Do we really need another “Batman”? That is probably the question you are asking yourself as Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” hits theaters. The answer, is a resounding YES!
The story of “Batman” has been told over and over in comics, television and the big screen you might be wondering how do we see a different take on this character? Well Reeves, heard all of those concerns & answered with a stylish, epic, mystery, horror, & noir crime drama mash-up that reinvents “The Dark Knight” story.
This isn’t just another origin story as Reeves throws away the traditional playbook. We don’t watch Bruce Wayne’s parents get gunned down, we don’t see his decent into his vigilante lifestyle. Instead “The Batman” begins and we find out he’s been at it in Gotham for two years. Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) sees it as his mission to clean up the crime in Gotham, but it hasn’t been a good two years since he first stepped out of the shadows.
The opening to “The Batman” plays out like an old film noir before taking a turn into David Fincher territory. The influences are very clear in this film where Matt Reeves is pulling from but it all melds into this beautiful story that focuses on characters for it’s almost three hour run time.
Pattinson is still new at this crime fighting stuff but he is surrounded by a great supporting cast. Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle (a.k.a. Catwoman), Jeffrey Wright as Lt. James Gordon is a standout in this film and does a majority of the heavy lifting along with Pattinson in solving the crimes, Andy Serkis as Alfred is a nice touch but isn’t given much to do in terms of story.
Other rogue’s gallery scoundrels to appear include Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (a.k.a. The Penguin) and is involved in one of the best car chase scenes any Batman movie has produced. John Turturro as Carmine Flacone is a reminder of the talent that is Turturro, and of course Paul Dano’s Edward Nashton/The Riddler is terrifying in his portrait of a madman pushing a populist idea as he gives off vibes of Jigsaw meets Seven’s John Doe.
The Batman, see’s Pattinson and Reeves create a superhero spectacle for audiences that goes beyond the norm. This dark, gritty, crime noir pulls from some of our favorite films like Seven, The French Connection and more while crafting its own story. This isn’t just a super hero movie but one of the best police procedurals we have gotten in years.
4.5/5
