Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” isn’t a superhero movie. Not really. All the trappings are there: the Batmobile, the rugged suit, the devices courtesy of trusty butler Alfred. And of course, at the center, is the Caped Crusader himself: brooding, tormented, seeking his own brand of nighttime justice in a Gotham City that’s spiraling into uncleanliness and decay.
And yet, despite these touchstones, this is unmistakably a Matt Reeves film. He accomplishes here what he did with his gripping entries in the “Planet of the Apes” franchise: created an electrifying, amusing spectacular, but one that’s grounded in real, emotional stakes.
This is a Batman movie that’s aware of its own place within pop culture, but not in a winking, meta fashion; rather, it admits the comic book character’s lore, only to review it and reinvent it in a way that’s both substantial and daring.
The script from Reeves and Peter Craig pushes this hero to question his history as well as confront his goal, and in doing so, creates an opening for us as viewers to question the narratives we cling to in our own lives.
And with Robert Pattinson taking over the role of Bruce Wayne, we have an actor who’s not just ready but hungry to explore this figure’s weird, dark instincts. This is not the dashing heir to a fortune stalking about, kicking ass in a cool costume. This is Travis Bickle in the Batsuit, separated and disillusioned.
He’s two years into his tenure as batman, tracking criminals from on high in Wayne Tower—an motivated switch from the usual sprawl of Wayne Manor, suggesting an even more splendid isolation from society. “They think I’m hiding in the shadows,” he intones in an opening voiceover.
“But I am the shadows.” In the harsh light of day, Robert Pattinson gives us hungover indie rock celeb vibes. But at night, you can see the rush he gets from swooping in and executing his version of revenge, even beneath the tactical gear and eye black.
As he’s shown in pretty much every role he’s taken since “Twilight” made him a global superstar in 2008, working with best authors from David Cronenberg to Claire Denis to the Safdie brothers, Pattinson is at his best when he’s playing characters who make you awkward .
Even more than Christian Bale in the role, Pattinson is so skilled at making his stunning, angular features seem unsettling. So when he preferably spies on the impossibly sexy Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, slinking into her leather motorcycle gear and shimmying down the fire escape in her own pursuit of nocturnal justice, there’s an unmistakable flicker of a charge in his eyes: Ooh. She’s a freak like me.
Pattinson and Kravitz have insane chemistry with each other. She is his match, physically and emotionally, every step of the way. This is no flirty, purring Catwoman: She’s a warrior and a survivor with a loyal heart and a strong sense of what’s right. Following her lead role in Steven Soderbergh’s high-tech thriller “Kimi,” Kravitz continues to reveal a fierce charisma and quiet power.
She’s part of a murderer’s row of supporting performers, all of whom get meaty roles to play. Jeffrey Wright is the rare voice of idealism and rightness as the eventual Commissioner Gordon. John Turturro is low key chilling as crime boss Carmine Falcone. Andy Serkis—Caesar in Reeves’ “Apes” movies—brings paternal wisdom and warmth as Alfred.
Colin Farrell is completely unrecognizable as the sleazy, villainous Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin† And Paul Dano is flat-out terrifying as The Riddler, whose own drive for vengeance provides the story’s spine. He goes to extremes here in a way that’s reminiscent of his starting work in “There Will Be Blood.”
His derangement is so extreme, you may find yourself suddenly laughing just to break the tension he creates. But there’s nothing amusing about his portrayal; Dano makes you feel as if you’re watching a man who’s truly, deeply disturbed.
This is not to say that “The Batman” is a downer; far from it. Despite the overlong running time of nearly three hours, this is a film that’s always viscerally gripping. The coolest Batmobile yet—a muscular vehicle that’s straight out of “Mad Max: Fury Road”—figures prominently in one of the movie’s most heart-pounding sequences.
It’s an involved car chase and chain-reaction crash ending with an upside-down shot of fiery fury that literally had me celebrating during my screening. During a fight at a thumping nightclub, punctuated by pulsing red lights, you can feel every punch and kick. (That’s one of the more compelling elements of seeing this superhero in his early days: He isn’t unbeatable.) And a shootout in a pitch-black hallway, illumined only by the blasts of shotgun fire, is both harrowing and dazzling.
Greatly overstating the power of scenes like these is the score from veteran composer Michael Giacchino. Best known for his Pixar movie theme, he does something totally different with “The Batman”: percussive and horn-heavy, it is massive and demanding, and you will feel it deep in your core.
Working with artists and craftspeople working at the top of their game, Reeves has made a movie that tends to be ethereal yet serious at the same time, significant yet impressionistic.
Cinematographer Greig Fraser pulls off the same sort of unexpected magic trick he did with his Oscar-nominated work in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune”: Through pouring rain and neon lights, there’s both a gauziness and a heft to his imagery.
His use of shadow and outline is masterful and does so much to convey a sense of foreboding and anxiety. I could write an entire, separate essay on the film’s many uses of the color red to symbolize energy, danger, even hope. And the costume design from the great Jacqueline Durran—with Dave Crossman and Glyn Dillon designing Pattinson’s rough-and-tumble Batsuit—put just the right finishing touch on the film’s cool, edgy vibe.
Lastly, This is the most beautiful batman movie you’ve ever seen—even if it’s not really a Batman movie at all.
Watch out for DC Comics starrer Robert Pattinson’s The Batman movie reviews, audience reviews, and how is the film performing at the box office on the FDFS, everything about this movie is on the website.
Stay Tuned with Newzpanda.com for more Movies Click here.
