The Batman is the latest of many cinematic takes on the Dark Knight, giving the filmmakers an inherently uphill battle in tackling the character from a new perspective. As one of the most iconic figures in fiction, Batman's been through a lot of interpretations over the years -- but perhaps none as openly loving of the source material as Matt Reeves' incarnation. While it may be slightly overstuffed at points and relies heavily on classic concepts from the comics, The Batman is a visual feast with impressive acting. The Batman stands out as one of the best attempts to bring the character and his world to the big screen.
The Batman's Gotham City has slowly grown accustomed to the shadow of a rogue vigilante. The movie follows Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) as he attempts to solve a series of murders of Gotham's most powerful residents. Working alongside James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), Batman finds himself coming up against a number of unlikely yet familiar figures across the city. The criminal go-between Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell), an empathetic but ruthless Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), and the Gotham criminal powerhouse Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) all cross his path. As the mystery becomes increasingly personal for Batman, he finds himself unearthing more and more hidden truths about Gotham City -- and his family's legacy.
One of the most interesting aspects of The Batman may be how indebted the tone and feel of this take is to actual Batman comics. Previous live-action adaptations of the character were typically infused more with the inspirations of their directors. Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan, and Zack Snyder all brought their unique visions to broad adaptations of Batman, giving the character their own personal tics and styles. The Batman is unmistakably a Matt Reeves film, thanks to the keen eye for framing strong action beats. However, the movie is more indebted to the comics than perhaps any other take on the Dark Knight. There's a clear love for the source material, ranging from story inspirations to not-so-subtle shout-outs to the history of the franchise and direct adaptations of character reveals.
The Batman also shows a deeply personal exploration of grief and trauma, but not through any extended exploration of Bruce Wayne himself à la the Nolan-verse or Schumacher versions of the character. There are questions about morality and the limits that Batman can push but without the hardened edge of the Snyder-verse. The Batman is more interested in how the character would operate in a world increasingly adapting to him and his unique means of fighting crime. This gives Robert Pattinson a lot of surprisingly meaty elements to play with, on top of infusing his Bruce Wayne with an almost despondent and rebellious disconnect from the world. Pattinson plays Bruce as uniquely human while still perpetually isolated, carrying the weight regardless of whether the film needs to get dramatic, action-packed, or surprisingly funny.
The rest of the cast is just as stacked, with Zoë Kravitz's down-to-Earth but vengeful Catwoman easily making a case for a spin-off. Meanwhile, Colin Farrell is unrecognizable as a sleaze-incarnate take on the Penguin, while Paul Dano's bonkers Riddler performance is one for the ages -- a mix of horrifying outbursts, deliberate scares, and almost childlike excitement. Jeffrey Wright does solid work, quietly becoming one of the MVPs of the film, alongside Jayme Lawson, whose Mayoral candidate Bella Reál provides a unique perspective in the film. Andy Serkis is likewise strong as Alfred and mines the most out of his relatively few sequences. However, his role in the story is perhaps one of the most underserved and ignored after a point, one of the only flaws in an otherwise largely impressive film.
What makes The Batman stand out the most might be the introspective approach to the title character. Past versions of Batman have used the character to comment on a changing world, tell a pop-art story of revenge, or explore epic stakes from a brutal perspective. None of these fully took the opportunity to investigate what it means to live in a world where Batman is a reasonable approach to conflict -- something The Batman delves into with gusto. For a character so often defined by vengeance, The Batman feels like the only recent portrayal of the character to truly explore what that concept means -- not just to the Dark Knight but to his world around him. The Batman is sure to engross new fans and might be a comic fan's dream version of a Batman film.
The Batman
A vigilante in Gotham City delves into the criminal underworld after a series of sadistic games and cryptic clues emerge. As he uncovers corruption that entwines the city's elites and criminal figures, his quest for justice brings him into direct conflict with an enigmatic foe who has a broader plan for chaos.
- Release Date
- March 4, 2022
- Director
- Matt Reeves
- Cast
- Robert Pattinson , Paul Dano , Jeffrey Wright , Colin Farrell , Andy Serkis , John Turturro , Peter Sarsgaard , Barry Keoghan , Jayme Lawson , Zoe Kravitz
- Runtime
- 176 minutes
The Batman hits theaters March 4.