Matt Reeves’ The Batman features one of the darkest and most grounded portrayals of the popular superhero yet.
Two years on the job and Batman (Robert Pattinson) has already put fear into the hearts of the criminal underbelly of Gotham City. With the arrival of a serial killer known as the Riddler (Paul Dano), Batman, along with allies Lieutenant Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) and Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), are sent down a dangerous path of uncovering corruption in Gotham.
Batman takes an active role in the police department’s investigation of the Riddler murders, a first for the character on the big screen. His role as a master detective had yet to receive this much focus, and here it makes for a welcome addition, applying an extra element to the character’s cinematic lore. With the excellent production design and cinematography supporting this story angle, audiences are transported to a world that would fit right into 70s crime cinema, think Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Mean Streets, etc. This brooding, grimy tone perfectly complements the caped crusader’s quest for vengeance on Gotham City’s criminal element.
While the detective element in the movie makes for a nice change from what we’re used to, it’s also one that occasionally causes the film to drag. The theme of fighting back against power and corruption of the privileged elite is one that’s been done to death and isn’t as engaging as it could be. Despite the story sometimes feeling like a chore, the themes parallel the real world, adding realism and helping to remove some of the farcical aspects that have been tied to these characters.
Casting a new Batman has always been a point of contention for fans, with each new announcement causing division. Robert Pattinson has proved any naysayers wrong, making for a seemingly perfect fit for the character bringing a damaged, emo style to his portrayal. Likewise, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, Paul Dano as Riddler and the unrecognisable Colin Farrell as the rising mob henchman The Penguin are outstanding. These really are new renditions of the characters fans have grown to love over the years, treated with respect, fitting an audience yearning for more than just whiz-bang action in their Batman films.
And speaking of action, this film has it in abundance, with epic set pieces that are thrilling to behold. A car chase sequence, in particular, stands out and is one for the books, again throwing back to an earlier era of cinema when car chases were the main event. Every set piece and fight scene is delivered viscerally, making the transition from the story’s crime aspect to the action much more intense.
Matt Reeves and his team have not only stayed true to the character’s roots but have produced a Batman film unlike any before it. It’s more grounded than Nolan’s films and one that would work just as easily without all the masks and costumes. It’s a superhero film that restores faith in superhero films and an exciting direction for the character’s future in cinema.
Fun Fact:
Robert Pattinson revealed while screen testing for the role, he sneakily took a selfie in the bat-suit as a memento “just in case it didn’t work out.”
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