Batman/Bruce Wayne Casting Thread - Part 1

[ArmsHeldOut]

I do have to wonder how much of the love for Affleck has to do with his physical approximation to the comic books, both in and out of the suit.

In terms of characterization though, I truthfully don't get it. He was bloodthirsty in BvS and borderline incompetent in JL - neither of which meets my criteria for a "definitive" Batman.

Take away the superficial physical stuff and he's largely been a non-factor in the role.

It's certainly part of it, but the same can be said of other Batman actors. Bale's likeness, in particular, was arguably just as lauded in and out of the suit. You remember what it was like around here when he was first cast. In turn, his earliest supporters were met with superficial accusations not terribly dissimilar from the ones currently thrown at Batfleck fans. What was the disparaging term disgruntled Keaton fans used to describe him? "Teh Puffy" wasn't it?

I had issues with certain aspects of the characterization as well, but that's more on Snyder and Terrio than it is Ben's performance in the role.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

I do have problems with Ben's performance. He gave the same performance as Batman, public Bruce Wayne and private Bruce Wayne. With little variation. It was just Ben being Ben. And his attempts at doing brooding were bland. All of this was even worse in Justice League. His Batman performance seemed to only be differentiated by the voice changer.

Compare that to Bale whose public and private Wayne are much better differentiated. And a completely different performance as Batman.

Or Keaton who was a completely different individual as Batman and Bruce Wayne.

 

[BatLobster]

I do have to wonder how much of the love for Affleck has to do with his physical approximation to the comic books, both in and out of the suit.

In terms of characterization though, I truthfully don't get it. He was bloodthirsty in BvS and borderline incompetent in JL - neither of which meets my criteria for a "definitive" Batman.

Take away the superficial physical stuff and he's largely been a non-factor in the role.

Kind of ironic, right? Fans seemed so sure Affleck was destined to be the definitive Batman for a while, probably 90% based on his looks, the suit and knowing they were gonna go all out with the fight choreography.

In the end, we got two opposite extremes of the character but never the 'definitive' version in terms of characterization.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

I do have problems with Ben's performance. He gave the same performance as Batman, public Bruce Wayne and private Bruce Wayne. With little variation. It was just Ben being Ben. And his attempts at doing brooding were bland. All of this was even worse in Justice League. His Batman performance seemed to only be differentiated by the voice changer.

Compare that to Bale whose public and private Wayne are much better differentiated. And a completely different performance as Batman.

Or Keaton who was a completely different individual as Batman and Bruce Wayne.

That's a fair complaint, but it's worth noting that BvS and JL aren't standalone Batman films. As such, Affleck wasn't given material that would have allowed for him to demonstrate the kind of variation you're describing. With Justice League especially, he was Batman at all times; there were no "playboy Bruce" scenes written for him. Likewise, he wasn't hiding his identity from the rest of the league, so there was no need for a separate performance.

 

[Boom]

I had issues with certain aspects of the characterization as well, but that's more on Snyder and Terrio than it is Ben's performance in the role.

There is some truth to that, but his performance is based on the material given to him by Snyder and Terrio. So if their characterization missed the mark, it stands to reason that he performance did too.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

That's a fair complaint, but it's worth noting that BvS and JL aren't standalone Batman films. As such, Affleck wasn't given material that would have allowed for him to demonstrate the kind of variation you're describing. With Justice League especially, he was Batman at all times; there were no "playboy Bruce" scenes written for him. Likewise, he wasn't hiding his identity from the rest of the league, so there was no need for a separate performance.

Not true. We see him as public Wayne in three key scenes. Plenty of time to showcase it.

 

[LaughterLives]

I'd accept a Neal Adams length

I just don't want that Kelley Jones/Tim Sale s***.

I don't want anything longer than Keaton's Batman and nothing as short As Affleck's Catman.

 

[Boom]

I'd accept a Neal Adams length

I just don't want that Kelley Jones/Tim Sale s***.

Gyllenhaal would look so ****ing good in that cowl.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

There is some truth to that, but his performance is based on the material given to him by Snyder and Terrio. So if their characterization missed the mark, it stands to reason that he performance did too.

I think Ben brought a certain gravitas and commanding presence to the role. In BvS specifically, he also nailed the conflicted, "tortured soul" aspect of the character. His scenes with Alfred were pretty impressive in that regard.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

Not true. We see him as public Wayne in three key scenes. Plenty of time to showcase it.

