"The Batman": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
Hollywood action blockbusters have lost some charm that once existed a little over a decade ago. Leaving the viewer in charge of piecing the puzzle together while incorporating epic action was an exciting formula. "The Batman", directed and written by the talented Matt Reeves ("War for the Planet of the Apes","Cloverfield") harkens back to that time of imaginative filmmaking. Reeves isn't afraid to make the most disturbing Batman film ever produced, and still infuse it with that comic book appeal. It falls just short of the "Batman Begins" entry, but easily climbs into the upper echelon of superhero films.
In this version of Gotham City, the criminal known as the Riddler (Paul Dano) starts killing corrupt politicians, propelling Batman to stop the mayhem that has taken over Gotham. Additionally, villains like the Penguin (an amazingly unrecognizable Colin Ferrell) and Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) become intertwined into the numerous story strings, along with Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), and Alfred (Andy Serkis) who are thrown into the mix as well.
The casting is pitch perfect, with not a single weak point. At almost three hours long, each character plays an integral role in fleshing out their world. But what makes it even more engaging is the varying perspectives of all these characters. They view Gotham in such different ways, and it affects their approach to inevitable conflict. The themes of greed, dirty politics and corruption might be a bit played out at this point in the various Batman films, but there's a freshness from this director's interpretation.
That ingenuity is molded around Robert Pattinson's star performance as Batman/Bruce Wayne. His introverted and bleak outlook on his past and future is a compelling twist on the formulaic happy-go-lucky superhero story. The clinically depressed Bruce Wayne storyline receives minimal yet effective screen time, and Pattinson's gloomy glances and aimless lifestyle give a framework as to why he becomes The Batman at night. Pattinson has solidified himself as one of the best working actors in Hollywood and has furthered himself with an impressively dedicated performance in this film.
Hair raising action has become a real forte of Reeves skill set. He's able to uniquely implement camera angles that bring you closer to the action. Whether it's a tremendous car chase or scenes thoughtfully choreographed, all the ingredients combine to showcase the immense talent of Reeves and cinematographer Greig Fraser ("Foxcatcher", "Lion").
First rate production values and a star-studded cast make "The Batman" a new pinnacle for comic book movies.
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