Riot’s Movie Reviews: The Batman
Quick Update: Hi everyone! While I’m certain that my absence from this blog site went relatively unnoticed, to those of you that might still read, I am going to try and get back into this whole writing game that I used to enjoy so much. I had some pretty big life changes over the last year and have been struggling to get my schedule back on track. I can’t honestly say that everything is settled, but I really missed getting into films and literature, so this will be essentially a re-dipping of my toes into the water. I hope everyone who reads enjoys, comments, or shares the site!
As the title of this blog suggests, I am coming in hot with a bold statement about Matt Reeves’ take on The Batman: this is arguably the best interpretation on the character and world to date. Now I don’t want anyone to think I am making this argument lightly. A lot of people I know are very passionate on the subject. (I’ve had multiple arguments defending Tom Hardy’s depiction of Bane for example) So I will lay out the positives of the film first to make my case. First, (this will likely get me in the most “trouble”) Robert Pattinson is the best Bruce Wayne/Batman to date. Every actor that has taken up the mantle so far has been preferable for one side of the coin. Keaton was a better batman. Kilmer was a better Bruce. Clooney was just not good. Bale was a better Bruce as well and came close to being the best Batman had he not ruined it completely with that silly ass voice. Pattinson’s portrayal is not without its negatives to be sure. I could have used a little less emo kid and a little more karate kid. (Pattison lacked the muscle and physique that Bale brought to the character) But, an emotionally damaged/traumatized man, obsessed with his role as the city’s vengeance carries all the dark overtones that are mirrored in his physical looks/performance. Second, the supporting cast of this film was beyond exceptional. The top billed names of Zoe Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, and Andy Serkis brought depth to their characters and allowed their performances to compliment Pattinson’s in a multitude of ways, always weaving the tension of the story back into their interpersonal relationships. Before seeing the film, I had commented to a friend that every Batman iteration was somehow always able to nail the role of Alfred. This round was no exception. While I wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of having Thomas and Martha Wayne be painted in a negative light, this created a different kind of tension between Pattinson and Serkis that shined surprisingly well and gave a subtle nod to broader DC storylines (ex: Flashpoint where Thomas is Batman, Bruce dies, and Martha becomes the Joker). Final point, The Batman delivered a stirring detective drama that I think many fans of the Batman comics have always been waiting for. By having a villain like the Riddler ditch the theatrics of portrayals like Jim Carrey’s and adopt a more “zodiac killer” style, the film helps to ground the viewer in a world that could potentially exist in real life, pouring fuel on the fire of the tension of the story.
As to the negatives, one of the strongest performances/depictions also was its weakest: Paul Dano’s Riddler made as much sense as it didn’t. I was immediately taken back by the fact that a production company would choose to repeat a mistake of the past, covering Riddler’s mouth and recreating the muffled dialogue that got my treasured Bane in so much trouble in the finale of the Dark Knight Trilogy. The fits and tantrums the character displayed during his questioning at Arkham really detracted from the power he upheld through a majority of the film. Maintaining composure is one of the things that made Heath Ledger’s Joker so unmatched in the realm of all villains of every hero movie ever made. For all intents and purposes, the Riddler won in this film, regardless of his imprisonment. So while the overblown emotional outbursts lent to the mentally ill reality of the character, it cheapened the brilliance of his plan and his ability to execute it. The second biggest fault of the film is the runtime. But, I’m certain to be quoted as saying that movies these days don’t do enough character building, which is something that this film definitely had in spades. I was fortunate enough to watch at home though, and I would have been sorely disappointed to have missed big chunks of dialogue/exposition for bathroom breaks. Third, the film had an awkward time balancing the idea that Bruce had an established identity as The Batman. This can be exemplified mostly in his gear. He has a very advanced grappling hook that functions much like the animated series’ version, but his Batmobile is just a supped up Charger? (I actually liked the car, before y’all get mad at me) He has what seems like a long-established relationship with Gordon (so much so that they have a Bat Signal already) but he totally wrecks himself on the flight suit sequence? It just didn’t add up consistently. Finally, and my most nit-picky of points, I could have used like six less sequences of Pattinson’s steadfast glare, “I have forty pounds of nickels in my shoes and you can hear it from half a mile away”, slow walks.
So, whether or not you might agree with my opening statement, I find it impossible to argue that this was a bad film, the opinion of which I have heard fairly frequently. With Pattinson or Dano removed from the picture, you’d be left with multiple, near-perfect performances in Kravitz, Wright, Farrell, and Serkis that would maintain your attention in their own right. I think the only real bummer about the recent trend of moving superhero films further and further towards dark storylines, is that they become less and less appropriate for kids. Granted, the DC universe has a number of cartoon iterations of Batman, but even these shouldn’t be consumed by children. Parents, please please please please pre-screen superhero content before you let your kids watch. But if you’re not a child (you wouldn’t be reading this if you were) go see The Batman! You won’t be disappointed.
Riot’s Rating: 9.9/10
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