Joker-a-Thon Part 2 - Jack Nicholson as the Joker

Welcome back. Let's spend another post continuing "Joker-a-Thon". For your reading pleasure, here's part two:

JACK NICHOLSON as THE JOKER
Batman (1989 feature film)

In 1988, then-newcomer Tim Burton (who was fresh off the success of Beetlejuice) was hired by Warner Bros. to direct the upcoming Batman adaptation film. Burton immediately went on to assemble a blockbuster cast, involving Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Kim Basinger as photographer Vicki Vale, and Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon. All that was missing was Keaton's opposite: The Joker. Who would the studio hire to portray the Joker? Well, it came down to Burton, who claims that he knew from the start he wanted Jack Nicholson in the role. Even though the studio attempted to veto him, he contacted Nicholson, and even thought Nicholson's demands were extremely high, he accepted the role. Nicholson delivered his trademark acting to the movie, and Batman was released in June of 1989 to critical acclaim by comic geeks and fans alike. Batman was one of the highest grossing movies of all 1989, and continues to set the tone for how all Batman movies are made now.

Theatrical poster

First off, Nicholson is fantastic in the role as the Joker. I know I said Hamill was, but that was animated. Jack Nicholson is automatically superior simply because he is able to present himself not only audibly, but visually as well. Jack Nicholson was our first "scary" Joker, and the performance has stuck. Nicholson pulled off the humorous aspects of the Joker, while also remaining insane and diabolical. Now, some complaints that fans have is that while Jack Nicholson set the stage for the role for years to come, many felt he was only "creepy" in the role, and that he should've been more terrifying. I say different, because that was how the clown prince of crime was written originally by Bob Kane. The Joker is supposed to be a diabolical criminal mastermind who is insane, yet also downright hilarious. He's supposed to be humorous in his doings, sometimes to the point where the Joker would cracking a joke about someone dying as they're right there dying. He would systematically slaughter them and then mock them and tease them as they died. It was downright sick, and while Nicholson doesn't do that exactly, he does make jokes about people who have already died, so Nicholson could not have been closer to the role than ever. There's a scene where The Joker is talking Basinger's character, and he puts a clay mask of his girlfriend, claiming that she "through herself out a window". Basinger says "oh my God", and becomes frightened. Instead of showing regret for killing her, Joker simply says "But, you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs!" just before smashing her mask with his fist, signaling he was the one who killed her. He was just that creepy, and if you think about it, he was terrifying in his own way...

Jack Nicholson as the Joker in "Batman"

There's one more thing I wanna point out, and that's the fact that this Joker actually has a back story. Joker was originally Jack Napier, a two-bit crook turned mobman that worked under Carl Grissom (Jack Palance). During the course of the movie, Grissom's girlfriend is revealed to be having an affair with Napier. Grissom learns of this, and plots to send Jack to Axis Chemicals to defend the factory during a police raid. Upon arriving, Jack learns that the files they were sent to trash were already gone and that they've been "ratted out". As the mob prepares to leave, the Gotham City Police surround them and open fire. It is also in this battle that Batman makes an appearance, assisting the Gotham Police. During the incident,  Batman comes face to face with Napier, who shoots at him. Batman uses a gauntlet to deflect the bullet and it crosses in front of Napier, tearing his face apart. Napier then falls into a vat of chemical waste, resulting in the bleaching of his skin. Surgery is later attempted on Napier, only for him to lose his mind fully and laugh all the way to Grissom's building. There, he kills Grissom mercilessly and proclaims himself to be "The Joker" and that now, he's "alot happier".

Here's a clip of Napier's visit to Grissom following the Axis Chemicals battle:

That's pretty much it. I'm glad you all got to read my thoughts on Nicholson's Joker. Personally though, he's my favorite Joker. I don't know if he's the absolute best, but his only other competition is Heath Ledger, so there's an extremely good chance he's the best. Nicholson has a legacy with many Batman fans of still being the greatest Joker, even after witnessing Ledger's performance. I'll agree; Nicholson's joker is both funny and creepy, and he leaves you with an eerie mood after watching him act. It's a performance to remember!

Check in for Part 3, we're gonna round out the Joker's with the one everybody nowadays knows...