of the 1930 Warner Brothers gangster films and his Jack Gittes character in Chinatown.  Once he is the Joker however, he explodes.  He does a great job in the balancing the two extremes of his persona between being funny and yet frightening.  A great example is during his murder of his boss Grissom when he kills him in cold blood, yet shoots in different positions, even behind the back while gleefully laughing with joy.  Looking back, he might by favorite Joker, because of his interpretation of this villain not making him so scary, yet with plenty of theatrics and fun.

The one thing holding back the film though is the character of Vicki Vale.  Kim Basinger is stunning, but her Vicki just doesn’t add much to the film other than being a romantic interest for the three characters.  Sure she’s a photographer, but she doesn’t really do anything other than acting surprised or to start screaming.  When she’s in the Batcave she’s has absolutely no reaction and the big moment when she discovers Bruce Wayne is Batman it’s very anti climatic.  Her scenes with Keaton are hit and miss, and of all the Batman films I think she’s the weakest female character.

Other than that, this is a really good film.  The film’s massive success guaranteed that Batman would be valuable franchise that Warner Brothers would utilize over and over again.  Tim Burton became an respected director, Danny Elfman an up and coming composer, and Jack Nicholson made out with a nice payout of over $50 million according to Entertainment Weekly.  This film still holds up due to the art direction, fantastic score, and the two leads.  Even after the release of the Christopher Nolen series, this film is definitely still worth watching just to see Nicholson at his best.

Brian Rating 8/10

– Flyin Brian