MPAA Rating: PG-13/ Genre: Superhero/Stars: Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, William Hootkins, David Baxt, Sharon Holm, Garrick Hagon, Liza Ross, Adrian Meyers, Hugo E. Blick, Charles Roskilly/Runtime: 126 minutes
I think it can safely be said dear reader that in the long ago yet iconic decade known as the 1980s, the world of cinema was a lot more different than it is today. Indeed theaters were still a viable place to see a movie, the Internet didn’t blare spoilers at you seemingly every other hour (much to Empire Strikes Back’s happiness I’m sure), Netflix was not even a twinkle in someone’s eye, the only way to watch a movie at home was either VHS or Beta-Max, and an actor could still get a movie made based on their name alone. In other words: it was paradise on Earth. Out of all of those, there was one element that I didn’t list which is perhaps the most crucial to this review. That being the fact that legitimate superhero cinema wasn’t that big of a thing as it is today. Oh sure, that one superhero Superman had made his way to the big screen courtesy of a fairly persuasive performance given by some guy named Christopher Reeve, but otherwise most superhero entertainment in cinema had a fair bit of (albeit entertaining) cheese factor to it. This was especially true of the iconic DC superhero Batman who, up to this point in time, most people knew of due to the delightfully over the top (Bam and Pow indeed) television series where he was played by the iconic Adam West. So of course, it goes without saying that you can most likely imagine people at the time’s surprise when, in the year 1986, Warner Brothers announced that not only were they making a Batman movie and not only was it going to be a serious attempt, but that their choice for director was none other than the guy who had just finished helming Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Even more worrisome than that (as if that aforementioned resume wasn’t already anxiety-inducing) was the fact that this director’s first choice for the part of the iconic Caped Crusader himself was a guy named Michael Keaton. A talented actor to be sure, but at that time mostly known for being a comedic presence rather than a dark and brooding one. Naturally, we saw that the fans panicked (as we are known for doing) and started prematurely declaring that this was the end times because we felt that Warner Brothers was about to take one of the most beloved comic book heroes of all time and flush him down the proverbial toilet. Yet although they would come very close to doing that later down the road (1997 to be exact), I can thankfully say that it was not to be with this slice of cinema. Instead, what they managed to do here was no more and no less bring this icon to life in a way that had never been done before. Indeed there may be a few flaws here and there, but with top-flight on both sides of the camera there is no denying that the 1989 Batman is an immensely enjoyable cinematic ride both for passionate comic fans and for those just discovering this character and world for the very first time.
The plot is as follows: A cinematic adaptation of the various misadventures of the DC Comics character of the same name, Batman “89” gets underway by taking us to the bustling city of Townsville ehhh I mean Gotham City (sorry; wrong hero). A city that seems to have the population, fashion design, and economic calamity present in 1930s New York City, but also the organized crime to say nothing of crime in general of that era and place as well. Fear not though dear reader for we quickly see that this does seem to be slowly but surely changing for the better. I say this because for awhile prior to the start of our film Gotham’s finest (and those on the take) have been getting some aid from a rather unique individual. One that happens to dress like a (get this) giant bat thus earning him the moniker of “The Batman” or just “Batman” for short. However, for all the good that ol’ Bats has been doing for the people of Gotham, it should still come as no surprise to learn that the vast majority of the populace aren’t quite sure what to make of him or a myth at best and at worst view him as an individual who needs to be brought in to face the long arm of justice as much as the criminals he helps to apprehend. That is unless you happen to be a crime boss named Carl Grissom and/or his more than slightly unhinged second in command Jack Napier. Indeed these are two people dear reader who very much would like to see the Bat quietly go an “permanent vacation” if you get my drift. Yet as much as they would like to see that happen, there are other matters that must be attended to first. Namely not only dealing with a new district attorney to Gotham by the name of Harvey Dent who actually poses a legitimate threat to Grissom’s continued reign as Gotham’s top crime boss, but also in dealing with the fact that Jack has been having a not-so-secret dalliance with Grissom’s girl. However when the latter score winds up resulting in Napier not only being ambushed by the cops and the Caped Crusader at a chemical factory, but then also dropped into a vat of chemicals, we see that this results in something far worse soon preying on Gotham. Something that takes the shape and form of a relentless, merciless, and extremely homicidally psychotic plus bleach-white and green-haired yet very much alive Napier now calling himself “The Joker”. Thus with Joker now setting his sights on not just all of Gotham, but also a certain billionaire named Bruce Wayne’s love interest can our Caped Crusader put a stop to what has to be the sickest joke ever or is this one punchline that is too much for even Batman to handle? That I will leave for you to discover for yourself dear reader……
Now first things first, it should be noted that the work done by the various departments behind the camera is nothing short of superheroic in its own right. This starts with the work done by iconic film helmer Tim Burton in the director’s chair. Indeed he may have already shown audiences more than a smidgeon of his flair for the dark and macabre in mainstream cinema with the release of Beetlejuice the year prior to this film’s release, but it is delightfully on full display here through such elements as saturating, if not downright drenching, the film in a lot of darker colors like brown, black, and even the trademark deep purple of the Joker’s coat whilst also setting a lot of the film in darkness and at night plus even incorporating some techniques that are usually present more so in film noirs than in superhero films such as shadows on the wall and the like to name but a few examples. With that in mind though, the biggest positive that this slice of cinema has going for it has to be in terms of its almost otherworldly visual flair especially in terms of its design and construction of Gotham City. I say this because what the production design team has managed to do here in regards to this iconic locale is not only make it look incredibly faithfully like the Gotham from the comics, but actually make it into a bleak, dirty, ominous, and severely crime-stricken place that could both actually exist in the real world and where you could definitely see how someone in the vein of Carl Grissom and, eventually, The Joker could have control/power over the denizens. We also see that this slice of cinema is the blessed recipient of several riveting action beats throughout including an exciting final showdown between Batman and the Joker in a cathedral plus moments for some of the Caped Crusader’s more exciting toys like the Batmobile and Bat-Plane respectively. Finally, I would be completely amiss if I didn’t take some time in this section to talk about the phenomenal soundtrack to this film provided by both iconic singer Prince as well as the extremely gifted Danny Elfman. Indeed I know there are some people who think the work done by the former is one element of the overall film that might make it seem a bit on the dated side. To me though, I have always enjoyed Prince’s work and while I don’t think his contributions to the film might have been all that necessary per se, I can’t lie that they manage to be both engaging in their own right to say nothing of the fact that it helps to really showcase the era in which this movie was made. With that in mind though, there is no denying that the work in the music department by the latter of the two names mentioned is downright essential in helping this movie triumph on the level that it is ultimately able to. Indeed Elfman’s Batman score is not only one that is equal parts rousing, lively, and one that leaves you on the edge of your seat every time you hear it, but it’s one of those scores that the moment you hear it nowadays you just instantly know where it’s from to say nothing of the character that it’s associated with. Suffice it to say dear reader that it goes without saying, but for as great as the overall film is I don’t think it would work nearly as well without Danny Elfman’s score.
