Day 159 - Batman

Day 159          Batman [1989]

                          

Screenplay                    Sam Hamm & Warren Skaaren

Based on                       DC Comics Batman Characters created by Bob Kane

Director                         Tim Burton

Cinematography            Roger Pratt

Music                            Danny Elfman & Prince

Leads                            Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough

Production                     Warner Bros. Pictures, Guber-Peters Company

IMDb                                 7.6/10

Rotten Tomatoes                72%

I feel a marathon coming on… I’m starting to realise I’m not that much of a film buff, having not seen a lot of so-called ‘classics’. No, I have not seen any of the Batman films before Dark Knight. I thought it was time to change that as I have long wanted to see Nicholson’s Joker and Keaton’s Batman/Bruce Wayne – both of which are referenced constantly in popular culture. I was let down by Keaton slightly. It’s not that he’s bad. It’s just that in my head he was competing against Christian Bale’s versions and it was like watching someone who was ‘pretty good at school’ playing sport against a pro. Or maybe like my metaphors compared to Ebert’s or Truffaut’s. Nicholson, on the other hand, provides a very different Joker to that of Heath Ledger’s now famous performance. Nicholson does not overdo the craziness, instead his joker is more in line with the comics. It is fun and has that terrible clown-like sense of humour, laughing at his own jokes alone provides a glimpse of the craziness beneath. For an example of what happens when you try too hard please see Leto’s attempt in Suicide Squad. I’ve somehow managed to watch Pratt’s cinematography twice in a row and it was good in this. He captured the moody, gothic vibe of Burton’s Gotham city. Need I mention the set design, make-up and costumes? You can tune into any Burton film halfway through and instantly know who has directed it. The music is wonderful, and I particularly enjoyed the scenes backed by Prince’s music. The supporting cast were not brilliant, except of course for Lando Calrissian (Dee Williams) as Harvey Dent who needed more screen time. My praise for the comic book feel is also a criticism as the film felt childish in parts despite being rated 15. I am being pedantic, it was a good film, but it’s got nothing on either Dark Knight film.

Acting                            3.5 / 4

Writing                           3.5 / 4

Cinematography                3 / 4

Music                             3.5 / 4

HWF rating                  3 / 4