JOEL SCHUMACHER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB

USA/United Kingdom, 1995.  Warner Bros., PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.  Story by Lee Batchler, Janet Scott Batchler, Screenplay by Lee Batchler, Janet Scott Batchler, Akiva Goldsman, based on characters created by Bob Kane.  Cinematography by Stephen Goldblatt.  Produced by Tim Burton, Peter Macgregor-Scott.  Music by Elliot Goldenthal.  Production Design by Barbara Ling.  Costume Design by Ingrid Ferrin, Bob Ringwood.  Film Editing by Mark Stevens, Dennis Virkler.  

Gone are the good old days of Tim Burton’s menacingly creepy Gotham City. Director Joel Schumacher has turned the Caped Crusader’s hometown into a bloated colour parade, beautifully designed but also a bit ridiculous. This time, Batman (Val Kilmer filling in for Michael Keaton) must tackle two new villains, the Riddler (a hilariously loony Jim Carrey) and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones), while also fending off the attention of a beautiful doctor (Nicole Kidman) and making the acquaintance of his new friend Robin (Chris O’Donnell). It could be a lot more fun if it weren’t so long and overdone, but it does have its moments, and Stephen Goldblatt’s cinematography is gorgeous.

Academy Award Nominations:  Best Cinematography; Best Sound; Best Sound Effects Editing

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Original Song (“Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me”)