The Batman
Synopsis
A new Batman roams the streets of a still crime-riddled Gotham in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Robert Pattinson dons the cowl of the titular character, who has been active for a light two years at the start of the film. The hero is on the hunt for the enigmatic serial killer The Riddler (Paul Dano); the criminal has launched a murderous campaign against Gotham public officials who he claims are implicated in some grand conspiracy, leaving riddles at every crime scene for Batman to decipher. As Batman tries to get to the heart of The Riddler’s plan, he gets help from faithful butler Alfred (Andy Serkis), police lieutenant Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), and nightclub waitress / part-time cat burglar Selina Kyle / Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz). He also runs up against the likes of shady nightclub owner Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin (Colin Farrell), crime boss Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and even the corrupt elements of the Gotham legal system. As the bodies start racking up and the city becomes more and more volatile, this fresh-faced Batman will have to prove that he can make a difference in what appears to be a losing war for the soul of Gotham.
Analysis
First off, I really liked this movie’s unique take on Batman. Reeves delivers a much more grounded, DIY version of the character. His gadgets are effective yet still believable, his Batcave is more like a Batgarage, and his costume has that made-from-scratch, Comic-Con vibe. This leaves room for the movie to highlight the hero’s excellent detective skills, something we haven’t seen much of before. So obviously he employs cool gadgets like camera lenses on the job, but his natural detective intellect is evidenced by things like the way he picks up on subtle details in crime scenes or solves most of The Riddler’s puzzles without breaking a sweat. This Batman is also more tenacious and driven than previous ones; he gives every fight his absolute all, doing everything in his power to get the job done. That brings me to the most interesting aspect of the character The Batman highlights: how problematic his mentality is. Us getting much more time with Batman than Bruce Wayne is clearly intentional since it highlights how the character’s relentless pursuit for justice has consumed him. Though Batman is obviously smart, he tends to brazenly rush into situations without any obvious regard for his wellbeing and shows minimal restraint against his foes. As for relationships, Batman starts off having no qualms with using Selina as an informant, and the Bruce Wayne we meet is both secluded from the world and extremely dismissive of Alfred. And the movie delivers its biggest denouncement of the character’s mentality by setting up striking parallels between Batman and The Riddler, from their motivations to their goals to even the way they spy on their targets. But rather than simply portraying Batman as flawed, the film uses his shortcomings as fuel for his arc. So not only do we get a reformed Batman by the end of the movie, but at a higher level we’re left with an enlightened person.
Additionally, the movie’s dark tone made a strong impression on me. The most obvious “dark” element is the film’s premise. You take a psychotic serial killer who stalks his prey at night, combine it with shady adjudicators of the law, add a healthy dose of organized crime, and finally include an agent working outside of the law to ensure justice is served, and what you end up with is a classic recipe for a noir thriller. Having most of the movie occur at night is an effective way to maintain an air of suspense and danger, especially since both The Riddler and Batman use darkness to their advantage against their respective foes. Michael Giacchino’s score provides a haunting atmosphere for most of the movie, and whenever the music picks up, it serves as a preamble to violence. And last but not least, the city of Gotham itself is a perfect noir setting. It’s lined with seedy streets full of criminals running rampant, most of the buildings are either depressingly decrepit or intimidatingly gothic, and the city itself seems to feed off the energy of everyday citizens. All of these factors make the film play more like a psychological thriller than a typical superhero flick, so you’ll be at the edge of your seat the entire time.
Another element that makes this Batman film stand on its own is its action. The “cleanliness” that defined the action in previous Batman movies is nowhere to be seen in this more grounded version. Batman’s fighting style is a mix between boxer and brawler; while he usually gets the upper hand in fights, he still takes a fair amount of beatings and gunshots. In addition, his use of gadgets like a grappling hook makes his fights match the dynamic feel of the Arkham video games. As for the film’s other vigilantes, the Riddler’s kills are excessively gruesome, and while Selina / Catwoman demonstrates much more agility and precision, she doesn’t hesitate to pull out her claws when backed into a corner. This means a rawness and sense of unpredictability come with each fight, which ultimately makes them much more engaging. At the same time, the movie still makes room for bombastic sequences. You get a few climactic battles where Batman takes on many enemies in wide-open areas where he uses his combat skills, gadgets, and environment to gain the upper hand. This is especially true for the finale, whose scale and amount of action are unmatched compared to anything we’ve seen from the character before. And while the Batmobile doesn’t get that much play, the sound of its powerful engine coupled with the way the vehicle mercilessly rams through obstacles make the few scenes that it’s in leave you wanting more.
Despite all the areas in which The Batman excels, it stumbles when telling a tight-knit story. For one, the film needlessly complicates itself by including many side plots. While these extra storylines may add interesting dimensions to some characters (Batman and Selina, namely), they don’t add much and fail to play a significant role in the movie’s outcome. Frankly, the biggest impact these storylines have is distracting the viewer from the central plot. Additionally, the movie feels particularly crammed during the final act. Multiple times it feels as if the film has reached a natural endpoint, only for a new threat to be revealed with which Batman must contend. Even during the final battle, the number of times the movie fools you into thinking that Batman has saved the day is so high it’s comical. So while the finale is certainly spectacular, it’s also the point where the movie truly feels its length.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Batman makes for an amazing time at the movie theater. It offers an excellent reinterpretation of the character, and its dark tone will disturb you as much as its action will excite you. While the plot can get muddled at times, this flaw isn’t glaring enough to completely derail the story, much less detract from your enjoyment of it. I’m sure you’ll leave the theater more than satisfied, and I’m eager to see what will happen in the next chapter of this new run on the character.