Jack Nicholson as The Joker
How This Iconic Actor Brought The Classic Comic Book Villain to Life
Apr 14, 2008
In 1989, Tim Burton introduced the world to a reinvented ‘Batman’. Highly inspired by Frank Miller’s 1986 comic ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Returns”, Burton aimed to create a bleak and unrelenting landscape for his ‘Batman’ film. Gone were the days of the psychedelic camp excesses of the 1960s television series starring Adam West (‘Batman’ had become a joke of sorts with his portrayal in this series). Instead, Burton vowed to once again honor the ‘Batman’ story with the respect and admiration he felt it deserved.
Bruce Wayne was a dark and troubled individual. He was a damaged soul who vowed to escape the pain filled experiences of his childhood (he witnessed the deaths of his parents) through his metamorphosis as a crime fighting idealist known as Batman. Michael Keaton played the role in the film and to be honest, he provides a restrained (reserved), slightly comedic performance. In a sense he plays the straight man to Jack Nicholson’s over the top (in a good way) portrayal of The Joker.
The History of the Joker
In 1940, The Joker was introduced by writer Bill Finger and artist Jerry Robinson (ghosting for original creator, Bob Kane) in the comic ‘Batman No 1’. He was portrayed as a mysterious, vicious killer bent on destroying the morality of society (however- according to Empire Magazine’s tribute to the Joker in January 2008- during the late 1940s, The Joker’s heartless and sinister actions were toned down and he was recast as a more harmless trickster which in turn inspired his character- portrayed by Cesar Romero- in the television series). Originally imagined to be killed off after his second appearance in the comic book, The Joker has continued on and has been labeled (perhaps correctly) as the most iconic and recognizable villain of all time.
During the 1960s, The Joker’s character began to diminish from the pages of the comic book and he all but disappeared from it by 1964. However, in 1973, The Joker returned in ‘Batman No.251’. Written by Dennis O’ Neil and Neal Adams, The Joker shed his camp sensibility and once again returned to his homicidal roots through his depiction as an outright insane individual. This was embellished to an even further extent by Frank Miller in 1986.
Jack Nicholson as The Joker
The Joker was now reinvigorated. His identity had been reestablished and he had finally rid himself of the superficial qualities of the past. The Joker was the antithesis of the happy clown. As Batman was, The Joker was a deeply fragile human being who had found solace in an alter ego of sorts. However, whereas Batman blurs the line between good and evil, The Joker is clearly a character who has crossed over that boundary into the realms of indecency.
The performance by Jack Nicholson is an interesting one to note. He creates a mysterious, enigmatic and sadistic character bent on dispelling justice to a society that has rejected him and deemed him an ‘outsider’. As he gleefully expresses to Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), the love interest caught in between the two worlds of Batman and The Joker: “I am the first fully functioning homicidal artist”. However, Nicholson never forgets to add a sick sense of humor to the proceedings. In a sense, he summons the spirit of Cesar Romero’s Joker and recasts it as a demonically possessed, fun loving, insane mastermind.
The Joker, as portrayed by Nicholson, is a hybrid in every sense of the word. He has deep lustful feelings for Vicki Vale but does not hesitate to harm her when he is rejected by her. His feelings are superficial and selfish. He desires self gratification and demands to be given the respect he deserves but conveys it through an uncontrolled zealous giddiness.
Though he is treated as an outsider, as Batman is, The Joker continually appeals to society to be treated as an accepted man (rather then a scarred, hideous figure) However, he is merely fabricating his desires. He does not wish to be treated with the approval of society but rather dreams of destroying them through their own selfish needs. He thus goes about tricking (as a clown naturally does) society and blinds them with promises of helping them. However, as is the case when he drops 20 million dollars onto a crowd during a parade, he is merely attempting to hold a mirror up to society to reveal the absurdity of its greed and their dependence on everything materialistic (while simultaneously striving to destroy them with toxic gas).
Everyone Loves a Joker
The Joker is perhaps one of the most loved and important characters in all of fiction. This is clearly noted by the unfathomable anticipation for this summer’s upcoming blockbuster, ‘The Dark Knight’ which features the last completed performance by the late Heath Ledger as The Joker. However, the Jack Nicholson Joker is an admired, iconic figure and Heath Ledger has apparently decided that to portray him as the 1989 film did would be a grave mistake. From early indications, Ledger's depiction of the tragic clown appears to be directed towards a much more edgy and disturbed version of the criminal mastermind.
Jack Nicholson’s performance is so over the top that there is fear in some instances that the audience will forget that this film is called ‘Batman’. Nicholson’s total absorption into the warped mindset is masterful and unrestrained. Nicholson gives it his all and delivers on all the right notes. In an historic career, this may be his most memorable performance of all time.
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