That wasn't really public Wayne, as he was shown with various members of the JL and Alfred. Batman only adopts a fake Bruce Wayne persona when he's trying to conceal his identity. Bruce is the mask.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

Gyllenhaal would look so ****ing good in that cowl.

Is Gyllenhaal the frontrunner, or is he just one of several being considered for the part?

 

[Jekecy]

I do have problems with Ben's performance. He gave the same performance as Batman, public Bruce Wayne and private Bruce Wayne. With little variation. It was just Ben being Ben.

The only time I saw "Ben" was when he tried excusing himself to Mercy for being in a restricted area. He has a distinct pitch to his voice and always has this crooked smile when he tries to be friendly. I thought it was clever to be his naturally goofy self in that moment.

His scenes with Alfred, particularly the "If there's even a 1% chance..." speech and "They were hunters" manor scene perfectly encapsulated the brooding Bruce I've always loved to see. I put those right up there with Bale's "As a symbol" monologue as great cinematic Bruce sequences.

 

[Boom]

Is Gyllenhaal the frontrunner, or is he just one of several being considered for the part?

Allegedly Gyllenhal is who Matt Reeves wants.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

The only time I saw "Ben" was when he tried excusing himself to Mercy for being in a restricted area. He has a distinct pitch to his voice and always has this crooked smile when he tries to be friendly. I thought it was clever to be his naturally goofy self in that moment.

Same. I think some variation of that performance would've made for a decent take on the "playboy" persona.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

Allegedly Gyllenhal is who Matt Reeves wants.

Interesting. I'd heard that he was still meeting with other potential candidates.

 

[Boom]

Interesting. I'd heard that he was still meeting with other potential candidates.

Even if it's true that Gyllenhaal is his preference, he is no doubt meeting with other actors.

 

[Wheels]

I do have problems with Ben's performance. He gave the same performance as Batman, public Bruce Wayne and private Bruce Wayne. With little variation. It was just Ben being Ben. And his attempts at doing brooding were bland. All of this was even worse in Justice League. His Batman performance seemed to only be differentiated by the voice changer.

Compare that to Bale whose public and private Wayne are much better differentiated. And a completely different performance as Batman.

Or Keaton who was a completely different individual as Batman and Bruce Wayne.

I kind of hate Burton's take on Wayne but I do agree that Keaton executed it all very well.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Michael Keaton
Christian Bale
Val Kilmer
Ben Affleck
George Clooney

Don’t know where to place West. I love Adam West but it’s hard to compare him to the contemporary takes

 

[Wheels]

Michael Keaton
Christian Bale
Val Kilmer/Ben Affleck (tie)
George Clooney

Don’t know where to place West. I love Adam West but it’s hard to compare him to the contemporary takes

You can compare him to Lego Batman.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

That wasn't really public Wayne, as he was shown with various members of the JL and Alfred. Batman only adopts a fake Bruce Wayne persona when he's trying to conceal his identity. Bruce is the mask.

I was talking about BvS.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

The only time I saw "Ben" was when he tried excusing himself to Mercy for being in a restricted area. He has a distinct pitch to his voice and always has this crooked smile when he tries to be friendly. I thought it was clever to be his naturally goofy self in that moment.

His scenes with Alfred, particularly the "If there's even a 1% chance..." speech and "They were hunters" manor scene perfectly encapsulated the brooding Bruce I've always loved to see. I put those right up there with Bale's "As a symbol" monologue as great cinematic Bruce sequences.

The hunter scene is good. But I thought he was completely outmatched by Irons in the Dick Cheney scene. His attempt at rage was unconvincing. I laughed.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah, I know people thought he was really intense in that “if there’s even a 1 percent chance” speech, but I thought it should his limitations as an actor. Talking louder and faster can convey obsession and determination if you do it well but I just didn’t buy any of it from him.

 

[Wheels]

I don't like it when the Bruce we see at public functions is too close to the guy we see in scenes in the Batcave. I like the Bond-like playboy persona to be there to contrast with The Batman and the guy who we see with Alfred or when he lets his guard down around a companion, so when my fan hat is on I'm always looking for that, That's just how I like the character II'm sure not everyone feels the same way though.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Basically Affleck is vert good at acting in over his head. That's why he was perfect in gone girl. But anything that demands intensity and rage he is merely okay at.

 

[shauner111]

I think Ben brought a certain gravitas and commanding presence to the role. In BvS specifically, he also nailed the conflicted, "tortured soul" aspect of the character. His scenes with Alfred were pretty impressive in that regard.

Gravitas and Ben Affleck don't go together.