The dark knight returns to revolutionize superhero films once again.
read more
Dark and gritty, just like fans of the Caped Crusader are most familiar with. Matt Reeves’ The Batman is not your everyday superhero film. It has more common ground with films like David Fincher's Zodiac (2007) or Se7en (1995) than what the DCEU or MCU has been churning out in the past decade. You could strip away its superhero elements and it would make a great procedural thriller.
But that’s not to say The Batman is not worthy of being called a superhero film. Right at the core of its film is the titular Bat, not Bruce Wayne, but Batman. The film is set in his second year of fighting crime that sees him uncovering corruption in Gotham City while pursuing the Riddler, a serial killer who targets Gotham's elite.
Robert Pattinson’s Bruce looks like an emo teen who listens to My Chemical Romance on repeat but it's his discomfort in this skin that plays so well into his portrayal of his crime-fighting alter ego. We all know Bruce is more comfortable being Batman than Bruce Wayne but never has it been so desperately apparent until now.
I admit, I had my doubts about Pattinson playing Batman. But having seen what he’d done with the character in this film, he is easily one of the top 2 best live-action Batmen in my books. Batman is a man of few words and Pattinson aced the subtlety not only with his calm and commanding voice but also through his mannerisms and facial expressions. He could give Tom Hardy a run for his money with all that eye-acting.
And as all superhero films go, their true success is not without a worthy adversary. Paul Dano’s on-screen presence as the Riddler may not be as buzzworthy as Heath Ledger’s Joker but he is the perfect opponent for the world's greatest detective in his sophomore year. When the Riddler is finally unmasked, we see a truly terrifying unhinged villain – a testament to Dano's commitment to the role.
It is also worth mentioning that the rest of the cast were a perfect fit – an unrecognisable Colin Farrell as the Penguin, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, a faultless Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle and last but not least Andy Serkis’ Alfred that we don’t get enough of.
Say what you will about the film's long runtime but I personally enjoyed it as it allowed for character development and screen-time. Every one of the 176 minutes is either a visual delight, engaging aural experience, or a combination of both. Michael Giacchino’s beautifully haunting score is a core contributor in shaping the film, accompanied by some of the best cinematography you’ll ever see in a superhero film – thanks to Dune's Greig Fraser.
It may not be for everyone but Matt Reeves’ The Batman has found itself a deserving place as one of the greatest superhero films to date.
read less