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The Batman Review: Pattinson Delivers One Of The Best Dark Knight Movies
The Batman is all about perception. Whether it's Batman's view of vengeance or Riddler's idea of justice, everyone in the film has a disparate point of view that colors their handling of, and reaction to, every situation. These wildly different perceptions are on display in The Batman, a gritty, layered film that explores Year 2 of the Caped Crusader's time as Gotham City's vigilante. Directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay by him and Peter Craig, The Batman abandons Bruce Wayne's origin for a crime story that is steeped in corruption, and finally sees Batman emerging to become the World's Greatest Detective without sidelining his personal journey.
In his second year as Batman (Robert Pattinson), Bruce Wayne is struggling to find his place as Gotham City's vigilante. He instills fear in those who threaten harm, but he has yet to win the trust of the people — except for Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), who lets him investigate crime scenes alongside him. Following the murder of the mayor (Rupert Penry-Jones) by a man who calls himself The Riddler (Paul Dano), Batman begins piecing together the clues the killer leaves him after each murder. With the help of Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), who waitresses at the club of mob boss Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), Batman works to solve the mystery before The Riddler can claim his next victim, all while discovering just how deep the corruption in the city goes.
With so many Batman stories to tell, The Batman is focused on the system and the layers of corruption at its core. The Riddler going after Gotham's elite sends a clear message, and portraying him as a serial killer (sans his green costume from the comics) positions him as a terrifying threat to those who have secrets to hide. The Riddler is a fantastic villain and is someone who burrows deep under Bruce’s skin. His kills are gruesome, though the violence and torture, when it does happen, occurs offscreen, the camera panning away, leaving the grisly details to the imagination. It’s an effective tactic that lends to the unsettling feelings that are present throughout the film. Despite having already made a point to both Batman and the city, however, The Riddler’s plan does drag on unnecessarily as the film draws to a close, weakening certain aspects of his scheming. It’s also at this point that the film — which runs for almost three hours — begins to feel a bit longer than need be. That said, it doesn’t at all take away from the devastating impact The Riddler has on Batman and Gotham at large.
The Batman is a crime mystery, first and foremost, and it succeeds as such. With each riddle, the tension escalates as Batman and Jim Gordon work to solve it before The Riddler goes after his next target. Though answers are revealed throughout, there is always something else — be it pertinent information or a criminal embedded within the system — waiting to be unmasked, all of which raises the stakes and maintains the intrigue. The truth coming to the surface allows Batman to see parts of Gotham that he may have missed before, which teaches him quite a few things and alters some of the idealistic views he had before. The theme of hiding behind masks works on several levels and challenges Batman's identity and assumptions about people, including Selina Kyle. The ongoing mystery also showcases the tension between Batman and Gotham’s police officers, all of whom hate the vigilante save for Gordon. It gives the Caped Crusader quite a few obstacles to overcome, and the way in which Reeves handles all of these story elements is exceptional.
The cinematography by Greig Fraser is phenomenal. The way in which The Batman works with shadow and light makes for a gorgeous aesthetic that complements the seedy underbelly of Gotham with Batman’s journey. The camera is often situated in ways that showcase various characters’ perspectives — Batman watching Catwoman speaking to her roommate through binoculars, the Penguin (played by an unrecognizable Colin Farrell) watching the Dark Knight walk up to him from his side mirror as he sits upside down in his car, and The Riddler watching his next target through a window — and it heightens the eeriness permeating the film, the sense of dread pulsating throughout as though a figure hiding in the shadows, waiting to pounce. From the production design to the costumes and superb hair and make-up, everything blends together seamlessly.
The musical score by Michael Giacchino is simultaneously beautiful and haunting; it’s perhaps most pronounced when Batman emerges from the darkness to enter a scene, leaving the other characters shaking in fear, huffing in annoyance or shifting in discomfort. The Batman is greatly bolstered by the outstanding performances from its cast. Robert Pattinson slips into the guise of Batman rather effortlessly. As the Caped Crusader, Pattinson is stoic, curious, and bubbling with occasionally uncontrollable anger. He seems fearless on the surface, but there are still certain parts of him that capture the feelings he tries to hide so well. Considering the actor spends most of his time in the Batsuit (which is excellently crafted) rather than as Bruce Wayne (a recluse to Gotham’s citizens), Pattinson conveys much of his underlying emotions through lingering gazes, shifting eyes that can exude warmth or incite fear.
Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman is magnetic and she owns every scene she’s in. She’s the perfect partner for Batman, her life and choices challenging him to see beyond what he thinks he knows. They work together, but their ideologies differ and it makes for quite a few intriguing, electric moments between them — it helps Pattinson and Kravitz have fantastic chemistry that is palpable. Paul Dano is wonderfully creepy and maniacal as The Riddler, his actions controlled yet also unhinged. Jeffrey Wright’s iteration of Jim Gordon is calm, sensible, and skeptical of the rest of the police department. And while Riddler takes center stage as a villain, John Turturro’s turn as Carmine Falcone is chilling in a different, completely unnerving way.
The Batman gets to the heart of the character while maintaining his humanity. The film is grounded as it explores the depth of corruption in Gotham, while exhibiting the vigilante's skills as an intelligent detective. Reeves and his team have crafted a Batman film that offers a different side to the hero audiences have come to know and love. With exhilarating action scenes, a layered story, and poignant, in-depth characterization, The Batman is a worthy addition to the live-action DC slate.
The Batman releases in theaters on the evening of Thursday, March 3. The film is 175 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.
