The other day we got pretty much snowed in here where I live… the first big snowstorm of the year. So, since my car was buried I decided to let someone else risk their neck and I ordered pizza and just stay in for the night and watch one of my dvds. As I started digging through the pile I came across my unopened copy of Desperate Measures that I bought like a year ago at a Blockbuster clearance bin. I remember liking the movie so I pealed the plastic wrap off it and popped it in the DVD player. Man I’m glad I did.
I forgot just how much I liked this movie. Yes, there is a heavy element of fluff to it no doubt… but this is the movie that made me believe Michael Keaton would make a great Joker for the Batman franchise. He plays the first “bad guy” I can remember cheering for in a movie. Some of the stuff his character does in this movie is insane!
Ok, the basic idea is that Andy Garcia is a cop with a young son who is going to die unless they find a matching donor for a bone marrow transplant He’s had no luck and decides to search prisoner medical records to see if any inmates would be a compatible match. He finds one… the only problem is that the person is a convicted serial killer named Peter McCabe (Keaton).
Garcia is able to offer him some small creature comforts while in prison if he’ll help out his son and donate his bone marrow. Keaton agrees… but he has a lot more in mind than just donating some body fluid. And that’s where the fun begins.
I love heist and escape movies. I love seeing how they plan and execute their plans… and this escape by Michael Keaton’s character is one of the best, and yet least “flashy” ones I’ve seen. I really love this movie and would recommend it to anyone. No, it’s not Silence of the Lambs or anything, and it doesn’t belong on “classic films” lists either… but it’s just a good time. Run by a video store or put it on your Netflix list… watch it… then tell me with a straight face Keaton wouldn’t have made a great Joker!
Yo John,
Totaly agree with you. Keaton would have made a great Joker!!! Been thinking that way since BeetleJuice!! When I saw that as a kid…I said to myself, there’s my Joker!!!! I always thought that Batman was casted incorrectly! I know people love Nicholson…but I always thought Keaton should have been the Joker!! He’s got that smile and he’s got that evil glint in his eyes!! He would have been so much better…pure evil!! If you really want proof that he could be the Joker see Beetlejuice!
Little known fact; Keaton uses the same voice as his character in this film when he plays Jack Crowley in Simpsons episode “Pokey Mom”.
I’m just saying is all.
Thanks John,
I remember seeing the trailer for this when it was first due out but never got around to seeing it and soon forgot it even exsisted… now thanks to you a quick 4.99 off play and its mine HAHAHAHAHA!
Gio, I think your movie smarts just dropped two notches in my mind. I’ve seen this and it made me schart in my undershorts. Take 15 Advil with five or six beers and then watch it again.
Is there hope for him being Jigsaw in Punisher II?
Oh my God! I was just talking about this film with my mate earlier on today!
I remember seeing this movie years ago and loving it. Definetly need to see it again. So underrated! I mean come one 5.7 on imdb! From memory this deserves at least 1 7/10!
This is an awesome movie, Keaton is brilliant in this movie…and yes i think he would make excellent joker…
John if youlike this thenyou need to see Pacific Heights. Great film and he gives a fucking insanely creepy performance
The scene when he brings her flowers….well….its a great scene..if you have seen the film you know what I mean…fantastic
Nothing beats Keaton in Multiplicity. Movie gold.
One of Keatons best charactors.
Dude. C’mon. You just had to go with the gay-bait pic, didn’t ya?
It’s OK, Mr. Keaton. You’ll always be Mr. Mom to me.
He deserves to be a much bigger star/actor than he has been in the past few years. He’s too good an actor to ignore (though there are many other underated actors around as well).
He was also really creepy in Pacific Heights.