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Did both Michael Keaton and Kim Basinger get blackballed several years after this movie?

posted 5 years ago by TMC-4 (19445)
18 replies | jump to latest

Somebody on Quora said this:

https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Michael-Keatons-career-go-on-a-slow-decline-after-he-stopped-playing-Batman/answer/John-Paterson-11

He got into a fight with a producer, around 1990 which led to him punching the producer in the face. Hollywood choose to blackball him, giving him smaller parts or worthless parts. So, he decided that he made enough money to live on and quit Hollywood, only taking parts from then on that were interesting to him and worth the money paid. He moved to Montana, where his $15 million dollar equity earns him enough to live well and the rest is history.

https://lebeauleblog.com/2011/03/16/what-the-hell-happened-to-michael-keaton/

Meanwhile, Kim Basinger was likely blackballed due to her involvement with the Boxing Helena trial and if you believe what's in this following CDAN blind item:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170515064436/http://crazydaysandnights.net/2016/07/blind-items-revealed-2-527.html

https://www.looper.com/133115/why-hollywood-wont-cast-kim-basinger-anymore/

[–] seal412 (335) 5 years ago

I don't know. I read an article that he turned down a lot of huge roles because he wanted to spend more time with his family. Once his kids grew up he started doing more movies. JJ Abrams wrote the character of Jack for Keaton to play but he turned it down

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 5 years ago

Another theory that I could've sworn that I've heard is that Keaton was blackballed for a while as payback for him backing out of a third Batman movie. Basically, Keaton gave off the impression that he couldn't be bought (he was apparently offered $15 million to play Batman a third time) and he thought that a huge money maker like the Batman franchise was "beneath him". Keanu Reeves recently came and and said that 20th Century Fox "blackballed him" for a good 15+ years after he turned down Speed 2.

[–] ebhaynz (3537) 5 years ago

All I know is that one day I turned on the TV and Keaton was in an episode of Frasier, which is absolutely crazy. I think he may have been blackballed because he simply had a bad reputation for being difficult. As much as I liked the guy in the 80's I think he takes himself way too seriously, another case of a comedian who leaned towards dramatic roles when he really isn't a good actor(just my opinion I know he's had some success esp. with Birdman). He was awful in Game 6, I mean just awful and that really should have been a fun movie. He was really bad in Clear History too. Of course he was great in Mr. Mom, Multiplicity, and thankfully he was in 2 batman movies and his best ever was Beetlejuice, more proof he should've stuck with comedy.
I've heard him in an interview where he was bragging about his running ability lol. I read another article where a reported went to interview him in Montana, he made sure the guy saw a list of movies before trekking out there. My conclusion is Michael Keaton kind of wanted it both ways, you know a guy who sits on the fence. I think he should have stayed in Hollywood, starred in every Batman movie and made more comedy's and stay away from duds like My Life, Game 6, Clear History, Frasier. He could have had a better career, that's a shame but hopefully he's got his head back on straight.

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 5 years ago

As for Kim Basinger, part of her problem I believe is that she had an annoying habit of getting too mouthy and full of herself whenever she talked to the press. I call it "Debra Winger syndrome", when an actress (or actor for that matter) can't help but frequently trash the projects that they're apart of and the people for whom they have to deal with. Quite frankly, it made Kim sound like she was ignorant, ungrateful, and down right egotistical and short-sighted.

http://movieline.com/1991/01/01/kim-basinger-on-good-kissing-her-academy-awards-outburst-and-conversations-with-god/2/

http://movieline.com/1997/04/01/kim-confidential/3/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnxUUdYn7h4#t=10m34s

http://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/kim-basingers-elle-interview-proves-shes-lost-her-damn-mind.php

https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/porter/article-cbe30276e1d4140f/cover-stories/cover-stories/kim-basinger

[–] ebhaynz (3537) 5 years ago

She's pretty bad, I get her mixed up with Darryl Hannah I think they're both impossible. I think Kim Basinger almost became Prince's sex slave..seriously! And he was a very short, skinny guy I guess he plied her with the good drugs that he needed to take to go on stage and between those great drugs and the sex she was in heaven. Didn't they have a very explicit sex laden music CD that never got released?
Basinger has certainly had a lot of relationships in her life; Snyder, Richard Gere, Jon Peters, Prince, Alec Baldwin but after Baldwin I think she realized she's just horrible at relationships and gave up. Probably her only good quality is that she's good with children. If that's not true then she doesn't have any good qualities.

