Matt Reeves’ latest take on Gotham’s vigilante, The Batman is the first DC Movie of the year and it is a ride you cannot miss. The Batman is themed around ‘No More Lies,’ a repetitive symbol used by the antagonist, Riddler played by the stellar actor, Paul Dano. This Batman movie is based on the same old Batman, the crusader by night, and Bruce Wayne, the rich heir by day. Owing to an opening narration by Robbert Pattinson’s Batman we understand that it has just been two years since he has taken up his vigilante form. The movie unfolds with riddles (of course!) that are put in places of murderous crimes and the quest to solve them and save Gotham and its people. It restages multiple story arcs from the previous trilogies which are a little underwhelming and repetitive. We are shown the early years of Batman, his mortal enemies, his infamous character arc but above all this movie brings to us that no other Batman movie successfully did – the darkness that beholds Bruce Wayne, the man behind the mask.
The actors are an amazing set including the sassy Andy Serkis as Alfred, Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman or Selina, Colin Farrell as Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, John Turturro as Falcon amongst more. The plot is simple and yet dark, witty and intense. These actors perfectly fit into the screenplay making the three-hour-long movie fairly simple to devour because the story is the one we know; it is in the details that we find newness. There are too many dialogues in this Batman movie almost as if to divide it equally amongst all the characters. The background score is divine. The music by Michael Giacchino takes the movie up by at least a notch. The most extraordinary thing about The Batman though is the cinematography. While Matt Reeves brings the intensity of storytelling, Greig Fraser adds darkness to the screen and literally so. There are a couple of scenes in pitch darkness that are lit and understood by only the needful amount of light or just rays of it. My favourite sequence takes place in a dark black corridor only lit by the guns that shoot and the sparks that follow. It is a treat to the eye.
Matt Reeves’ Batman draws parallels to the comics and it is one of the most interesting approaches to the character. DC’s audience is finally shown the scarred and unhappy Bruce Wayne, one who is lonely and troubled. We see Robert Pattinson sink into the role of an awkward Bruce rather than a playboy, confident one. We even witness a very interesting relationship between Bruce and Alfred (Andy Serkis).
This movie is big in its direction and screenplay. There are scenes from extreme angles and shot in lights and colours carefully decided to explain concepts with even more precision. The storytelling is clever. The Batman narrative that we hear in the background throughout the movie is actually recorded diary entries by the character himself. This is a simple way to add wit to the storytelling. Even the brilliantly executed fight sequences are mind-boggling. What makes the audience shift from adrenaline and more towards fright and terror is the iniquity that lies in the gruesome murders and blood-filled crime scenes. The psychotic calmness of Riddler and sudden outbursts of anger that follow take the movie even further into heavy shadows.
The three hours can seem long, some chase sequences may seem unnecessary and dialogues are too heavy at times. Even the whole demeanour of this dark tale may have triggers for some. The Batman is a heavy movie to digest with exclusively no humour but that is what DC stands for in the comics. Deep understanding of vengeance, a needful legacy and a hero who isn’t. For those who know that Batman is a hero without superpowers, this movie is much more understandable. For the audience and followers of DC, The Batman is a delight to watch.
Watch The Batman in the theatres now!