Of course, the other big element that helps this slice of superhero cinema soar on the level that it is ultimately able to would have to come in the form of the phenomenal cast of talent assembled in front of the camera as well. This starts with Michael Keaton in the titular role and honestly he does a truly remarkable job to say nothing of putting all the naysayers to rest. Indeed as the Caped Crusader, Keaton feels less like he is giving a performance and more like his take on the character just came straight out of the comics and into the real world. Not just in terms of the scenes where he is kicking bad guy butt, but also in his mannerisms and everything. At the same time though where Keaton really succeeds is in regards to his portrayal of Bruce Wayne. I say that because not only does Keaton does a great job at playing up Wayne’s eccentric yet decent external demeanor, but also in giving audiences the more than tortured soul who doesn’t want to do this yet feels he has to because of the unspeakable tragedy that has defined his life. Suffice it to say it’s more than just a phenomenal performance. Rather, it’s easily one of the best performances in a superhero film we as movie goers have ever been blessed to receive. That last sentiment can also readily be applied to the work done here by screen legend Jack Nicholson in the role of Batman’s arch nemesis Jack Napier/The Joker. I mean before Nicholson, Joker was first portrayed by the immensely talented Cesar Romero and he was terrific make no doubt about it. At the same time though, Romero also played the role in a way that was very over the top in nature. Nicholson on the other hand is a very different portrayal altogether. To be sure, there is the sinisterly delightful theatricality that was present in Romero’s, but that can also be attributed to the fact that Nicholson is one of the few who doesn’t have to try that hard to play a crazy man. At the same time though, Nicholson also brings a genuine ruthlessness to the part that Romero didn’t. As a result this feels very much like a version of the character that, like his winged nemesis, feels like it was ripped straight out of the comics and brought vividly to life. Now I will say that I do appreciate the work done here by Kim Basinger in the role of Bruce Wayne’s love interest/ gifted photojournalist Vicki Vale, but at the same time the role isn’t really written as well as it could have been and feels a tad on the one-dimensional side though not for lack of effort. A bit of a shame really because in the comics the character is quite a prominent individual with an incredible legacy to her. Suffice it to say that when you include fantastic work from such screen talents as Michael Gough who is still easily my 2nd favorite Alfred, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams who I still wish we could have seen finish Harvey Dent’s arc (if you know the comics then you know what I mean), Lee Wallace, Tracey Walter, and a wonderfully menacing to say nothing of scene-stealing extended cameo of sorts from icon Jack Palance it’s clear that this film’s cast is something genuinely special in all the best ways no matter how big or small their role in the grand proceedings may be.
All in all is the 1989 Batman a perfect movie? Not by any stretch of the imagination. At the same time though, does this make this the worst thing to happen to the Caped Crusader in the history of cinema? Honestly not even close. To be sure, this slice of cinema does have its fair share of issues to say nothing of a few intriguing decisions that it makes from a narrative perspective that I have no doubt in my mind will more than likely make comic book aficionados raise an eyebrow at best and cry foul and unnatural murder at worst. Even with that in mind however, there is no denying that this film is truly a genuine and bonafide success. Indeed the work done behind the camera not only gives us a Gotham City that incredibly looks like the one from the comics, but also (among other top-tier elements) a soundtrack from iconic composer Danny Elfman that is brilliantly in synch with the rest of the film to say nothing of the character, and a story that not only feels like one that comic book fans both then and now likely would have read in a Batman comic as well as being equal parts action-packed, delightfully darkly comical at points, and even has a splash of both pathos and romance thrown into the mix for good measure. At the same time, the work done in front of the camera by this slice of cinema’s truly impressive cast of players also does a remarkable job at bringing their characters, with particular regard to both Keaton as well as Nicholson, to life in such a way that you’d swear these were not actors bringing them to life, but rather the characters themselves given the gift of life. Suffice it to say then that the 1989 Batman is more than just a trailblazer for the Caped Crusader as a viable entertainment property to say nothing of superhero cinema in general. Rather, it is also one of the best superhero movies of the past 3+ decades to say nothing of a true must-see in every sense of the word even IF some of the creative choices it makes might cause you to want to get a bit nuts. Make of that dear reader what thou will. On a scale of 1-5 I give Batman “89” a solid 4 out of 5.
