Michael Keaton: The Whispering Villain: A Look at His Most Iconic Roles as a Baddie
Michael Keaton has proven himself to be a versatile actor, with a long and successful career in Hollywood. Among his many iconic roles, he has also demonstrated a knack for playing the bad guy with ease. In this article, we will highlight some of his most notable performances as a villain, examining what makes them so memorable and enjoyable.
1. Beetlejuice (1988) – This is perhaps Keaton’s most iconic role as a villain. He plays the titular character, a bio-exorcist who helps ghosts scare away new homeowners from their haunts. Keaton’s performance is both lovable and detestable, making it hard not to root for him despite his questionable morals.
2. The Founder (2016) – In this biopic, Keaton plays Ray Kroc, the man behind the McDonald’s fast-food empire. While he is technically the protagonist, Keaton ensures that Kroc is seen as the ruthless capitalist that he is, stealing the concept from the original McDonald brothers. His performance adds layers to Kroc’s greed and betrayal.
3. Pacific Heights (1990) – This thriller sees Keaton play Carter Hayes, a seemingly respectable and wealthy renter who turns out to be a con artist. His performance as the Machiavellian tenant from hell is chilling and memorable.
4. Desperate Measures (1998) – In this late 90s thriller, Keaton plays Peter J. McCabe, a dangerous serial killer in prison who becomes the only compatible bone marrow donor for a police officer’s son. His performance is like a blue-collar version of Hannibal Lecter, showcasing his intelligence, cunning, and wit.
5. Raymonds Sellers (2014) – In the RoboCop reboot, Keaton plays the CEO of the corrupt corporation OmniCorp. His performance is underwhelming, lacking the charm and charisma that he is known for.
6. Robert Hollender (2010) – In the crime thriller Penthouse North, Keaton plays a remorseless thief searching for a fortune in diamonds. His performance is quite tired compared to his other roles, but it does show his range as a villain.
7. V.A. Vandevere (2019) – In Tim Burton’s live-action remake of Dumbo, Keaton plays a capricious and greedy venture capitalist who seeks to build a theme park using Dumbo and the circus as a major draw. His performance is underwhelming, and his character’s evil schemes are over-the-top.
8. The Vulture (2017) – In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Keaton plays Adrian Toomes, a contractor who becomes the supervillain known as the Vulture. His performance is one of the most compelling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, showcasing his intelligence, cunning, and charisma.
9. Walter Nelson (2015) – In the Minions movie, Keaton plays a family man and criminal who adopts a family of villains. His performance is one-note and doesn’t get much screen time to develop beyond the joke of a typical nuclear family engaging in criminal activities.
10. Michael Rembrandt (2007) – In the action thriller The Protégé, Keaton plays a cool and charming villain who shares a romantic chemistry with the main character, a highly trained assassin. His performance is one of the most exciting in the film, showcasing his range as an action hero.