The Batman review: A riveting detective noir for the ages

4/5

Story:
A young Batman in only his second year as the crime-fighting vigilante witnesses an escalation in crime in Gotham City, despite his best efforts. When a new serial killer called the Riddler targets corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, it threatens to create chaos in the city, and it also threatens to reveal Batman’s own connection to a larger conspiracy.

Review:
Back in 2017 when Ben Affleck decided to step aside from directing and acting in a standalone Batman film, the vocal DC fandom voiced their disapproval. Early leaks regarding the film had indicated a fast-paced action film set in Arkham Asylum featuring Joe Manganiello as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke. Matt Reeves was brought on to rework Affleck’s script but eventually decided on rebooting the Batman franchise and cast Robert Pattinson as a younger version of the caped crusader. Those not familiar with Pattinson’s work outside of the forgettable Twilight films were not overly enthused by his casting. However, Pattinson has amassed accolades over the years with award-winning performances in films such as Good Time, The Lighthouse, Water For Elephants, The Devil All The Time, and Tenet.

Considering the inconsistent reception DC films have experienced in recent years, the new Batman film was one that intrigued and gave a sense of cautious optimism to the fans of the character. The new film titled, The Batman, has exceeded expectations and will go down in history as one of the greatest iterations of the character since Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008). Matt Reeves has delivered a compelling noir investigative crime drama, and probably for the first time, thoroughly explores the detective prowess of Batman. Unlike previous iterations, Matt Reeves has stayed faithful to the source material, drawing inspiration from Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One and Jeph Loeb’s Batman: The Long Halloween graphic novels. In fact, there is one particular scene involving the Gotham City crime lord, Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson), which is a narration of a scene straight from the pages of Batman: The Long Halloween.

The film’s aesthetic offers a unique mix of neon colours of cyberpunk with a hint of steampunk. It is likely a homage to Bruce Tim and Paul Dini’s critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series. Despite the film borrowing several of its themes and plotlines from previous comic books and animated adaptations of the character, it offers a unique narrative that is fresh and engaging. The background score elevates the aesthetic of the film, and Nirvana’s song, Something in the Way, at precise moments adds more depth to the character Robert Pattinson depicts in the film. Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Paul Dano’s Edward Nashton/The Riddler essay the standout performances in the film. Moreover, the excellent chemistry between Zoë Kravitz and Robert Pattinson is undeniable. Dano’s version of the Riddler has elements of David Fincher’s iconic villains from the films Zodiac and Se7en, which is performed with great panache by Dano. This should come as no surprise if one is familiar with Paul Dano’s performances in There Will Be Blood and Prisoners. The Riddler featured in this film is a far cry from the relatively less potent version of the character from the previous adaptations — especially Jim Carrey’s cartoonish version in the 1995 film, Batman Forever.

Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the popular Batman villain, Oswald Cobblepot aka the Penguin, is a landmark achievement in makeup and prosthetics, and as a result, Farrell is completely unrecognisable as one of Batman’s arch-nemesis from the comic books. Whereas, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth essay their supporting roles with aplomb, perfectly complimenting this star-studded ensemble.

At its best, it is an engrossing detective crime thriller akin to a throwback noir film which also happens to feature the world’s most popular superhero. This is very similar to how Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is a political thriller that features Batman. Matt Reeves has astutely woven elements of horror and suspense into the narrative whilst also opening a discourse on several socio-political issues which are relevant to contemporary society. While the film does not feature the usual origin story that has become the template for most Batman films, Matt Reeves’ The Batman uses a well-written screenplay as an exposition to Batman’s origins.

Verdict:
In an era dominated by ‘formulaic’ superhero films, Matt Reeves’ The Batman stands on its own as a genre ‘redefining’ masterpiece. The ending of the film hints at a possible sequel featuring Batman’s most iconic villains. The film will likely set the benchmark for any superhero adaptation for years to come.