Released: 4th March 2022 (UK and US)
Length: 176 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Dano, John Turturro, Colin Farrell and Andy Serkis
Of the many superheroes in the DC roster, Batman is certainly the most popular with multiple iterations over the last thirty years. It’s been almost a full decade since the last standalone iteration of the Caped Crusader; his return to the big screen takes a more visceral, violent direction.
Set in the early years of his war on crime, Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) is a solitary recluse with his alter ego forging an uneasy alliance with the Gotham City Police Force. On the eve of a major election, the megalomaniacal Riddler (Paul Dano) starts kidnapping and murdering key officials, revealing their dirty secrets in the process. The police lieutenant Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) and downtrodden burglar Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz) are caught up in the conspiracy and it’s up to the three of them to save the city from falling into chaos. Wasting no time with origin stories, this version of Batman gets straight to the point and stamps itself onto the scene. It’s a full-blown investigation with the core of the story involving the character’s shift from endless rage to something more hopeful; his search for the Riddler leads the vigilante to many uncomfortable facts about his heritage. On the other hand, the antagonist is an agent of radicalisation, someone who also wants to reveal the truth in a more unhinged manner. His plan does take time to get moving however; for the first two acts, the Riddler is confined to viral recordings and only shares one scene with Batman directly. Being the longest film about the character to date, the sense of urgency is diluted somewhat.
The Batman strikes out in a different direction when it comes to the cast; it deemphasises characters in favour of the presentation. Robert Pattinson is very subdued in the role; as both Batman and Bruce Wayne, he’s a man of few words but there’s clearly a great deal of inner turmoil behind his eyes. It will be interesting to see how he grows into the role. Most of the other characters have lesser roles; while all of them are well performed, their depth will leave you wanting. Andy Serkis does a reasonable job as Alfred, but when the butler is put in harm’s way, I wasn’t fully invested in his connection to Bruce. The same is true of Catwoman; Zoë Kravitz does a great job as the femme fatale, but the bond that forms between her and Batman felt under baked. While he doesn’t have too much time on screen, Paul Dano makes a strong improvement on Jim Carrey’s awkward interpretation in Batman Forever. It’s his typical over-the-top style that makes the Riddler so unpleasant and creepy. John Turturro and Colin Farrell fit in well as Gotham’s most infamous crime lords. Falcone and The Penguin represent a more grounded view of Batman’s foes, placing the focus firmly on mobsters rather than supernatural threats.
The biggest highlight of the film by far is its atmosphere; this is the darkest and moodiest interpretation yet with an atmosphere that sucks you in with superb lighting and excellent photography. In addition to a heavy use of red and black, Gotham City is filled with shadows and orange glows, making it a deeply foreboding setting; you feel as if crime lurks around every corner in this rotten city. Michael Giachino’s score is harsh and gritty, flaring up to full volume whenever the dark knight leaps into action. There isn’t as much action as you’d expect but the cinematography maintains its immersive qualities with a steady frame. As the first live action Batman to go for a 15 rating since 1989, there are many sinister moments that hammer home the violence of the setting. Much of the maniacal acts on display feel scarily plausible, putting a greater emphasis on realism. Overall, the production values are all equally superb; the film knows the tone it wants to establish and commits absolutely.
With The Batman, Reeves and Pattinson have put together an absorbing and atmospheric creation that fits well in line with the comic book character and his mythos. Admittedly the visuals do overshadow its storytelling at many points and character connections could have been better, but what’s here is a worthy foundation.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)
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