Selina Kyle In Batman Returns: A Character Study

[StuSmallz]

Hey guys; I've always been fascinated by the character of Selina Kyle in Tim Burton's Batman Returns, not just because I feel that Michelle Pfeiffer put in an absolutely amazing, Oscar-worthy performance portraying her (so boo Academy for not at least nominating her, boo!), but also because I think that she's just an incredibly compelling, fascinating character full of a lot of conflict and depth, courtesy of screenwriter Daniel Waters, who managed to include some meaty explorations of sexism, inner duality, and feminism in her characterization, resulting in what I feel is the most three-dimensional character of any modern live-action theatrical Batman film.

And, while it may seem odd to be writing so much about someone who seems like she's just a supporting character, as far as I'm concerned, she's still easily the most fascinating figure in Returns, and if this guy's list is accurate, then you can see that she actually gets more screentime in BR than anyone else (including Batman himself), so as far as I'm concerned, she's the one who's the real star of the film. And so, in the interest of looking deeper into what makes her so interesting, I'm writing this little character study series, dissecting a bit of what made her so great in the film, and discussing the vital beats in her character arc (which will obviously entail spoilers, so be warned). Anyway, enjoy!