8 Little Known Tics That Made Michael Keaton's Batman Awesome
7. He Played The Role Like A Silent Movie Star
Keaton was a famously controversial choice to play Batman, with fans fearing the movie would go the same road as the sixties TV series. That was never his intention though; the twisted elements of the part are what drew him to it. Burton knew that Bruce Wayne was a man who would never express himself with big speeches or gestures, so he decided to present the character like a silent movie star; someone who told the story through their eyes and body language. This concept is how Keaton was able to mentally separate the two men in both movies, and what makes his performance so compelling. Batman is rigid and stoic, and instead of dialogue he relies on looks and actions to get his point across. On the other side Bruce is all fidgety, nervous energy. He hates being the centre of attention and tends to hunch over when speaking to strangers. The scene where hes absentmindedly trailing Vicki Vale through the party could also come straight out of a silent comedy, where he nearly drops things and Alfred has to swoop in to save them.
