The Mosley Review: The Batman
If there's one character that has had so many iterations, but none have truly highlighted a certain skill, its Batman. Everytime we get a new Batman film, we are treated to the best of tracks of his life. The motivations of why he's doing this, classic villains, the action and gadgets, but never have I seen a film adaptation that uses his most powerful skill. He is the world's greatest detective and no Batman film has truly put that on display. This film finally does that with such reverence and joy. I love a great detective story that doesn't shy away from enjoying the hunt for clues and building of tension as the plot gets thicker. That's what I loved about this iteration and how it brought a fresh and even more real version of the world he lives in. The tone of this film is consistently dark, moody and atmospheric in the best ways possible. I was reminded heavily by of the same tone that David Fincher delivers in all of his films, but this film had the same feel as Seven the most and it was perfect. There are problems I had with the constant monologuing with some characters towards the mid section of the film which really brought down the pace. Exposition can benefit some stories, but I felt it harmed the story and some of the character development.
Robert Pattinson has proven time and time again that he is a powerhouse of an actor and he has done it again. As Bruce Wayne, he does an excellent job of conveying the brooding and very damaged mindset of the character. Where others have shied away from that aspect, he dives head first into it. This is a younger Bruce so he is more closed off from the social world and we don't get to see the billionaire playboy because its not that kind of story. As Batman, he was smart, animalistic, brutal, fast and I liked that we actually see him get hurt. Yeah he takes a few punches and gunshots, but he is still human. He isn’t at the apex crime fighting career and I loved that. Pattison has delivered an interesting and powerful stamp on the character that I can't wait to see more of. Andy Serkis was perfection as Alfred Pennyworth. He may be his butler, but there is so much more to him and I loved seeing him pleading with Bruce to be more normal. Serkis' performance reminds you that there is some much weight that Alfred carries and you get an great character deep dive into him this time. The relationship between Alfred and Bruce isn’t perfect in this story and is downright kind of broken, but their strong chemistry is what makes them worth watching together. Zoe Kravitz was excellent and fierce as Selina Kyle. I liked that she gets an origin story that is a fun revamp of the character that and ties directly to the comics. Jeffery Wright was outstanding as Detective James Gordon. I loved that he saw the flaws in Batman, but trusted him to do the right thing. Their partnership is truly the highlight of the film and I could watch them solve puzzles and riddles together all day long. Aside from the brood fest, there is a shining light of hope and that comes from Jayme Laweson as Bella Reál. I won’t say who she’s playing, but she does great work bringing hope back to the city of Gotham.
The villains in the film span the three different flavors of Batman's rogues gallery and they all have a fun spin on them. John Turturro was great and smooth as the mob boss Carmine Falcone. He carries every scene with such gravitas and intrigue. There is so much history with that character that John brings to life with his subtle performance. Colin Farrell was outstanding and unrecognizable as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin. I loved that he was a wise guy that acted as the middle man. We all know his future, but this story acted as a sort of criminal origin story for him and he was so much fun! Paul Dano was disturbing and wild as Edward Nashton / Riddler. All the other versions of the character have been a little zanny, but this take on the character felt right at home in this new world. I loved that he was sadistic and playful with his gruesome murders and the riddles he would leave behind. Dano swings for the fences in a particular scene and it sometimes he goes too far away from the tone that was previously set. It is a great re-imagining of the character regardless. He nailed the Zodiac Killer vibe and it was creepy and so good. I hope to see his character be prevalent in Batman’s life just like the rest of his other Rogues.
The score by the wonderful Michael Giacchino was perfectly moody, tension fueled and gothic in so many ways. The constant anticipation the church bells bring once Batman’s theme begins is so powerful. The playful and yet sadistic nature of the Riddler’s theme was great and I loved the amount joy underneath it. Catwoman’s theme was very much a waltz and ballet inspired and I liked constant shifting it does throughout the story. The magnificent score truly helped nail the tone of the story and gave colour to this version of Gotham. The cinematography is stunning as the film is almost devoid of all vibrant colors and keeps you in the copper and metaphorically grey spectrum. The action in the film was wonderfully brutal and the sound design that accompanies it was superb. Writer and Director Matt Reeves has done something truly groundbreaking with the titular character and this nw world. He has created a new avenue of lore that I want to explore in future films and even television. Aside from pacing issues in toward the end of the second and beginning of the third act, this was an excellent new take on the greatest detective we know and love. This is MUST SEE film for all Batman films and it will put to sleep all the doubts everyone had. In my opinion, this is film sits right next to “The Dark Knight” and is definitely the first best film of 2022. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
