After nearly two years of anticipation and speculation, The Batman has finally arrived in theaters. Writer and director Matt Reeves along with star Robert Pattinson have delivered on their promise to create a new version of the Dark Knight while crafting an ambitious and innovative superhero story.
Please be advised that this review may contain spoilers. If you wish for your experience to be spoiler free, please pause reading here and go see The Batman.
This is not your typical Batman story; set during Bruce Wayne’s second year as the masked vigilante, he begins to investigate a series of high-profile murders of Gotham City officials that is set to undo the legacy of not only the police department and government but that of the Wayne’s. Gone is the gravelly throated voice of Christian Bale or the souped-up playboy quality of Ben Affleck.
Enter Robert Pattinson, who not only brilliantly conveys the sadness and grief of Bruce Wayne but the anger and brutality he’s only allowed to express by becoming Batman. While not overtly muscular, Pattinson is a capable fighter who manages to take a beating but succeeds in rising up every time.
An aspect long overlooked in Batman films is the detective side of the character. While it has come up in past films like Batman (1989) and The Dark Knight, we’ve yet to see an entire film based on this side in the entire cinematic history of the character. It is a film similar to the look and feel to those like Chinatown, Zodiac and Seven as cinematographer Greig Fraser bathes the film in natural light and seemingly perpetual darkness along with varying shades of red. The Batman makes full use of its nearly three-hour runtime by slowly peeling the onion that is the mystery at the heart of the film.
Speaking of that mystery or mysteries rather, The Batman does an amazing job of interweaving not only the omnipresent mystery of killed Thomas and Martha Wayne but also that of the serial killer known as the Riddler. Taking heavy inspiration from the real Zodiac Killer who terrorized Southern California in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s but also borrows from Internet and the disturbing trend of live streaming crimes and other horrible deeds for the sake of followers and likes. Actor Paul Dano creepily inhabits the Riddler and adds some menace to the puzzle obsessed villain while breaking away from past portrayals of the green clad rogue.
Batman finds himself allied with Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz) for most of the film as she is investigating the disappearance of her friend who is somehow connected to the death of the mayor shown in the beginning of the film. Pattinson and Kravitz’s chemistry is palpable and evident from their first fight to when they go their separate ways the end of the film. Selina has her own agenda and while it’s convenient for her to temporarily ally with Batman, she ultimately is out for her own brand of justice and self-fulfillment. While Selina is able to access the seedier side of Gotham, Batman’s main ally is that of Gotham’s only good cop, James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) who enjoy a type of buddy cop relationship as Gordon never wavers in his trust of Batman while also being able to keep up with his investigative abilities.
On the other side of the hero spectrum in addition to the Riddler is both the Penguin and mobster Carmine Falcone played by Colin Farrell and John Turturro respectively. It is easy to see that both actors enjoyed their time as these characters and Turturro convincingly plays a career gangster who is completely willing to use his power and influence to accomplish his nefarious goals. The Penguin offers rare moments of levity that are welcome in the ultra-seriousness of the film and with the character set to get his own spin-off show on HBO Max, the Penguin is going to be a major part of this universe going forward.
The world of Gotham feels fully formed; from the bustling city square, the arena that houses the film’s climax, Wayne Tower and the Iceberg Lounge all make this world feel lived in. Savvy viewers will recognize shots of Chicago as Bruce rides his motorcycle through the city and this lived in quality makes the action scenes grandiose. The key scene is the introduction of the Batmobile as it chases down an escaping Penguin as it accelerates, makes tight turns and evades disaster as Batman is able to catch up to the mob enforcer and force his vehicle to flip to give us one of the most iconic shots in any superhero film; that of Batman approaching the vehicle while the camera is upside down and is just one of many that will make you root for him as he fights for justice.
Every aspect of this film is well thought, well crafted and perfectly executed. From the convincing production design, Michael Giacchino’s memorable soundtrack, Matt Reeves’ story telling and directing to each actor’s performance makes The Batman not only one of the best films of 2022 so far but also one of the best films in the superhero genre. It’s ambitious storytelling and flawless execution will be an influence for filmmakers for generations to come.
VERDICT: 5 Bat Signals out of 5
Featured Image Credit: Variety
