Batman (1989)

 

I remember seeing this in theatres when it came out. I was nine, and my life was forever changed. I read comics, but after this film, I READ comics. There is a difference. It also means that this film will always have a special place in my heart and yes, I still feel it is the best of the cinematic Batmans thus far, all the praise for Nolan's version included. But why is that? 

Because this one feels just about right, that's why. 

The story begins when Batman is not yet a known quantity. Some thugs get disposed of by a strange figure and rumours are spreading about a batlike person, but no one can lay claim to having seen him, let alone pictures. Gotham is diseased and truly in the hands of mob boss Grissom. But the new District Attorney (Harvey Dent, by the way), wants to put an end to this corruption and crime. Grissom fears that his connection to Axis Chemicals will spell doom for the organisation and he sends his most trusted henchman, Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) to take care of it. But because Grissom knows Napier is having an affair with his floozy, he plans a setup with the police. Things get more complicated when Batman arrives on the scene and Napier takes a tumble into a vat of acid. His already unstable personality now becomes completely unhinged an as the Joker, he takes over the mob and terrorizes Gotham through various means of what he calls 'violent art'. It's an iconic clash between Batman and Joker, that culminates with a battle on the highest floor of Gotham's cathedral. What will happen next?

Most people know how this all plays out, but still: giving too much away would be spoiling this for non-aficionados. So I won't. 

Tim Burton still feels like the perfect director for the darker tone of Batman. Yes, there was the fun and colourful 60s series starring Adam West. But this time the makers opted for a grimmer tone, and it works very well. Gotham looks diseased and darkly industrial, just ripe for a big aenema. And into this all jump our characters. 

The acting is pretty spot on, actually, even though at the time people didn't think so. Jack Nicholson already has that sardonic grin, which they made bigger to suit the Joker after some botched plastic surgery and it works. It's comical, but also mesmerizingly evil and disturbing. Granted, at times Nicholson goes a little overboard, but he is so much fun to watch, you won't really care all that much. He also gets some of the most memorable lines in the entire film. 

"Bob, you... are my number one... a-guy..."

"Ever dance with the devil by the pale moonlight?"

"He stole my balloons!"

"The Beauty and the Beast. Of course, if anyone else ever calls you Beast, I will tear their lungs from their body."

(when asked what he wants) "My face on the one dollar bill."

It's brilliant. And Nicholson is clearly having fun with it.

But the best choice by far, is Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Few people believed he could pull it off (they hadn't seen 'Beetlejuice', probably). As Bruce Wayne, he is uncomfortable around people, stumbling a little, unassuming. As Batman, he is collected, silent and focused. I feel he is much more believable than Christian Bale, who overdid it as Batman. Feel free to disagree. 

The sidecharacters do a fine job most of the time, but this really is all about the two opposing forces of Batman and Joker.

And it made me fall all the more in love with all things comic and dark. Hence, I love this one. Chances are you will too.