Movie Review: The Batman

When it comes to varied interpretations, Batman seems to be a prime example when you look at his movie history over the years. Burton, Schumacher, Nolan and Snyder have all had their goes at visualising a Batman that feels distinct to the world their franchises formed. Not wanting to break the cycle, Matt Reeves steps up to the plate this time around to offer his interpretation and it's fair to say he does a great job in defining his own version of the character. 

The story and setting of The Batman is based in a gritty modern day reflection of Gotham City. In the midst of a mayoral campaign, the city of Gotham is continuing to be a cesspit of corruption and crime. After a string of gruelling murders at the hands of Gotham's newest villain; The Riddler; Batman finds himself embroiled in a mystery to break into the dark underbelly of Gotham and learn the truth the puzzle loving murderer is trying to tease. What I liked about this movie's narrative is that it feels like a gritty, noir-style mystery film first and foremost. Don't get me wrong, the narrative is inherently about Batman and his mission to bring justice to the streets of Gotham; but it's layered in a deeply compelling mystery tied behind Riddler and his cryptic game to shine a spotlight on the corruption the city is so keen to keep hidden. I think the film balances the mystery quite nicely throughout it's three hour runtime and it never felt like it was struggling to keep you invested in the story and it's characters 

Speaking of characters, I think that is another great strength that keeps the movie going. Batman in himself feels notably different from prior interpretations. While we're not seeing him at the start of his crime-fighting career, we are seeing him in the earlier years of his run. He's still learning to define his place in Gotham city and what sort of symbol he's trying to be for the people within it. This is a really interesting period to place his character in because it showcases a Batman who while still new to the gig, isn't a push over and brings a serious sense of intelligence and strength to his endeavours. A lot of that complicated personality and stature is projected wonderfully by Robert Pattinson, who I hope has proven a lot of sceptics wrong about his ability to play the Dark Knight. A super hero is only as good as a his gallery of rogues though, and I feel The Batman does a fantastic job of incorporating the  Riddler and Penguin into this world in a way that feels smart and natural. Paul Dano as the Riddler is fantastic in every sense. I've heard a lot about Dano's ability to act but he brings this really unnerving realism to the character that feels fresh and memorable. I was also really happy to find Colin Farrell's interpretation of the Penguin felt right at home in this world. Despite being layered in so much prosthetic makeup you can easily feel Farrell is sinking into the role easily. There's so many more characters who are embedded into this movie brilliantly too. Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordan,  Andy Serkis as Alfred are some of the other standouts too, everyone just feels right at home in playing these characters; which helps sell a sense of believability in them.

It's not just in the story and it's characters I found this film to be a real stand out. Behind the scenes you had a world class team making this not just look majestic, but also sound like it. Together, director Matt Reeves and cinematographer Greig Fraser painted out fantastic collection of shots and angles which incorporated a major use of colour and style/ This is easily the best looking Batman movie of the modern era and I will happily stand by that claim. As I said though, it's not just how this film looks that stands out to me. Michael Giacchino is easily becoming one of my favourite composers as of late. His work on this movie is the other big factor for setting the tone and theme of the film. His original soundtrack does a incredible job in feeling unique to this interpretation of the Dark Knight but still encompassing a dark and intimidating set of tracks that you can easily identify as distinctly Batman.

The Batman is a true comeback for the caped crusader. After so many years of not having his own solo outing, what Matt Reeves and co have done here is nothing short of phenomenal. They have brought Batman back into the forefront of the super hero scene with a interpretation that feels unique and extremely competent. I can only hope WB and DC see the success of this movie and go forward on making it into their next big franchise.