The Dark Knight Thomas Schiff, Goon Extraordinaire.

[gwynplaine]

I love that the Joker attracts the crazies. That reminded me of Manson and his "family" and I think that it makes sense that a creepy and charismatic character like the Joker would have his "disciples". It is a direct response to the Batman wannabees and I think it works better than just hired guns like in B89.
That brings us to Thomas Schiff, the lunatic who escaped from Arkham and wears the Rachel Dawes badge at the parade. I thought he was great in TDK, totally creepy, believable and unpredictable.

 

[The Joker]

Schiff was creepy. His little crazy giggles and smiles in the ambulance were great.

It's a shame we never saw Joker have any interaction with him.

 

[gwynplaine]

Schiff was creepy. His little crazy giggles and smiles in the ambulance were great.

It's a shame we never saw Joker have any interaction with him.

I agree. He felt like a true Joker follower. I also liked seeing him next to the make-upless Joker in the firing squad.

 

[Drizzle]

I say think outside the box (tennant, bettany) and let him be the riddler in part 3.

Hey, I'm as sick of the "David Tennant for Riddler" suggestion as everyone else, but isn't that going a little too far? The Riddler isn't a paranoid schizophrenic.

 

[gwynplaine]

Hey, I'm as sick of the "David Tennant for Riddler" suggestion as everyone else, but isn't that going a little too far? The Riddler isn't a paranoid schizophrenic.

You're probably right, it's a bit of a stretcht:, I am just tired of hearing the same names over and over again and bored with that bandwagon mentality. Anyway, I trust Nolan, if he comes back, to make the right casting choices as he has proved himsel flawless in that department and many others.
Back on topic, I was never too crazy about Harley (no pun intended) but I see how she might work if they keep that great idea that the lunatics flock to the Joker, if you look at old footage from the young girls who joined the manson family, they are creepy as hell and that might work in the Nolan universe.

 

[dlvillarreal]

The actor who played Schiff was awesome. I was freaked out by him. His laugh and look was just amazing.

 

[ronny]

It was great how my feelings towards Schiff changed. I went from feeling slightly creeped out by him to pitying the poor guy when Dent was playing his twisted game.

 

[Jokerluv]

never mind

 

[Jokerluv]

Thomas Schiff was played by unknown David Dastmalchian and what an actor. As someone else pointed out he went from playing this creepy henchman to literally begging and crying, did you see the tear, for his life.

Let's just say Nolan was going to do a third one, cause he hasn't confirmed or denied anything, why should only name actors be considered for roles like the Riddler? I understand box office receipts are all studios think about, but there is a hell of a lot of undiscovered talent out there and David is a prime example. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that he should play the character, I'm asking why not?

Just cause he played a paranoid schizophrenic doesn't mean he couldn't play the Riddler, or any other villain, or good guy, for that matter. Let's not look at the character he played, look at his ability as an actor. From what I have seen and researched, Nolan is just the guy to take a chance on unknowns. Hell, the Fat thug, who had the phone put in him, Adian Feore, this was his first credit ever and most of the under 5's were played by actors with little to no credits. We need more people in the industry that think like Nolan.[/quote]

 

[gwynplaine]

Thomas Schiff was played by unknown David Dastmalchian and what an actor. As someone else pointed out he went from playing this creepy henchman to literally begging and crying, did you see the tear, for his life.

Let's just say Nolan was going to do a third one, cause he hasn't confirmed or denied anything, why should only name actors be considered for roles like the Riddler? I understand box office receipts are all studios think about, but there is a hell of a lot of undiscovered talent out there and David is a prime example. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that he should play the character, I'm asking why not?

Just cause he played a paranoid schizophrenic doesn't mean he couldn't play the Riddler, or any other villain, or good guy, for that matter. Let's not look at the character he played, look at his ability as an actor. From what I have seen and researched, Nolan is just the guy to take a chance on unknowns. Hell, the Fat thug, who had the phone put in him, Adian Feore, this was his first credit ever and most of the under 5's were played by actors with little to no credits. We need more people in the industry that think like Nolan.

[/quote]
QFT.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

It was great how my feelings towards Schiff changed. I went from feeling slightly creeped out by him to pitying the poor guy when Dent was playing his twisted game.

