Pitted against Batman is Jack Nicholson as the Joker, in a performance that “over-the-top” doesn’t quite describe. A crime boss disfigured by Batman, his madness grows and grows until he is a screaming, laughing lunatic. In fact, the entire movie takes on increasing levels of craziness as it progresses, until hero and villain face each other in the streets of downtown Gotham, standing in front of each other’s gunfire, fighting over balloons filled with poison gas, and exchanging comic-mocking threats like “I made you, but you made me first!” The “backstories” of superheroes and supervillains is always a case for cheesy Freudianism and great stupidity, and it’s so satisfying to see the concept of a “creation” story reduced to so silly a level.
Burton packs his film with great little interludes and bizarre one-liners; the movie is both gloomy and jokey, not unlike the most recent “Star Wars” picture. We see the Joker visit a plastic surgeon whose office is so dirty that we wouldn’t want to get a haircut there. The final confrontation in the church hearkens back to all those classic horror films in which, no matter how much we hate the monster, we feel sorry for his doom. The bit where Wayne tries to come clean about his double-life is brilliant comedy. (Both Batman and the Joker speak the same line in this scene, emphasizing how they are two sides of the same coin). All this Burton directs with great energy and vivacity. Why? Because it is near and dear to him. When I complain about how bland so many comic book movies are, I’m comparing them to “Batman.”
There are also some sequels to “Batman” but, well, screw them.
Finished Saturday, June 18th, 2005
Copyright © 2005 Friday & Saturday Night
Page one of "Batman." Back to home.