The Batman (2022), Dir Matt Reeves, Warner Bros. Pictures: 5*****: Matthew Alicoon

The Batman, 5*****

Warner Bros. Pictures

Running Time: 176 Minutes

Review: Matthew Alicoon, Friday 4th March 2022

The Batman follows his second year of fighting crime. Batman uncovers corruption within Gotham City whilst pursuing a serial killer (The Riddler) played by Paul Dano.

What Matt Reeves has accomplished here is cinematic excellence at the highest level. The Batman is such a captivating, visceral and engaging film. It not only stands as one of the best Batman movies, but as one of the best comic book movies ever made. Matt Reeves has provided a unique vision as to how we see Gotham City, as it is grounded in reality. The film is like a crime-noir and it is a great homage to films like Se7en and Zodiac. The running time is dense but with the amount of compelling storytelling in the film, you are constantly anticipating what is going to happen next. There are a few surprises in store. The action scenes are jaw-dropping from a technical standpoint and the sequences help advance the story. The dynamic between The Batman and The Riddler was a key-driving force for the narrative, as how they interacted with each other was intuitive and fascinating to witness.

The casting for this movie is unbelievable. Robert Pattinson gave a silent yet intimate portrayal of Bruce Wayne and he brought a fresh perspective to Batman. Robert Pattinson demonstrated top-quality acting as there were moments where his facial expressions spoke for him, it is a career-best performance for him. Zoë Kravitz gave such a convincing and emotional performance as Catwoman. However, the villains are all-time greats. Colin Farrell was unrecognisable as The Penguin but the make-up never became a distraction, as he embodied the character. The best performance in The Batman is Paul Dano as The Riddler. Paul Dano is psychologically terrifying and the incorporation of his character to the story was so effective, as there was such a frightening and formidable presence. Heath Ledger would be proud.

Greig Fraser's cinematography was top-notch as the shots felt so clean and polished. Michael Giacchino's soundtrack feels like a live opera show, as it is so masterfully choreographed. The amalgamation of all these components serves The Batman tremendously and it paves the way for such a mesmerising experience on the big screen. I recommend IMAX, as it is such an immersive medium that goes hand in hand with the film.

The Batman transcends the comic-book genre by offering a distinctive interpretation of material that works cohesively. An absolute masterpiece of cinema that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

Cast

Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman

Zoë Kravitz as Selena Kyle/Catwoman

Paul Dano as Edward Ashton/The Riddler

Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon

John Turturro as Carmine Falcone

Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth

Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin