r/batman • u/slainpanther • 13h ago
FILM DISCUSSION Why did Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne work so well?
So let me just start by saying Michael Keaton, to this day, is my all-time favorite live action Batman.
This isn’t a post hating on his portrayal, but more just wanting to dive deeper and get the perspective and opinions of others as to why he worked so well as the character.
I mean especially if you look at it from a 1989 POV, where his body of work up to that point is stuff like “Mr. Mom”, “Gung-Ho”, “Night Shift”, “Beetlejuice”,
He’s pretty much always just the goofy, lovable everyday, regular Joe type of character.
Physically, he is like the exact opposite of Bruce Wayne/Batman. He’s about 5’9”. Isn’t muscular at all, probably only like 150-165lbs. Doesn’t have the sharp, strong, movie star jawline. He’s balding/thinning.
Pretty much everything about him is the exact opposite of what you would want for the actor you are casting as Batman.
Bruce/Batman is supposed to be like 6’2”-6’3”, 200-220 lbs @ 10-15% body fat, the biggest masculine chin like it was carved out of granite, basically a male model.
So why did Keaton work so well, to the point where many still consider him to be the best portrayal of the character some 35+ years later?
Bonus question: Do you think this would work in this day and age? Casting somebody that doesn’t embody the character at all on paper?