This review was originally posted to Letterboxd on March 16, 2022
A different kind of movie for a different kind of Batman. This doesn’t feel like a superhero film, or like any other Batman flick we’ve gotten thus far. The Batman is an ultra-dark, gritty neo-noir detective thriller. That’s right, this latest version chooses to play up “The World’s Greatest Detective” aspect of Batman, which is nice since that part of Batman is usually less focused on. The Batman is superbly cast and directed, just about everyone fits their roles perfectly ( the best imo being Paul Dano, Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, and Jon Tuturro) and the score by Michael Giaccino is guaranteed to stick with you.
Robert Pattinson’s take on Batman/ Bruce Wayne makes his version of the character feel like a kid. This is a Batman who has been at this for a bit, but is still getting a feel for his Batman persona as well as field testing some gadgets. There is no real distinction between his Bruce and his Bat (which might piss some fans off, although you could argue that the point is that Batman is the true persona and Bruce Wayne is the secret identity), and we only really get one scene of Pattinson as “Bruce”. Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne/Batman is very intelligent, broody, depressed, and angry. Pattinson makes for a Bruce/Batman that you enjoy watching and want to learn more about.
Colin Farrell is a stand-out as Oswald Cobblepot/ The Penguin. He is unrecognizable thanks to heavy prosthetics that he disappears into and a thick New York accent. The Penguin is a supporting player, but Farrell makes every one of his scenes count. This easily ranks as one of Farrell’s best performances, you can tell he is enjoying the hell out of his role.
Andy Serkis isn’t in the film much as Alfred, but he makes for a welcome addition and his take on the character feels familiar yet different. Jon Tuturro also shines as Carmine Falcone, an evil and powerful mob boss. Tuturro brings an effortless sense of cool and style to the iconic villain that helps his portrayal stand out.
A problem with The Batman is that it doesn’t feel like it has a central villain. Dano’s Riddler is terrifying, but is more on the sidelines for the first 2/3rds of the film (he does get much more focus in the last act), making most of The Batman actually about rooting out a large criminal conspiracy in Gotham.
The Batman is a thrilling new interpretation of The Batman mythos that more than impresses on a casting and technical level ( and this version of The Batmobile might be my favorite, even if it’s only in around one scene. The sound design is also superb). This latest Bat-flick feels new and offers more than enough different. There’s always an odd thrill at getting to see a new Batman film in theaters, The Batman delivers that thrill and then some.
4.5 STARS
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