Monday, January 25, 2021

TODAY'S NUGGET: Batman (1989) - Tension While Batman & Joker Fall in the Air

[Quick Summary: Bruce Wayne (Batman) defends Gotham against a brand new criminal, Jack Napier (Joker).]

Dark and extreme superhero movies are common today.

But in 1989, Tim Burton was breaking new ground with the colors and visuals.

This isn't the most emotionally compelling script that I've read, but I give it some slack as there were a lot of bumps on the way (writers' strike, studio fears, etc.)

However, I liked the following scene for keeping tensions high while in mid-air:

EXT. CATHEDRAL TOWER - NIGHT

Two bodies fall in pad de deux. Joker SCREAMS. SOUND OF WIND RUSHING BY.

EXT. FALLING POV - NIGHT

CAMERA FALLS DOWNWARD. Lights float lazily up AT us from the onrushing street below.

EXT. FALLING - NIGHT - TIGHT

BATMAN FIRES a hook and a line back up at the roof.

ON HOOK

It lands on roof and skitters along looking for a crevice to hook on.

ON JOKER

He stares back at Batman as he drifts away. JOKER'S LAUGHING ALL THE WAY DOWN.

ON HOOK

SKITTERING.

ON BATMAN

He spreads his cape, slowing down a bit.

ON GARGOYLE

Hook skitters to it and seizes on its grimacing jaws.

ON JOKER (SLOW MOTION)

He plummets to earth CRASHING ON CATHEDRAL STEPS. LAUGHTER STOPS!

ON BATMAN (SLOW MOTION)

HE FALLS, TURNS UPSIDE-DOWN AND STOPS in mid-air. Coming to the end of a long tether from the top of the tower. He bounces a bit and hangs upside-down. Like a bat. A SCREAM fills the air.

EXT. CHURCH STEPS - OVERHEAD ANGLE

We're looking DOWN AT the Joker, whose body lies splayed and broken o n the steps. We DRIFT DOWNWARD, CLOSER, until his FACE FILLS THE SCREEN, his chilling grin still intact.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I liked that the writers didn't try to tug at our sympathies by making the Joker have regrets at the end.  This kept up the tension in the fall.

Batman (1989)(5th draft w/revisions)
by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren
Based on the character created by Bob Kane

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