Schiff was great, but I had no pity for him. He seemed delighted in knowing and suggesting that Rachel would be Joker's next target.

 

[ospumas1]

anyone remember this commercial...
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ne_y10XQIk

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

anyone remember this commercial...
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ne_y10XQIk

Nice find! I remember that!

 

[thedarks0ldier]

Thomas Schiff was played by unknown David Dastmalchian and what an actor. As someone else pointed out he went from playing this creepy henchman to literally begging and crying, did you see the tear, for his life.

Let's just say Nolan was going to do a third one, cause he hasn't confirmed or denied anything, why should only name actors be considered for roles like the Riddler? I understand box office receipts are all studios think about, but there is a hell of a lot of undiscovered talent out there and David is a prime example. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that he should play the character, I'm asking why not?

Just cause he played a paranoid schizophrenic doesn't mean he couldn't play the Riddler, or any other villain, or good guy, for that matter. Let's not look at the character he played, look at his ability as an actor. From what I have seen and researched, Nolan is just the guy to take a chance on unknowns. Hell, the Fat thug, who had the phone put in him, Adian Feore, this was his first credit ever and most of the under 5's were played by actors with little to no credits. We need more people in the industry that think like Nolan.

This is David Dastmalchian just lurking and tooting his own horn again.

 

[Jokerluv]

This is David Dastmalchian just lurking and tooting his own horn again.

Whatever.

 

[Christmas]

anyone else notice that on his cop's uniform, there is a little Batman insignia above the other medals. its really small tho. its easy to see when dent has him in the ambulance.

 

[Christmas]

oh and he is a goon extraordinaire

 

[MessyPandas]

Anyone really like the guy sitting next to Joker in the 18 wheeler (i'm not being sarcastic) all he had to do was turn his head and i knew the guy was insane. Shame he didn't have any lines at all although maybe that helped the mystique around him.

 

[thedarks0ldier]

Whatever.

I keed, I keed

 

[SuperZer0]

Anyone really like the guy sitting next to Joker in the 18 wheeler (i'm not being sarcastic) all he had to do was turn his head and i knew the guy was insane. Shame he didn't have any lines at all although maybe that helped the mystique around him.

From IMDB:

Cameo: [Stuntman Buster Reeves] Christian Bale's main stunt double plays one of The Joker's thugs. He appears in the trailer of the Joker's semi-truck, as he hands The Joker his weapons as he fires them at the Police transport. He then rides in the passenger seat of the cab of the truck as The Joker drives.

In this pic, he is sitting beside the Joker. That's Buster Reeves, Bale's stunt double

 

[CaptainClown]

ya I would want to see that actor in another batman movie perhaps expand on it a little, maybe he went on his own acting crazy scheme

 

[gwynplaine]

ya I would want to see that actor in another batman movie perhaps expand on it a little, maybe he went on his own acting crazy scheme

Yeah that would be fun.
I like the fact that, on certain angles, he vaguely ressembled comic book Joker, almost like a little nod to the fans. I also like the evolution of the Joker thug in the history of the character and where they are going with it on the big screen.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

the dude made me creeped out during the film.

 

[CaptainClown]

I could see him as a make shift hatter, though I know most fans wouldn't like that.

 

[gwynplaine]

Anyone really like the guy sitting next to Joker in the 18 wheeler (i'm not being sarcastic) all he had to do was turn his head and i knew the guy was insane. Shame he didn't have any lines at all although maybe that helped the mystique around him.

I agree, I think all the Joker thugs were really very well cast, I also think it was cool that we got Brian Douglass and then his flip side Thomas Schiff, satan's little helper. Man, that guy was creepy and a great actor.

I could see him as a make shift hatter, though I know most fans wouldn't like that.

That's a cool idea, And it's interesting to note that Schiff is one of the few who saw Dent's dark side and lived to tell the talet: and is also one of the few who has seen the Joker without his warpaint. I can only imagine the preparation scene between the Joker and his men before taking place in that firing squad. They're probably looking up to him like some sort of prophet. I think it adds to the mystique of the character. I wouldn't mind seeing Schiff come back in some capacity.t: