I know I said that the Luthor portrayal had a lot of wiggle room. I underestimated the brilliance of Hackman, though. His humor is so important for an enjoyable Superman story. Spacey’s Luthor is cruel. He doesn’t twinkle. Clearly, Superman Returns intends to be grittier than the original, but this version isn’t fun. I stopped rewatching halfway through.
Spacey’s Luthor is no Four as Hackman’s was. The lack of impish wit changes the Enneagram number. The villainous plan is equally bold and destructive, and Superman is poisoned by kryptonite in both versions. Each Luthor has a sympathetic female sidekick. However, one difference is Luthor’s living conditions. Hackman has an almost-silly underground lair. Spacey, who tricked a dying lady into marrying him and willing him her money, has a yacht. Hackman’s house is ridiculous; humor is required. Spacey’s house is luxurious. He’s free to be malevolent.
I feel confident saying that this Luthor is no Heart Type. On the one hand, I may guess his Enneagram number wrong because I didn’t watch the whole film. On the other hand, if you can’t present your character clearly in half a movie, then you’ve failed.
Shall I call him a Null? That seems unfair. He’s Head or Body, and the only defining characteristic I noticed is his wig collection. The shot of the mannequin heads in his closet is creepy. Hackman’s Luthor, who wears wigs that amuse him, is different. This Luthor chooses a hairpiece that will sell his heist identity. The wigs are tools.
I’m going to say he’s a Five, although it’s a stab on my part. This Luthor is so different from Hackman’s, and a Five is almost opposite from a Four. In the Enneagram diagram they are unconnected numbers with a chasm in between. A villainous Five would be emotionally cold. This Luthor is a sociopath, as any Luthor could be, but there’s something numb and blank about him. A Five is the closest guess I can make.