‘Batman’ (1989) With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
March 8, 2022 · Batman (1989) · Action · Adventure · 1:26:50 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Chris RyanMentioned liking the newscasts/Smilex ad and the parade sequence, but didn't give one definitive pick▶ 40:05
Sean FennesseyThe party man scene where Joker is dancing and defacing all the art at the museum▶ 42:09
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe importance of the Gotham Globe newspaper, Keaton's hair looking like a wig, some casting choices including Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, and especially Robert Wuhl as Knox▶ 48:36
Chris RyanThe treatment of Billy Dee Williams being cast as Harvey Dent but then getting 'boned over' when they brought in Tommy Lee Jones instead▶ 50:25
Sean FennesseyThe movie's confusing time period (simultaneously set in 1989 and 1948), agrees Robert Wuhl as Knox is the most unfortunate part of the movie▶ 48:57
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsPierce Brosnan — Discussed extensive Batman casting alternatives including Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Charlie Sheen, Tom Selleck, Bill Murray, Harrison Ford, Dennis McQuarrie, with Pierce Brosnan being serious contender who met with Burton but declined; expressed relief that Bill Murray/Ivan Reitman version didn't happen▶ 54:01
Chris RyanPierce Brosnan — Confirmed Pierce Brosnan was serious candidate who caught Burton's eye and met about the role but declined saying he wouldn't play a superhero▶ 54:13
Sean FennesseyBill Murray — Would not have enjoyed Bill Murray and Ivan Reitman's version despite loving both individually▶ 54:50
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShared extensive trivia including: Jack Nicholson was studio's top choice for Joker since 1980, Willem Dafoe was in talks, Robin Williams casting controversy where he was offered role then released when Nicholson committed, Nicholson's demands including top billing and no work during Lakers games, Sean Young replacement controversy with Kim Basinger, and Adam West wanting to reprise Batman role▶ 55:54
Chris RyanProvided additional details on Sean Young controversy, noting she had fewer lines in new script draft and tanked the read-through in front of Warner Bros executives, plus mentioned Kim Basinger wrote scenes for herself during filming▶ 56:38
Sean FennesseyContributed box office facts (Batman #1, Indiana Jones #2, Dead Poets Society #3 in 1989), discussed sliding doors casting scenarios, and added Sean Young's later Catwoman audition story and career trajectory through Ace Ventura▶ 57:25
Joey Pants Award
Chris RyanTracey Walter — Agrees with Tracy Walter, noting Nicholson negotiated to have him in cast and praising his Repo Man performance▶ 1:03:36
Picking Nits
Chris RyanJack Palance's over-the-top death scene where he dramatically rolls around yelling 'No! No! No!' - calls it the platonic ideal of making fun of 'bang, bang, you're dead'▶ 1:05:02
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsMichael Keaton — Yes for Michael Keaton - he had the most juice after this movie, enabling him to make Pacific Heights. For Tim Burton, says Batman Returns because it's a better movie where he had more control.▶ 1:09:13
Chris RyanMichael Keaton — Yes for Michael Keaton - agrees without hesitation that this is his apex mountain.▶ 1:08:48
Sean FennesseyMichael Keaton — Yes for Michael Keaton - this was the biggest movie of all time when it came out. For Tim Burton, torn between this and Batman Returns but leans toward this one for setting the iconography.▶ 1:08:41
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWas this Nicholson's secretly most important movie? What piece of memorabilia would you want from this movie - clearly has to be the Batmobile▶ 1:18:33
Chris RyanWould want Joker's palm electrocution device as memorabilia to shock people when dapping them up▶ 1:22:52
Sean FennesseyDr. J theory - Keaton as Batman is Dr. J, Bale is Michael Jordan, Pattinson/Reeves era is LeBron. Extended basketball analogies for different Batman actors▶ 1:18:43
Movies Referenced (55)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Batman (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 2:28 |
| Superman (2025) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:12 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 10:22 |
| Dead Poets Society (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 12:20 |
| Beetlejuice (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:19 |
| Batman Returns (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:30 |
| Do the Right Thing (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 12:29 |
| Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 23:48 |
| Identity (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:13:41 |
| The Mask (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 2:44 |
| The Prestige (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:12 |
| The Shining (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 16:17 |
Directors Referenced (14)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Burton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 30 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Edward Scissorhands | ▶ 8:32 |
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 22:13 |
| Billy Dee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | There's Something About Mary | ▶ 50:44 |
| Ivan Reitman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Up in the Air, Ghostbusters | ▶ 54:30 |
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 32:11 |
| Richard Donner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Lethal Weapon | ▶ 31:58 |
| Robert Zemeckis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Back to the Future, Forrest Gump | ▶ 31:58 |
| Zack Snyder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Wonder Woman | ▶ 44:30 |
| AFI | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:38 | |
| Jim Jarmusch | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Broken Flowers | ▶ 31:22 |
| John Carpenter | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Halloween | ▶ 31:58 |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 54:01 |
Actors Referenced (67)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicholson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 52 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed | ▶ 8:43 |
| Michael Keaton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 32 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Spotlight, The Founder | ▶ 8:40 |
| Sean Young | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 28 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | ▶ 2:22 |
| Bill Murray | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom | ▶ 2:34 |
| Robin Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Mrs. Doubtfire | ▶ 11:50 |
| Kim Basinger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | L.A. Confidential, Batman | ▶ 42:27 |
| Morgan Freeman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Se7en, Driving Miss Daisy, Million Dollar Baby | ▶ 24:13 |
| Robert Wall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Enter the Dragon | ▶ 13:33 |
| Adam West | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 6:28 | |
| Jack Palance | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | City Slickers | ▶ 1:00:11 |
| Robert Pattinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Twilight, The Batman | ▶ 1:19:08 |
| Bruce Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Die Hard, Pulp Fiction | ▶ 10:17 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Kasdan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons | The Big Chill | ▶ 13:52 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 36:50 | |
| Tommy Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Vanilla Sky | ▶ 51:17 |
| Rachel Axler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:20:51 | |
| Sam Hamm | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Batman, Batman Returns | ▶ 36:17 |