Batman (1989)

[Two-Face]

Who was the better in this movie?

 

[cryptic name]

im guessing as to the nature of this question: i think keaton was better in the movie. his preformance really captured the idea of a man whos emotional growth ceased at childhood. and his batman was tough, scary, and heroic all while staying in control. that's what batman should always have, control.
nicholson on the other hand was just being nichoson with clever make up and a lot of great lines.

 

[JLBats]

Billy Dee Williams two and a half minutes of screen time blew me away. I vote for him.

 

[CConn]

im guessing as to the nature of this question: i think keaton was better in the movie. his preformance really captured the idea of a man whos emotional growth ceased at childhood. and his batman was tough, scary, and heroic all while staying in control. that's what batman should always have, control.
nicholson on the other hand was just being nichoson with clever make up and a lot of great lines.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel.

Michael Gough is always great to watch as well.

 

[The Chairman]

I love every performance in the movie aside from Basinger's (though it's entirely due to the way her character was written), but if I had go with one it would be Jack, because aside from not having the proper physique for the role, he absolutely nailed it: he was sadistic, creepy, evil and yet at the same time darkly funny. I know everyone will disagree with me, but that's how I feel. Keaton was just as good overall, but he gots some points knocked off for not projecting the proper Bruce Wayne aura.

 

[El Payaso]

Jack Nicholson. It's not amazing because he's always great.

Keaton was the second best mainly because he was used to do comedy and suddenly he was able to embody the dark bitter hero and did it so great.

 

[The Chairman]

Jack Nicholson. It's not amazing because he's always great.

Exactly. I don't think I've ever been disappointed with the man's acting, which is why he's my favorite actor.

 

[cryptic name]

i think robert whul (what's his name?) also did a commendable job as knox. even if he was just a rip off of the campaign worker character from taxi driver

 

[batmaluco]

Jack Nicholson.

 

[XCharlieX]

The three best folks were Nicholson, Keaton and Michael Gough.

Not sure about the order though.

 

[Bat Attack]

Micheal Keaton.

 

[lordofthenerds]

Jack Nicholson. Possibly the best performance as a comic book villain imo.

 

[StorminNorman]

Anyone who doesnt vote for Nicholson is a liar.

 

[StorminNorman]

i think robert whul (what's his name?) also did a commendable job as knox. even if he was just a rip off of the campaign worker character from taxi driver

He annoyed the hell out of me personally

 

[cryptic name]

He annoyed the hell out of me personally

he really came off a forties-type reporter to me. gave the movie more of a period feel. plus i just felt so bad for him, i mean, how the hell do you get the girl when you're competing with batman?

 

[Two-Face]

Michael Keaton as Batman was the best but didn't like his Bruce Wayne sounded wooden.

 

[cryptic name]

the best thing about keaton's wayne was how utterly uncomfortable he was with his normal life. i mean, he's just made love to this beautiful woman (vicki vale) and she's all smiley and snuggly in her sleep, but he just lies there awake with this look in his eye, "i don't belong here" he has no clue how to stay in at night and just love his lady . or he's throwing that charity party in his house, but he's gatsby-ing it up, seperating himself, not really talking to anyone. the character doesnt know how to be a normal adult. the only time he's comfortable and confident is when he's encased in a bodyarmor batsuit, crouched on a rooftop, seeking justice. i think keaton gives a great sense of that, you know? bruce wayne is so damaged and stunted that he's basically an eight year old in a mans body. that's why he's not out at night in a trench coat and a big gun, he's out dressed as a bat, pretending to be a monster. he's a kid. keaton really makes you feel how damaged this guy is without coming out and just saying it. that's why he out-preforms nicholson to me. i think he's the only actor to portray bruce wayne as being truly, irreversibly traumatized by witnessing the deaths of his parents.

 

[Two-Face]

Oh I totally agree when Keaton puts on the batsuit he completely becomes someone else but when he's "utterly uncomfortable" as Bruce.

And Nicholson was just Nicholson with make-up on, don't get me wrong I love Jack's movies but in B89 he was like "I'm bigger then Joker character" which he shouldn't be.

 

[cryptic name]

definately agree about jack. it's funny though because, if you watch his interviews about batman, he has such a love for the joker character. i've never seen him excited in interviews other than when discussing the joker. he even suggested putting the chin and nose prosthetics on to elongate his face and look more like the comic. so i don't think he intended to be bigger than the character, that's just jack.

 

[mister Lennon]

First, Michael Gough

Then, Jack Nicholson

 

[Two-Face]

definately agree about jack. it's funny though because, if you watch his interviews about batman, he has such a love for the joker character. i've never seen him excited in interviews other than when discussing the joker. he even suggested putting the chin and nose prosthetics on to elongate his face and look more like the comic. so i don't think he intended to be bigger than the character, that's just jack.

of course, he's going to love talking about Joker, I mean he's still richer then any another actor that played Batman character.

But in the film he is really bigger then his character.

 

[cryptic name]

and he's still making money from anything "batman" that is sold. he even made money off begins.

 

[Two-Face]

Made money from Begins as well? that I didn't know that.

 

[cryptic name]

part of his deal. anything that has anything to do with batman outside of comics, nicholson gets a piece of.

 

[Ceb-Man]

Michael Keaton. He proved his versatility as an actor. From comedies Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice to drama Clean and sober to comic book action hero Batman.
Michael Keaton brought Batman media wise from the campy/ batman tv show to which everybody knew and introduced the audience, especially those who hadn't kept up with comics to a more dark and serious Batman.