Full disclosure: I was not excited for THE BATMAN based on its trailers and television spots, but that changed in a big way while seated in my theater seat for THE BATMAN. This movie is so fantastic, I can't get it out of the brain and it's been over 24 hours since I've seen it to when I'm typing out these words.
Now, bear with me for a few sentences before I dive into this review of the new film.
Something wasn't clicking with me in the trailers for THE BATMAN. I get what the trailers were trying to convey, but they never resonated with me for some reason.
I have always enjoyed Batman since the late 1980s reading the Legends of the Dark Knight comic books and of course that all started because of Tim Burton's BATMAN movie in 1989. That was my first big exposure to Batman, and I was hooked after that movie.
I've always enjoyed the detective stories when reading Batman comics. Yet, this hasn't really happened in live action and there was a part of me that hoped THE BATMAN would, and could, be the detective version of Batman I desired in live action for many, many years.
When the movie began, it only took about 10 minutes into it for me to think to myself, "I think director Matt Reeves gets Batman and this is the version I think I've been wanting my whole life." The tone, the shadows, the musical score, the camera angles, and the suspense that is immediately building was the perfect way to get my interest. Because these are all things I've associated with Batman.
I think that the realism feels of this movie was given a lot of thought during Reeves' development of this film. There's no campiness, no overload of quips, no bright colors, nothing too over-the-top. I'll say it again, it feels like Batman should feel, on a street-level. The Batman aesthetic is something that has been missing in live action and after seeing this new movie I can say while director Christopher Nolan came really close in his DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY, Reeves really brings this to life.
Gotham is dingy and it always seems to be raining. Alleys and the look of the city and its rooftops look like they were ripped right off the page of a comic.
When you first meet actor Robert Pattinson's Batman, you don't see him... you hear him. You hear his boots taking steps, walking closer. His steps getting louder and louder, but there's no Batman in sight. Suspense is present. Then he appears walking out of the darkest shadows to face off with a gang of thugs beating on an innocent man. Batman stands there starring down the group of thugs. He's motionless. Then, a thug makes his move. Instantly, Batman begins throwing punches on the thug. It's brutal and Batman isn't done hitting him even after the thug hits the ground. This Batman means business. This Batman will beat you down until you're no longer conscience.
I'm trying to paint you a vague picture here and yes this is definitely a moment early in the movie, but I hope it gets your imagination working because what you see in your head is all that plus more when you see the nuance of the cinematography, lighting, and musical score.
From his first words spoken, the Batman voice is one that I never had a single thought that it was not Batman. It's not a growl. It's slightly deep and soft, but not a whisper. It's filled with pain and vengeance, but not without thought behind the words said. Batman is definitely not much of a casual talker. Actually, Batman is more of the quiet type and a listener. Kind of a less is more type thing going on and it makes sense that Batman wouldn't be much of a conversationalist, unless he needs to be.
Actress Zoe Kravitz is truly a gift as Selina Kyle. She is smart, sexy, lethal, and an actual cat burglar who is destined to immediately become a fan-favorite for her portrayal of Catwoman. Actors Jeffrey Wright (Lt. James Gordon), John Turturro (Carmine Falcone), and Andy Serkis (Alfred Pennyworth) are all delightful, too. Even Colin Farrell as Oz / The Penguin is unrecognizable as both actor and Batman villain because he's the Penguin you'd expect to see in a Batman movie with this tone. And that's not a bad thing.
But the actor I need to focus on more than the above is Paul Dano. He is such an intense version of The Riddler you might not be ready for this change to the villain. A creepy and borderline terrifying version of a longtime campy comic book character. It's a pleasant adaptation because it fits this story and mood of it. The performance is wonderful to behold both in and out of his mask. The Riddler is a scene stealer even when he's not present in the room.
The Riddler's riddles are not without some twists and turns. All of them less predictable than the last all the way up to his final riddle while speaking with Batman in an interrogation room, which is by far my most memorable scene and it will not get out of my head. I can't stop thinking about it. Definitely pay close attention to this scene because Pattison's and Dano's performances together are one of the best moments of the entire film's dialogue. And no punches are needed to be thrown between them. Such great writing and acting performances by both.
Of course the action is a perfect fit for a guy who puts his body on the line in the streets of Gotham. As I said earlier, it's brutal action at times. Every punch that Batman throws, and he receives back, you can feel. The sound effects of landing a punch in this movie are a punishing sound. Even a chase with the Batmobile feels extreme like you're a part of it. The intensity of the car chase should have you dodging in your theater seat like you're in a vehicle during the chase.
I can't give enough praise to Reeves and all involved in this movie. You've exceeded my expectations, albeit they were very low to begin with, but even the most excited hardcore Batman fans should fall in love with this new movie.
Finally, the nearly 3-hour runtime goes by fast. The pacing keeps going from one riddle to the next and one clue to another seamlessly making a 3-hour movie feel like it was half the time.
My final thought on this film is to simply say, I want more of this Batman.
Reviewed by Daniel Wolf
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