doug zdanivsky
Supporting Actor
I duuno, Gary.. Of all the guys that have filled Batman's shoes over the years, Keaton was by far the best..
I totally agree, Doug. Keaton is the only actor to play Batman that has brough alot of darkness to the character, something that was totally lacking in Val Kilmer and George Clooney's performance.I would say Keaton was the best as well, but that doesn't mean that he was still a good choice.
I always felt that a character as iconic as Batman should have had a virtual unknown fill the role, as I would have a hard time choosing a Batman from a pool of "bankable" stars. In addition, with a virtual unknown, I think it allows the audience to further suspend disbelief. Keaton did as good a job as he could, provided the material he was given, but Bruce Wayne is not a dark, moody , character, not in the public eye. He is a flambouyant playboy (much like Don Diego in Zorro), but not so "efeminate", of course. And physically, he is not very forboding as the comic Batman is. It was obvious that the suit was made partially to offset these shortcomings... padded suit and 10 inch bat ears. Also notice when Batman was shot next to say Commissioner Gordon, the shots were structured to give the impression that Batman was taller than he actually was. This may not seem like much but it does restrict the director in what he can put on the screen.
But the biggest problem I had with Batman was not with Keaton but with Burton himself, who had no clue what motivated the character (in admission on his part). His conclusion was it was the suit that made the man, not the other way around. This is based on what I read years ago when this movie was in production. So what we got was a 5'6" Batman in a huge rubber suit, unable to move, so acrobatics were implied rather than seen, a Batman that allowed innocent life to be snuffed, a Batmobile that launches grenades to cause further loss of life... it just goes against the established mythos. As usual with Burton, the atmosphere created in the movie was spot on, clearly art direction is his forte, not storytelling.
That said, the Burton movies were better than the Schumaker movies, which were a travesty.
I would say the only movie to come close to capturing the true spirit of the Batman was Mask of the Phantasm.
What will they call it do ya think?"Calibrate My Love" ?
"Boom Chaka-laka-laka Boom Boom Boom" ?
"The Lower Decibels of Life" ?
"Crossover My Heart" ?