Joel Schumacher Dies at 80

Joel Schumacher, the flamboyant director of bombs, cult classics, and some great movies, died Monday morning at the age of 80. He passed away peacefully after a year-long battle with cancer.

Born in New York City, Schumacher started off as a costume designer on “Play It as It Lays” and Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” and “Interiors,” and as the screenwriter of “Sparkle,” “Car Wash,” and “The Wiz,” before making his directorial debut with the 1981 B-movie “The Incredible Shrinking Woman,” starring Lily Tomlin.

Then came the ‘80s hits, which I’m not particularly fond of, “St. Elmo’s Fire,” and “The Lost Boys.” Then a few more in the ‘90s including “Flatliners,” “The Client,” and “A Time to Kill.” But, of course, Schumacher’s filmography will forever live in infamy for the two over-the-top stinkers (“Batman Forever” in 1995 and “Batman & Robin” in 1997). that put a stake on the Batman franchise, that is until Christopher Nolan came to save the day in 2005 with “Batman Begins”.

Many will point out that Schumacher’s best film was 1993’s “Falling Down,” starring Michael Douglas as a disillusioned American who goes on a vengeful killing spree. However, for my money, all the technical experience he gained over the years came to absolute fruition with 2002’s “Phone Booth,” a tightly constructed and viciously clever B-movie starring Collin Farrel as a disgruntles publicist who answers a ringing phone at a phone booth and has the mystery caller telling him that he will be shot the minute he hangs up.

The last directing credits for Schumacher were two episodes of the Netflix series “House of Cards” in 2013.