The Batman

D: Matt Reeves

Warner Bros / DC Films / 6th & Idaho (Dylan Clark & Matt Reeves)

US 🇺🇸 2022

176 mins

Action / Adventure / Thriller

W: Matt Reeves & Peter Craig [based on characters created by DC comics]

DP: Greig Fraser

Ed: William Hoy & Tyler Nelson

Mus: Michael Giacchino

PD: James Chinlund

Cos: Jacqueline Durran, David Crossman & Glyn Dillon

Robert Pattinson (Bruce Wayne / Batman), Zoë Kravitz (Selina Kyle / Catwoman), Paul Dano (Edward Nashton / Riddler), Jeffrey Wright (James Gordon), John Turturro (Carmine Falcone), Colin Farrell (Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin), Andy Serkis (Alfred Pennyworth)

Matt Reeves 2022 contribution to the Batman franchise is a far more gritty, gloomy and grounded take on the character than previous cinematic  incarnations, portraying the title character less of a vigilante superhero and more a vigilante detective, interloping amongst the crime-ridden city’s police force to solve a series of high-profile murders.

This reboot was met with division from its very birth, when Robert Pattinson was cast and even as far as the initial marketing trailer being released.  I personally abstained from all of this, but I still found the film to be a bit of a mixed bag, understanding why half the viewers absolutely loved it, whilst others would have been disappointed by the time the credits rolled.

First off, it would be unfair to compare this film to other Batman films, since this one really isn’t cut from the same cloth. Rather being a dark knight who swoops in to fight crime in Gotham City, this caped crusader investigates a host of murders by a serial killer and the criminal underworld of the corrupt city.

Visually, the film is quite astounding, with impeccable cinematography, production design, visual effects and makeup, which make this one of the aesthetically brilliant Batman films to watch.  However, I don’t think it highlighted the duality of personality at all between Bruce Wayne and his alter ego at all, which was always quite an important component of its being, but since this isn’t an origin story, it’s possible to let this slide.  The biggest criticism comes from the running time, which is at least 50 minutes longer than it really needs to be, and many of the subplots and world building could have waited for later movies, should this plan to be the first in a completely new series of films.

Another noteworthy factor is that 2019’s Joker seemed to get a lot of flak for aping Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and The King Of Comedy, yet hardly anyone spotted the obvious inspiration of David Fincher’s Seven when it comes to this film, particularly with Paul Dano’s Riddler (which is easily the best performance in the movie).

Though there was a lot about this film I did find enjoyable, overall it’s far less than the sum of all its parts and I was one of those left quite underwhelmed by the end of it all. That being said, I would be more than willing to revisit it as and when sequels materialise.

7/10