The Batman (2022)

“I’m Vengeance.”

Spoiler-Free Review

Culling its primary tale from DC Comics’ The Long Halloween, Year One, and other Batman stories, 2022’s The Batman is a very solid movie. In the story, the Riddler is on a killing spree and Batman is trying to decipher all of the clues left in the wake of each murder. All of the murders are linked together and each one is executed with specific intentions to expose the true villains of Gotham City. Batman teams up with Jim Gordon and Catwoman to figure out the Riddler’s next move and take him down before he murders again. You’ll have to watch the film to see what happens and I highly recommend checking it out for yourself.

The film gives us a version of Batman that casual and film-only fans may not be familiar with: The Dark Knight Detective. Batman actively works with Gotham City’s police department, specifically James Gordon, and uses evidence, clues, and some sweet technology to decipher the Riddler’s game plan. Alfred is there as well, assisting Batman with his detective work. Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, has her own motives for helping Batman but I don’t want to spoil any of that in this review.

The film also gives us a look at the seedy underbelly of Gotham. Fans will recognize characters such as Carmine Falcone and the Penguin and a few other folks that I won’t mention at the moment. As the Riddler slowly reveals his plans to Batman and the rest of Gotham City, we learn that many of the villains in the film aren’t as obvious as they seem. Of course, if you’re a reader of the comics, you’re well aware that the “white knights” of Gotham are sometimes just as crooked as or even worse than the obvious villains.

Pros:

• The detective work: It was refreshing to see Batman actively working with GCPD. The police were uncomfortable with him in their territory but understood that he was most likely their best hope to solve the Riddler’s motives for murder and successfully capture him. Their relationship with Batman is uneasy.
• The Penguin: Although he’s essentially a high level stooge for other crime bosses in this film, Colin Farrell’s portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot hints at much bigger things to come for the character. Farrrell was completely unrecognizable in the role and he gave the best performance of the entire cast in this film. He also provided some humorous moments in an otherwise dark film.
• The Batman: Robert Pattinson’s Batman gets beat up a lot in this film and he has the scars to show it. He questions himself, questions others, and is methodical with everything that he does in the movie. He also provides some genuinely suspenseful moments in the film as he is often only heard and/or briefly seen at times. When villains peer into the darkness and hear footfalls but see nothing, you know that trouble is on the way for them.
• Bruce Wayne: Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne looks worn out and depressed throughout the film. He actually looks and acts like a man who lives a double life and gets very little sleep as a result. I’m expecting the “playboy” persona to eventually come to light in later films, but this is the right Bruce Wayne for this story as it takes place.
• James Gordon: Jeffrey Wright gives a stellar performance as Lt. Gordon. It’s a meat-and-potatoes version of the character who stands as the only member of GCPD that Batman fully trusts. They work together excellently in this film.
• The Batmobile: It spends most of the film as part of the back drop, covered by a tarp. When it is finally revealed in all of its glory, however, it is shown to be the best Batmobile since the iconic 1989 version of the vehicle. It’s a monster on wheels and it strikes terror into those that dare square off against it.
• Minimal CGI: Did they even use it in this film at all? If they did, the production does a great job of hiding it. Almost all of the effects in this film are practical and that, in my opinion, only adds to the grittiness and “realness” of the movie.
• No On Screen Death Of The Parents: For the first time in a long time we get to see a Batman film that doesn’t include a flashback scene with Bruce’s parents getting murdered. Sure, that element is still present in the film, but how many times has that specific moment been visited over the years? It’s almost as bad as poor Uncle Ben getting shot down in the Spidey flicks!

Cons:

• The film’s length: Clocking in at almost three hours in length, The Batman begins to wear out its welcome in the third act. In all honesty, they could have stopped the film thirty or so minutes earlier and I would have been just happy. When you believe that the film is almost over, a new threat arises and drags things out longer than necessary.

Yep, the film’s length is my only gripe. Had director Matt Reeves ended the tale just a little bit earlier this film would have been perfect. Everything else is well done. It’s not my favorite Batman film and it’s far from a masterpiece, but The Batman is an excellent Batman film that deserves any and all accolades that it receives.

The Cast:

• Robert Pattinson as Batman/Bruce Wayne
• Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
• Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon
• John Turturro as Carmine Falcone
• Paul Dano as The Riddler
• Colin Farrell as The Penguin
• Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth

Other cast members include Peter Sarsgaard, Charlie and Max Carver, Gil Perez-Abraham, and Jayme Lawson. All of the cast do great jobs but I cannot say enough about Farrell’s portrayal of the Penguin. John Turturro deserves a nod for his portrayal of Falcone as well.

So, there you have it. The Batman is a very good movie and it definitely needs to be seen on the big screen. I hope that you enjoyed my spoiler free review of the movie and I thank you for reading it. Be sure to check out the film!