Rent The Batman (2022)

The Batman (aka Untitled Batman Reboot) review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

Everybody knows Batman. Movie audiences have had his origin story retold three times since 1989. They’re aware of most of his villains, ranging from the maddening nature of The Joker to the pathos of Two-Face. So with another Batman reboot, there is a lot of recapping we don’t need. We know Batman lost his parents as a kid in a dark alley, we know he doesn’t use guns, we know he’s the night, and we know he considers himself the vigilante Gotham City needs. Thankfully, director Matt Reeves is knowing enough of Batman to do far more than just retell the same story yet again.

What makes this movie work is that it doesn’t start from origins nor does it establish a fully realized Batman. Bruce Wayne, this time played by Robert Pattinson, is currently in year two of his vigilante identity. And it’s not going well. He’s honest in his assessment of Gotham City and that crime hasn’t gone down since he has taken to the streets under cover of darkness. More importantly, his presence isn’t making a difference. He knocks out a gang that attempts to hurt a victim and the victim is still terrified that Batman may also beat him up. It’s not a funny punchline of an error on the saved civilian; it’s a real point of reflection for the character.

Batman will have to look more into himself when handling the biggest case among the Gotham City Police Department. Important political figures from Gotham are turning up murdered with clues left specifically for Batman. The clues are coming from the elusive Riddler (Paul Dano) and his messages are certainly cryptic enough that it’ll take some time to decipher everything. Slowly, a bigger plot of corruption that has proceeded for decades is unearthed and Batman’s mission becomes far more complex than bringing Riddler to justice.

There are a few allies Batman has but they’re not as there for him on an internal level. The trusty butler Alfred (Andy Serkis) may be there to help Bruce organize his schedule and suits but he’s also harboring some guilt for the past. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) works alongside Batman but their relationship is strictly business, where all their talk is about where the Riddler will strike next.

The one person who gets the closest to understanding and unearthing the issues of Bruce is Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz), better known as Catwoman. If you were hoping she’d don a Catwoman outfit for this picture, you’re kinda outta luck considering that Reeves is clearly leaning towards the more relatable detective movie route than the fantastical and silly. She does still have that will-they-won’t-they romance with Batman as the two struggle with their concepts of justice. And since Selina is already bound by vengeance.

Consider how the film also treats The Penguin (Colin Farrell) less like the pudgy monster and more as the mobster businessman of Oswald Cobblepot. He runs the Iceberg Lounge as the seedy criminal hangout it was usually known for in the comics and various animated series and films. Farrell’s transformation into a grotesque mobster is flawless but his performance is also a major highlight.

I also really dug Paul Dano’s approach to The Riddler as a more unhinged person. He will often sing and screech in ways that feel unnerving and common from someone losing their mind more than being a master of puzzles. It’s a unique surprise as well considering that his character spends most of the film hidden behind a mask and voice changer.

The performances all around are great but Pattinson particularly shines since this script requires a lot from him and not just physically. Batman is presented less like an enigma and more as a vigilante who deserves to be questioned. Bruce, dedicated to learning from his mistakes, makes some dark discoveries about his past and his own concept of justice that he needs to actively rectify. He can’t just zoom off into the sunset in his Batmobile and not answer for anything. He’ll still pull off of a cool car chase with the Batmobile though, in case you’re worried this wasn’t a Batman movie.

And, yes, The Batman is long at nearly three hours but it uses that time well. It throws Batman into a serial killer story as well as a morally questioning tale of what it means to stop corruption and the actions that will lead to curbing crime. Few Batman films ever go this deep, preferring to stay in the muck rather than find a way out of it. Reeves’s film does go rather deep into the inky abyss but becomes all the more refreshing for its rush to the surface. It’s the best Batman movie since Mask of the Phantasm.