"My face on the one dollar bill."
"You must be joking."
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Gotham City is overrun with corruption and crime. Police Commissioner Gordon (Hingle) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Williams) are trying to increase the police presence and eradicate crime, especially with the city's bicentennial celebrate on the horizon. But their efforts are continually thwarted by corrupt police officers and the mob organizations that have a strong hold on the city. At the head of the mob presence is Carl Grissom (Palance) and his ambitious second-in-command Jack Napier (Nicholson). Napier is seemingly killed when he falls into a vat of dangerous chemicals, but is reborn as the Joker. Now insane, he brutally murders the other crime bosses and begins a violent crime wave.
Meanwhile, reporter Alexander Knox (Wuhl) is investigating a mysterious giant bat that is terrorizing criminals. He is joined by famed photographer Vicki Vale (Basinger), although the rest of the city views his story as a joke. The Batman is striking fear into the hearts of criminals and doing what the city police are unwilling or unable to do. Batman is the alter ego of millionaire Bruce Wayne (Keaton), who is scarred by murder of his parents that he witnessed as a child. He is focused on justice for the city, and with the help of his trusted butler Alfred (Gough), fights crime every evening. He is intrigued by Vicki and the two begin a relationship. Can he protect the city and the woman he loves?
In 1939, artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger created Batman for DC comics. He was a dark character, the perfect contrast to DC's most famous character: Superman. In the 1960s the character was restyled with a campier feel, which appeared in the comics and in the live-action TV show starring Adam West in 1966. There was also a 1966 film version of Batman, starring the cast of the TV show. Over 2 decades later it was time for Batman to change again.
Tim Burton, having only directed 2 films, envisioned a darker Batman, reminiscent of the character's 1940s origin. The script, by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren, made Batman and Gotham much darker. He cast Michael Keaton, previously known for comedy roles, as the caped crusader, despite protests from fans. For Batman's iconic villain the Joker, he cast Jack Nicholson. Nicholson took the character to a darker, weirder place. The Joker has appeared in 3 Batman films, each having a different iconic take on the character: Cesar Romero in 1966, Nicholson, and Heath Ledger (in an Oscar winning performance) in The Dark Knight.
Fans of the comics were upset by several major discrepancies in the film. Their main issue involved the identity of the man who murdered Bruce's parents, which changed for this film. However, these changes were approved by Bob Kane.
The film is visually impressive, bringing Gotham City to life. Nicholson's performance is also a great aspect of the film. He owns the film and every scene. The rest of the cast are fine. Michael Keaton is distant but good as Batman, and returned in the sequel Batman Returns. Pat Hingle and Michael Gough appeared in all four of the 1990 Batman films, and are the only actors / characters to appear in all four. Kim Basinger's character is not well developed, despite her large presence in the Batman comics, and her screaming is grating. The film is interesting to watch, especially when compared to Christopher Nolan's trilogy and the 1966 film / TV show.
Batman (1989) 126 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for brooding, dark violence
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier / The Joker
Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale
Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox
Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon
Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent
Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
Jack Palance as Carl Grissom
Jerry Hall as Alicia Hunt
Tracey Walter as Bob
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