“The Batman” Review: An electrifying piece of superhero cinema

Dark, chilling, and ultimately satisfying, Matt Reeves’ The Batman is a stylishly explosive film, one that honors the Caped Crusader, bringing him back to cinematic glory in one of the finest Batman films to date.

Set in his second year of fighting crime, the film sees Batman going up against a serial killer known only as the Riddler, whilst uncovering a vast conspiracy that ties to the elite of Gotham City.

Driven by his singular vision, director Matt Reeves ensures that his take on Batman is different in its approach and direction in comparison to what has come before. A mere, simple yet powerful bold type title card in red lets the audience know that they are in for something new, a quality that is distinctly maintained till the end credits roll.

Being a standalone feature with its own continuity, its contained nature allows The Batman to have its own distinct identity, free from the pressures of connecting it to an overarching shared universe, and offering a novel experience to its viewers.

As the first of a new Batman-centric film series and franchise, Reeves takes a methodical approach and time to build the lore, world and characters of the film. Each shot is carefully constructed and composed, with drawn out scenes that lend an eerie and tense atmosphere and allow the viewers to soak in every aspect of the new world being presented before them.

Reeves’ take on Batman furthermore, is distinct as it drops audiences in a world where Batman already operates as a vigilante, without recounting his tragic backstory and origins that have been covered before in other films. He presents the central character who seeks an escape and a channel for his brewing rage through his crime fighting activities, greatly marked by a clear lack of screentime for Bruce Wayne, and more as Batman.

Prioritizing story and characters over spectacle, The Batman has more in common with a noir mystery thriller than a traditional superhero film, emulating the aesthetics of directors Alfred Hitchcock and David Fincher, police procedurals, the action, crime and mystery thriller films of the 1970s and the psychologically tinged classic Batman comic book story lines such as Year One, The Long Halloween and Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.

Nonetheless, Reeves ensures audiences appetite for crowd pleasing action is satiated, by punctuating the film with brutal and visceral fight sequences that highlight the animalistic and vengeful nature of the titular character.

The end result therefore, is one that feels fresh and strongly stands out in an overcrowded slate of superhero films. Likewise, the positioning of the film as a mystery thriller in an overarching genre of the superhero film ensures its accessibility to an audience with more diverse tastes, with the film being an exciting piece of work that delivers on all fronts.

Highlighting the detective aspect of the character that has lightly been touched upon in prior cinematic incarnations, Reeves, along with co-writers Peter Craig and Mattson Tomlin (uncredited) opt to showcase different aspects of Batman – showcasing him unraveling of layers of the central mystery that inform the plot alongside exploring the psychological ramifications of being a crime fighting vigilante.

Aside from the general elements that drive the machinations of the story line, The Batman also goes on to touch upon the politics and morality of violence, radical vigilantism, class and income inequality, and the influencing and manipulating role that the media plays in our daily lives.

Reeves’ characterization and take on Batman as a broken, tortured man blindly driven by rage is brought greatly to life by Robert Pattinson. Pattinson effortlessly steps into the role and makes it his own with minimal dialogue, a stoic and reserved demeanor, and a strong, imposing physical presence and acting performance.

Aptly conveying the psyche of a man who’s consumed by his alter ego, inexperienced, prone to mitakes, and one whose perception of heroism and violent vigilantism is blurred, Pattinson succeeds in bringing and breathing new life to a beloved character in a performance that only cements and furthers his reputation as one of the strongest actors working today.

Pattinson’s performance as Batman is anchored by a plethora of equally engaging supporting performances, rounded out by those of Andy Serkis, Jeffrey Wright and John Turturro.

Zoë Kravtiz as Catwoman offers a strong counter as well as companion to Pattinson’s Batman and channels her inner turmoils in a way that makes you root for her character. The relationship and chemistry between Batman and Catwoman is yet another highlight of the film and provides the film with an element of emotion in the film.

Along with Pattinson, the combined villainous performances of Paul Dano as the Riddler and Colin Farrell as the Penguin serve as standouts. Despite their limited screentime, Dano and Farrell make sure to be energetic and in command of their performances, controlling the scenes they feature in, and ultimately engaging the viewers whenever they appear on screen.

Fresh off his work and accolades for Dune, cinematographer Greig Fraser aids in bringing Matt Reeves’ vision for the world of Gotham City and its characters to vivid life. Containing some of the most stunning imagery in a Batman film, Fraser composes the scenes in a way that directs the audiences perspective and make them feel part of the film, especially during the action sequences.

Michael Giacchino, through his musical score brings in a volley of emotions and atmosphere. His musical score seamlessly transitions between hauntingly chilling and brooding, to a classic orchestral and powerful superhero score, drawing upon influences that range from jazz, film noir and Bond films.

A special mention has to be given to the film’s costume and set design. Moreover, makeup artist Mike Marino’s work on the film proves to be fascinating, especially in the case of creating Farrell’s look as the Penguin. Marino’s work allows Farrell to literally disappear in the role, and facilitating his performance in the process.

In conclusion, Matt Reeves’ The Batman proves there is a lot of creativity and ingenuity left to be found within the superhero film genre. A great character study alongside a mystery thriller, The Batman offers a fresh side to a classic and iconic figure of pop culture, and leaves audiences anticipating and excited for what is to come next.