Bruce Wayne must grapple with identity problems as his alter ego Batman tries to stop villains The Riddler and Two-Face from taking over the minds of the citizens of Gotham City.
Also known as: Forever (title with Bat symbol)
Subgenres: action, duality
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey
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Joel Schumacher injects a lot of blacklight and neon-lit style into this film--it's like a pumped-up Flatliners --but none of these fantastical acoutrements work. For one thing, they are utterly illogical, given the story, and they ruin the atmosphere of darkness that should pervade the film. Schumacher's directing, itself, is fine (I particularly like the equality he gives to the camera's ogling of both male and female bodies--it's both funny and proper), but I have a beef with the fight choreography. That's exactly what it is--choreography--far too dancelike and lacking all of the brutal simplicity that characterized Batman Returns. Both Val Kilmer's Wayne and Batman are a distinct letdown from Michael Keaton's textured performances, Tommy Lee Jones finds a way to be over the top and boring at the same time, and Nicole Kidman is just annoying. Chris O'Donnell seems to be the only major player who either doesn't seem self-conscious or doesn't overact. And I haven't yet mentioned the script's "witty" dialogue and at times complete lack of character, especially in the case of Batman, who makes several stupid mistakes during the course of the film that that character simply wouldn't make. Then again, Batman & Robin is even worse . . . (Oct 30, 1999) | ||||||
Michael Keaton was originally attached to this project, but after meeting with Schumacher, felt that his character wasn't going to evolve. He passed on the role.
Follows Batman and Batman Returns. Followed by Batman and Robin.
