Review: "The Batman"

The character of Batman has been synonymous with film ever since he appeared in Tim Burton's take of the Caped Crusader back in the late 80s. It is easy to say that the character will forever be a staple in movie theaters, but many would argue that no film has truly captured what makes the great so great on the comic book panels. Until now. Burton's take on the character was much more cartoonish, Nolan's was more realistic and grounded in reality stripping away any of the larger-than-life elements of the character. Matt Reeves noir thriller film feels like it is straight ripped from the pages of many comic book fans' beloved stories. Reeves depiction of Gotham feels alive, and terrifying in its musty and moody crime-filled streets. It clearly draws inspiration from "The Long Halloween" and "No Man's Land", two stories that were loosely used even in Nolan's trilogy. Some may find fault in how each iteration of Batman has gotten darker and darker, but the character and the world he occupies need to be closer to what Reeves has crafted with this film for it to truly work.

The plot follows The Batman (Robert Pattinson) on the trail of a serial killer who leaves behind cryptic clues directed at the vigilante. As he digs deeper the leads begin to lead closer and closer to home, forcing him to question what he holds true to himself and to bring justice to those that abuse power and corruption that has plagued the city for decades. Along the way, he forges new relationships with colorful characters that have questionable motives.

Many will be quick to scoff at the idea of Pattinson playing the titular character as he is most widely known for playing Edward, the lead vampire in the Twilight films. That stigma should be gone now as he has delivered on being the best portrayal of the beloved character. His brooding performance fits the character beautifully and at times he is downright terrifying, as he should be. He also does a phenomenal job of showcasing plenty of emotion with subtle facial ticks. Without his outward bursts of aggression, you can tell he is holding back a lot of anger behind the cowl. The depiction of the character, in particular, Bruce Wayne is a bit of a recluse, even drawing comparisons to a Noserfatu-like character hiding in the Wayne Tower peering down on Gotham. A lot of his success playing Batman comes from the love and appreciation Pattinson has for the character and the source material. Matt Reeves' vision for the character goes a long way too and it's apparent from the opening that it is a much darker take as at times from the perspective of random thugs, it can feel like a horror film.

Zoe Kravitz turn as Selina Kyle is a difficult one to truly portray on screen. The character has plenty of sexual tension onscreen with any iteration of the Batman, but frequently Selina can become a bit of a damsel in distress or be delegated to psychotic. Kravitz turn as Selina isn't much of any of the previous portrayals of the iconic character, instead, she is filled with rage much like Batman. She will also use her innate sexuality as a weapon against those that are frequently unsuspecting of her small frame to get what she wants. Beyond that, she does give a layered performance as she is a tough character but Kravitz breathes some vulnerability into it while also having an insatiable need for revenge. It goes largely unsaid but the two have a kindred bond and plenty of tension.

Colin Ferrell is almost unrecognizable as the Penguin but in a smaller role, he almost steals every scene he is in. He is charismatic and not afraid to divulge into the more cartoonish nature of the character while truly enjoying every second of it. While he is the rare character that cracks a joke, he also is very quick to anger and violence. The main villain, The Riddler, may just be one of the better live-action Batman villains to date. Paul Dano is known for playing rather crazed characters and does a phenomenal job in this role. He might just be the most terrifying villain yet as his opening scene immediately establishes him as a formidable foe.

The actors all did a great job in their collective roles, but the most praise should be directed toward Matt Reeves. He was uncompromising in his vision with the studio and it paid off in creating a living and breathing version of Gotham that felt real gloomy as it should. Some scenes and shots were absolutely breathtaking making them some of the more memorable shots to come from a comic book movie. It is clear that Reeves knows exactly what makes the character of Batman and his world so great and setting it in a noir thriller setting really allowed for the genius detective side of the character to shine. It is also a relief that this film doesn't get bogged down by the downfalls of other comic book movies as of late where it shares a universe with other characters. The singular focus on Gotham and Batman's plight delivers a much more focused and refined story. At times the film bogs down, which is inevitable in a three-hour runtime, but the first two acts are terrific while the final act doesn't completely stick the landing but it's still great. The score composed by Michael Giacchino is haunting and memorable but at times a bit too familiar. Overall, it fits perfectly with the tone that Reeves had established. It'll be exciting where Pattinson and Reeves take the character in future installments and I personally cannot wait for it.