THE BATMAN (2022) Spoiler-Free Review
Talking the return of the caped crusader, the future of comic book movies, and a weekend streaming recommendation
When I first heard about a new Batman movie, I wondered, “Do we really need another one?” It seems like we’ve gotten every Batman we could want at this point, with dozens of past film adaptations. However, having now seen The Batman, I can assuredly say that Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson have broken new ground for the character.
The Batman (2022) brings Batman back to his detective roots as he seeks out the Riddler, a serial killer bent on exposing Gotham’s corruption. This movie feels more akin to serial killer detective stories like Se7en (1999) and Zodiac (2007) than any superhero movie, taking you through a riveting slow burn mystery.
First things first, Robert Pattinson bodies this role. We see his Batman obsess over his self-imposed responsibility for the city, an addiction visible in every facial expression (the costume designers did a fantastic job making a cowl that allows Pattinson to act with his eyes). Since this is only Bruce Wayne’s second year as the Batman, we also see him struggle to find his footing, making mistakes throughout. I appreciated this!
And his supporting cast. Paul Dano is an absolute freak as the Riddler, Colin Farrell unrecognizable as the Penguin. Above all, though, Zoë Kravitz is phenomenal as Selina Kyle, stealing every scene she’s in.
Beyond just the actors, this is a well-made film, gorgeously shot and produced. Matt Reeves was judicious with his action scenes, making every single one integral to the story. As for Michael Giacchino’s score, my only critique is that I wanted it louder.
Above all, Matt Reeves delivers a bold creative vision for a Batman ‘comic book’ movie. I’ve heard criticisms saying this movie tries to be too realistic, which I don’t understand at all. This whole movie is caricature. A Batman seemingly held together by painkillers and rage, Commissioner Gordon as the archetypal disgruntled cop, mob bosses straight out of The Sopranos. There’s literally a scene of the Penguin waddling. Even Gotham City itself is a caricature, a perpetually rainy city where no one seems to have working light bulbs.
I don’t mean this as criticism, I think it’s genius. Matt Reeves brings the comics to life in a way I haven’t seen since Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse. He does not try to convince you of a real-life Batman like Christopher Nolan (or a Gotham City copy-pasted from Chicago). He instead presents a larger-than-life world with over-the-top characters just like comics do, a direction I appreciated.
Was it perfect? No. The movie stretches long, laboring under its own weight, and it lost for me a little in the second act. There are far too many endings. There’s a cameo at the end that I didn’t particularly care for. And while I admire Reeves’ conviction in his creative vision, his supporting characters were not always my cup of tea, feeling too one-dimensional at times. But these are all quibbles. The Batman was a fantastic time, and I cannot wait to watch it in theaters once more.
As for the big question: How does it compare to The Dark Knight? Better movie? Definitely not. Better Batman movie? I think so!
Rating: 8/10
Weekend Streaming Recommendation
Mindhunter (2017) created by Joe Penhall. Available on Netflix
Speaking of serial killer mysteries, Mindhunter is a Netflix TV series set in the late 70s, where two FBI agents interview serial killers in order to solve open cases. This show is terrifyingly freaky, depicting our characters descend into madness as they profile horrifying killers. The Batman had me itching to rewatch this.
That’s all for today! See you all again next week. Until then, please get in touch if you have any thoughts or suggestions you’d like to share. If you want to keep up with what I’m watching, follow me on Letterboxd @atharv_gupta. And as always, please share this with a friend if you enjoyed it!