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 5 years ago

It's interesting that you bring Daryl Hannah up because she's kind of like Kim Basinger in that they both sort of have a "naive, innocent child inside of a grown woman's body"-vibe to their on-screen personalities. They even appeared in at least one movie together, which was Hard Country back in 1981.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OOVkezBRwKI/hqdefault.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOVkezBRwKI

https://www.celebitchy.com/325078/daryl_hannah_was_diagnosed_as_autistic_as_a_kid_which_led_to_debilitating_shyness/#comment-13621588

She always reminded me of the Kim Basinger type, very private, shy, and uncomfortable in front of the paparazzi.

https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/09/movies/how-9-1-2-weeks-pushed-an-actress-to-the-edge.html

https://www.greensboro.com/daryl-hannah-has-managed-to-keep-childlike-qualities/article_a1a00543-d33c-55f7-ab4b-22bf4cc3182a.html

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 5 years ago

Kim also often comes across as extremely cold, dour and somewhat inarticulate in interviews. It's like the woman doesn't have any sense of humor or is incapable of having any sort of fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45BwVKYaTJE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMwATd5CBqM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7UOrGPRKnw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI7OLw448xo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1xInABlcmk

[–] ebhaynz (3537) 5 years ago

Yes, but this is not surprising at all. How many YouTube interviews with actresses get more than a few thousand views, while anything with actors like Deniro, Pacino, Duvall, Walken, Nicholson might get millions. Heck, how many women give interviews or can single-handedly carry a talk show? Chelsea Handler was successful, Joan Rivers couldn't keep an audience for more than 2 weeks. Meanwhile there's been Jack Parr, Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Craig Ferguson, Jay Leno.
Today's world is changing, there's obviously more diversity in entertainment nowadays so that's good..but interviews with almost any actress from the 80's/90's is probably going to be pretty dull and get almost zero views. I will give Kim Basinger credit in that she did have success in both the 80's and 90's, how many other actresses can say that?

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 5 years ago

If I were to guess, Michael Keaton sort of following Batman, became "lost". What I mean, is that up until Batman, he was primarily known as a comedic actor (although people do forget that he did try his hand at more serious roles like Clean and Sober). After he did Batman, Keaton practically stopped doing comedic roles altogether. I suppose that he was aiming for a Tom Hanks (who like Michael Keaton, started off as essentially a comedic actor, before gaining respect as a dramatic actor) type of career arc.

The thing with Michael Keaton, is he pretty much built himself off of playing decidedly quirky, blue collar, everymen. Of course, his movies with Tim Burton such as Beetlejuice and Batman were a bit different, but he always maintained that "edge" to his persona. I don't know for sure why his post-Batman movies didn't really connect other than maybe they didn't do as good enough of a job at utilizing his talents or what people grew to expect from him.

[–] ebhaynz (3537) 5 years ago

Interesting, he certainly could have been trying to follow Tom Hank's career path but that's a very tall order. As far as him being lost, I remember him going on David Letterman in 1998 doing his press tour for Desperate Measures, he really thought he had made a great villain in a hit movie, which as a complete bomb.. so yeah, he was at least out of touch by then. A few years after Batman he was making back to back bombs like Jack Frost and Desperate Measures. Then, before you know it he's on a tv sitcom and in a middling HBO movie. Looking back at all these actors who made movie after movie every single year I can see how they can easily get off the track. Jack Nicholson was great at making hit movies every year, Tom Hanks struggle for a few years but once he made Big he was off and running. Keaton had success early, I'm starting to think the combination of his praised performance in Beetlejuice and the unexpected HUGE success of Batman caused his ego to soar, thinking he would always make hit movies but alas, he rarely did ever again. Overshoot.

