FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Batman
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano
Runtime: 2 hrs 56 mins

What It Is: In his second year as the caped crusader Batman (Pattinson) is dealing with a new threat. That to go along with all the other threats currently facing him. This new threat is quizzical mystery man who goes by the name “The Riddler”. This man has taken hostage or murdered some of Gotham’s elite and Bruce Wayne is about to find out how far down the rabbit hole goes. He may not like the Wonderland The Riddler’s crafting however.

What We Think: The BEST thing about this film is the bat and the cat and how their chemistry forms. It’s electric. Matt Reeves is such a great director. His framing and selection combined with Greig Fraser’s eye for true black makes this perhaps the darkest entry into the Dark Knights canon. Paul Dano is a force as The Riddler. For preface I want to mention that The Riddler is my favorite of Batman’s rogues. I don’t think this rendition of the role could’ve been more perfectly cast. Zoë Kravitz for her part is absolutely excellent. Channeling Michelle Pfeiffer enough while making the role completely her own. Pattinson as a Batman certainly gets the character’s darkest thoughts. He understands the duality of the character. His Bruce Wayne a brooding introvert trying to reestablish a connection with his city and a Batman consumed by the evil he’s battling. It’s a beautiful menagerie of thoughts and processes and perhaps the best of the Bat to date. From a plot perspective someone pointed out that this is a film where the villains plans don’t have to come completely to fruition. A problem in Nolans penultimate. The film doesn’t have half measures unlike Joker. It’s confident in what’s presented.

Our Grade: A+, A spectacle that’s firmly planted in Reeves’ indie philosophies. It’s an experiment that works at all levels. Dark, brooding and unbelievably realistic. It’s on HBO MAX now so there’s no reason you can’t watch it…outside of that goliath runtime. Shoutout to Colin Farrell who simply transforms into Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin. This is one of 2022’s early best. Seek it out…even if you don’t tend to enjoy comic book films.