"Batman" Headline Is a Stretch, But Prison Escape Story Could Be Its Own Movie
By Karl Klockars in News on Nov 6, 2009 9:40PM
The Tribune is calling today's story about "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan's incarcerated brother and his planned prison escape "Batman-like," which is good bait to get you into the story. But when you read deeper, it turns out that the tale being told isn't terribly Batty at all - it's only barely Dark Knight related. Which is not to say it's not a hell of a story - one which we're surprised hasn't been talked about much to date. (The conspirator part of our brain is saying "yeah, but that kind of talk might keep away other film companies, and that's bad for the city, so maybe...")
Matthew Nolan has been incarcerated in the Metropolitan Correctional Center for the past few months, and over that time amassed a cache of escape tools, including a razor, 31 feet of "rope" made from bedsheets and a metal pick that could open locks. He was arrested as he left bankruptcy court in Chicago on charges of involvement with a murder and kidnapping in Costa Rica, where he posed as a jewel dealer. Beyond that, the rest of Nolan's troubles stem from a check scam that allegedly took place in Chicago during the filming of "TDK," and he's also claimed to be part of the British Special Forces as part of his shady dealings. Again, none of this sounds like something that the World's Greatest Detective would be involved with.
"Mission Impossible?" Maybe. "The Thomas Crown Affair?" Getting closer. Any "James Bond" movie? Much more like it. "Escape from Alcatraz?" Since very few prisoners, if any, have ever escaped from the MCC, totally. But "Batman-like?" Considering there's no bats, no true wealthy playboys, no maniacs with green hair, no leather-clad S&M catpeople - unless it turns out that Nolan's parents were killed as they were leaving a screening of "The Mark of Zorro," we're going to go ahead and call BS bat guano on the misleading Batmannery.