MovieChat Forums > Batman (1989) Discussion > So would you say that Jack Nicholson

So would you say that Jack Nicholson


Stole the show just like Heath Ledger did for The Dark Knight?
Or did Micheal Keaton do just as good as Nicholson?

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Some people say this movie should have been called Joker, however I think it's equal. They both shined.

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I don't understand people who say it's more of a Joker film.

Batman has his moment with the muggers at the beginning. While we're introduced to Nicholson, the party's going on at the Wayne manor. While it's showing us Nicholson become the Joker and killing Jack Palance it's showing us Bruce Wayne interacting with Vicki and Alfred then sleeping with Vicki. While Joker takes over the criminal empire, we see Bruce visiting the murder scene of his parents and come across him Joker killing in broad daylight and going home to start looking into him after talking with Alfred. He comes out of the film for a little bit while Joker meets Vicki at the museum but Batman gets his screen time back when he comes to Vicki's rescue, the ensuing car chase, taking care of the goons, and taking her to the Batcave while Joker disappears for this entire section. Joker and Bruce have their confrontation at Vicki's apartment, Joker addresses the city on TV while Bruce watches him and flashes back to his parents deaths, talks to Vicki about their relationship, and then it's non-stop action from that moment on with Batman blowing up the chemical plant, flying the Batwing, onto the belltower...

I think because the Joker's the showier role with more dialogue while Keaton's Batman is more taciturn they feel as if the screen time is mostly focused on Joker. Overall he probably does have the most if you added it all up but I never thought it was completely uneven and Batman was sidelined unlike Returns where he disappears from the film often for long sections while Penguin and Catwoman take center stage.

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I think they shared the honours.

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Nicholson was great in this role.

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Keaton was just as awesome as the joker, he played two roles remember and his Bruce Wayne was charming and relatable and his Batman kicked ass.

Don't forget Kim Basinger as well, an actress who looked perfect but could also act good, too (non existent nowadays).

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I think they both did a good job.

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