BATMAN
A film review by Chad Polenz
Copyright 1997 Chad Polenz
*** (out of 4 = good) 1989, PG-13, 126 minutes [2 hours, 6 minutes] [adventure/crime] starring: Michael Keaton (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Jack Nicholson (Joker/Jack Napier), Kim Basinger (Vicky Vale), Robert Wuhl (Alexander Knox), produced by Jon Peters, Peter Guber, written by Sam Hamm, Warren Skaaren, directed by Tim Burton, based on characters appearing in DC comics, Batman created by Bob Kane.
>From the premise alone, "Batman" should be one of the greatest adventure films of all time, but it is not. It tends to trade substance for style and its storytelling is choppy. Despite all these flaws, there is a sense of exciting adventure, even if it exists for the superficial qualities.
The opening establishes one of the most vivid and powerful moods I've ever seen. The Gothic design by Anton Furst provides for an almost horrific atmosphere as it works with the script to create an entirely different reality quickly. We see an ordinary family take a wrong turn through a typical dark alley and become another statistic of street crime. The thieves are more pathetic than vile and when we see Batman (Keaton) confront and disarm them (mostly through fear), it shows how mighty the sheer presence of Batman can be.
I wish that attitude of fighting real crime had been the theme of the film as it gives everyone a sense of pride. But this is a major Hollywood picture and it must portray (read: "cash in on") all the marketable aspects of the Batman persona to make it appealing. Everyone knows the basics of Batman: he is really billionaire Bruce Wayne by day and his arch nemesis is The Joker. Unfortunately, Batman is assimilated with cartoon-like qualities with all the characters and plotlines plugged in at all the right places.
The basic story involves mob warfare and betrayal between the two heads of the biggest gang; "Boss" Grisham (Jack Palance) and Jack Napier (Nicholson). The first act is very jumbled, it tries to establish a complex criminal organization and a rivalry. Although the details are very sketchy, it serves its purpose; to lead up to Napier's transformation to The Joker and his psychotic rampage on Gotham City.
The middle act is slowly paced but works fine for character and plot development. Nicholson is often hilarious as The Joker, but his zaniness is countered by a supposedly serious relationship between Bruce Wayne and investigative photographer Vicky Vale (Basinger). Of all the cliche elements, this one does not synchronize smoothly. They seem to fall for each other extremely fast, but Keaton and Basinger have little chemistry. However, the storytelling is interesting enough as to never become dull. We become curious, but not as involved as the film would like us to be.
And since this is supposed to be a grand Hollywood adventure we must have an ultimate showdown between the two forces of good and evil. The ending itself seemed a little dry to me. We get some fight scenes between Batman and Joker's goons, but in a very cheesy manner. In fact, The Joker almost wins in the end!
This film had so much potential it could have been a work of genius. On one hand it does establish a mood chisled with detail which is interesting; but on the other hand the blatantly evil and cartoony nature of The Joker doesn't seem to keep to with the film. The Joker's cars, helicopters, and badges on the gang members is too lighthearted compared to the dark, Gothic mood of Gotham and Batman.
Still, "Batman" isn't bad at all. It's disposable adventure, but at least it's original and enjoyable.
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