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 5 years ago

We should also keep in mind that when Michael Keaton abruptly left the Batman franchise after only two films (in a sense, he's to Batman to what Timothy Dalton was to James Bond or what Andrew Garfield was to Spider-Man), he no longer had a franchise to fall back on when his other works failed. The only other time that I'm aware of that Michael Keaton played a character more than once was his Ray Nicolette in Jackie Brown and later, Out of Sight.

But I did hear this story that Keaton himself didn't really care much about sequels. From my understanding, Keaton held or holds the belief that even if it's the same character like Bruce Wayne, you from movie to movie, shouldn't exactly portray it the same way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJz-JjbXnx4#t=47m46s

[–] bozo_500 (12277) 5 years ago

Hed have been better off sticking with Batman . I know he bailed after Burton left (or was kind of removed by WBros after they were disappointed with BR) but really for his career hed have been better off being in Batman '3' as it'd have kept him high profile in the public eye and probably in demand for other movies.. also maybe he could've demanded an exec producer role (as part of a deal for him staying) and could've had some say in the direction of the series and even the choice of director and stopped it getting too ridiculous/Schumakery (BF still had some Burton elements/tone as he was still involved in the early production and maybe had MK stayed could've been abit more serious/dark .. and with B&R he could've been like 'no you do it like that and I'm gone')

[–] ebhaynz (3537) 5 years ago

Not many actors have turned down 15 million like Keaton did for Batman 3 that's for sure. There's that old Hollywood saying "don't quit the hit" my god that's never truer than this case. Plus, I wouldn't want any other actor taking my place as freaking BATMAN.
Also, you can say Keaton was being loyal to Tim Burton for opting out of Batman Forever but I don't think he ever worked for him again. Very strange.

[–] bozo_500 (12277) 5 years ago

hes in Burtons Dumbo.. and also (although probably wont happen) Wbros could now do a standalone Burton/Keaton 'Batman 3' ignoring Forever/Robin 'Halloween 2018' style (as Wbros seem to be experimenting with standalone unconnected DC movies now like 'Joker'). that'd be a guaranteed $1b nostalgia hit (like SW:TFA & Jurassic World etc)

[–] ebhaynz (3537) 5 years ago

They finally got back together after almost 30 years, amazing. It's gotta be somewhat painful to make a rather bland Dumbo movie while movies like Avengers series rakes in billions of dollars.
I believe there's already a standalone Batman being made without Burton or Keaton, it may be too late for Keaton who's pushing 70.

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 5 years ago

In fairness, Keaton is already apart of the MCU (he was Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming), and he has been praised for being on of the better if not best MCU (and superhero movies in general) villains, so it isn't all for naught. At least Keaton isn't debasing himself in crap like Fifty Shades Darker like Kim Basinger has been doing in recent years.

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 4 years ago

https://www.datalounge.com/thread/25600072-celebrities-with-terrible-personalities-

Ran into Aniston once. She was nice in our two-second interaction.

A friend had an encounter with Courtney Cox and then-boyfriend Michael Keaton back in the day at a bowling alley in Santa Monica. He was a total asshole to everyone and pulled the "Do you know who I am?" act when he wasn't treated like a king. Courtney was allegedly completely high.

—Anonymous
reply 111 Last Sunday at 3:57 PM

"then-boyfriend Michael Keaton back in the day at a bowling alley in Santa Monica. He was a total asshole to everyone"

Yeah, everyone was so stunned when he lost the Oscar but I said even then that I don't remember him being very popular in Hollywood even at his peak. Notorious jerk. Notice he's never been nominated again either.

Lots of first hand experience with some of these but two I have never met but hear awful things about from on set: Jessica Alba and that "Swimfan" guy, Jesse Bradford.

—Anonymous
reply 146 15 hours ago

[–] TMC-4 (19445) 4 years ago