Synopsis: Tim Burton's follow up to 1989's rampantly successful, flamboyantly gothic Batman plays as a bit campy by conventional standards, but remains an excellent example of a superhero film with a lot going on (including no fewer than THREE villains, including Walken) that doesn't collapse under its own weight (eat your heart out, Batffleck).
As Michael Keaton's caped crusader faces off against the twin threats of the grotesquely sympathetic Penguin (Danny DeVito) and savagely seductive Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), Walken's Max Shreck easily holds his own as the most unrepentantly evil of the bunch (he is named as an homage to the actor who portrayed Nosferatu, after all). He's a deliciously devilish delight, who cavalierly tosses his assistant, Selina Kyle (Pfeiffer) out the window to protect his corporate corruption, and silkily manipulates the Penguin into running for mayor of Gotham for his own benefit in a bit of political satire so outlandish it has to be seen to be believed. All the while, Walken's nimble charisma keeps Shreck from becoming too much of a one-dimensional fiend, and he's careful to never skirt as over-the-top as his shock wig and Dick Tracy zoot suits.
"What's the word again... Oh right! Defenestrate. What a great word."
(Though if you think Burton went overboard with Walken's regular appearance, just wait until you see his Maharajah wig during a costume ball. Outstanding.)
Wacky Walken dialogue: "Bruce Wayne? Why are you dressed like Batman?" Walken gets a lot of zingers here, but his incredulous deadpan delivery here is truly a thing of beauty.
DOES HE DANCE: Yup - at the costume ball.
Overall Walken-o-meter: 9/10 cowbells. Burton is careful to never under-utilize a fantastically weird kindred spirit, and, in what remains the third best Batman film to this day (come at me, Batffleck babies!), Walken's kooky, sinister puppet master is one of its foremost pleasures.
Moral of the story: don't throw people out the window unless you want to be cuddled by Michelle Pfeiffer. Wait...
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