The Batman

The Batman, the latest DC reboot of the Batman franchise directed by Matt Reeves, is a movie that takes its own sweet time to establish its main character and his level of commitment. The Batman films have always had a better emotional value as the protagonist is not a superhero. His mask and vigilante characteristics always offered filmmakers various ways of showcasing grey shades in a fantasy concept. In The Batman, Matt Reeves experiments with that theme, and what he ultimately creates is an engrossing film that stays close to the hero.

The mayor of Gotham, Don Mitchell Jr., gets killed during Halloween night. The investigation takes an interesting turn when they find that the killer left a letter to Batman. Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, decides to find this killer called Riddler. What was all in Riddler’s plan for Batman and what surprises were awaiting the vigilante in that quest is the core of this reboot.

In Batman films, the villains and their philosophy are always interesting. In Matt Reeve’s version, there is no black and white differentiation on which side is the good one or which side is evil. When the villain’s identity is revealed, along with the reason for his actions, we get to know that the movie’s target is actually the idea of a system. Bruce gets to know how polluted is the governance of Gotham and there is a reason why Batman was also dragged into the picture. Along with Peter Craig, Reeves has created a story where the hero is on his toes because of constant dilemma. And none of the characters stands away from the central conflict as they all have a role to play in it.

Robert Pattinson, as Batman, gets to play that version of Bruce Wayne, who isn’t sorted. That lack of emotional clarity and the quest for a purpose was visible in how he carried the character. Zoe Kravitz, as Selina the Catwoman was impressive, and Reeves’ version has the character woven into the story with significance rather than being that aid of the Dark Knight. In his limited screen time, Paul Dano makes the antagonist truly terrifying through the kind of nerdy confidence he imparts on screen. Collin Farrel as Penguin was totally unrecognizable. Jeffrey Wright plays Inspector Gordon, and Andy Serkis is playing the role of Alfred. I hope these two talents will get a better space in the sequels.

Matt Reeves is someone who uses the visual aesthetic of the medium to convey the emotional quotient of a scene. The kind of visual language we saw in the Planet of the Apes series is followed here as well; the difference is just in the color palette. The framing of Greig Fraser for almost all the vital sequences is quite catchy. The editing of the film maintains a steady tempo. The vastness of the plot makes the pacing a tricky area, but I think they have done an appreciable job in that department. Michael Giacchino’s score will stay in your head for a long time, and the orchestration plays a crucial role in setting the film’s mood.

If you have enjoyed Todd Philip’s Joker for the way it focused on the title character, I think Matt Reeve’s The Batman will also impress you. Robert Pattinson starrer is more inclined to be a thriller drama about a city rather than a set-piece driven superhero movie. Since the characters in the picture are more human than people with superpowers, the dilemmas and grey spaces add a certain depth to the genre.