It's been a minute. The last few years have certainly been disruptive to the old routine, but that doesn't mean I haven't been keeping up with my cinematic addiction. It's been awhile since I felt inspired to articulate my thoughts about a film, so what better vehicle than the latest oldest superhero attempt? At nearly three hours, director Matt Reeves' interpretation of the worlds greatest detective gives us a very raw and stripped down character in a bloated, ambitious story that leads down a highly predictable path.
That may sound like a negative take, but trust me, there is enough to like about the film to earn my endorsement. The character of Batman has been done so many times it's hard to keep track of (West, Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney, Bale, Affleck) but the one recurring theme is the suave and confident aura of the alter ego Bruce Wayne. He's larger than life and cooler than James Bond. Not the Robert Pattinson version though. I was as dubious as the next guy when he was announced as the new dark knight, but he plays it with an emotional understatement that I wasn't expecting. The epitome of the strong, silent type, his demeanor doesn't change from one identity to the other, and that is something that humanizes him more than previous renditions. Excellent choice in portrayal all around.
Our introduction to Gotham is in the early days of the masked vigilante's story. We're spared the regurgitation of the back story (thankfully) and find a reclusive billionaire watching his city eaten up by corruption and violence. His only recourse is to take out his rage on the criminal element of the city, and he does it with reckless aplomb.
Enter the Riddler (Paul Dano). Forget everything you remember about the Jim Carrey performance (you just thought about it, didn't you?) This Riddler is much more Heath Ledger, and much less Frank Gorchin. He's a haunting psychopath that never fully gets developed to the extent I was hoping, but the lack of screentime adds to the mystique. He's hunting Gotham's elite, and Batman is scrambling to catch him before he consumes any remaining vestige of hope in the darkest city in the world. Batman enlists the help of a new and improved Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz) and their chemistry provides the levity that the heaviness of the rest of the film needs. It's a bit out of sync with the tone, but the darkness is a bit much at times, so it is a welcome sidebar.
As Batman and Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) team up to catch the psycho killer, their quest takes them into the dark underbelly of the city, crossing paths with familiar characters and villains until the ultimate climax, which takes a page from "Se7en" a bit more than it probably should have. We end in Arkham Asylum, setting up the next chapter, which will inevitably give us yet another depiction of the award-winning character of the Joker. I'm imagining this film will make enough money to justify a sequel, and Warner Bros. can't seem to move beyond Batman in its constant quest to follow Marvel's goldmine that is its cinematic universe.
The overall tone is darker than it's ever been. I know, it's Gotham, but this one is both gritty and haunting. In an "I could see this place actually existing" kind of way. The colors are muted, and the fantasy aspect has been stripped down to its skeleton. Kudos to Reeves for expressing his vision so powerfully and meticulously, and his version of the Batmobile is the best yet. Cinematically, it's always been a combination of a tank and a ferrari, but this one is unapologetically a muscle car with a turbine engine. Way bigger than it needs to be, but throaty and exciting. Nailed it.
The music. Michael Giacchino (Oscar winner for "Up") has created a character all in itself. Subtle, haunting chords follow our anti-hero on his quest for vengeance from start to finish, and it's a bit primitive and redundant, but effective. Throw in a depressing Nirvana ditty with deep, monotonous subconscious lyrics, and we get a whole new portrayal of Batman. Matt Reeves actually said that he took a bit of inspiration from Kurt Cobain for his Bruce Wayne, and it's noticeable.
The film is a dramatic departure from what we've seen before, but the familiarity and keeps it grounded. I personally love the direction, and am optimistic that it might be the kickstart that a new version of DC Justice League needs to get back on its feet. Unfortunately, with "Flash" and "Aquaman 2" on the horizon, we might not have the most promising trajectory, but there is always hope with the upcoming "Black Adam."
There's a reason it's been rebooted a kazillion times; it's profitable. It also strikes a nerve in the human psyche. Masked vigilante justice is just so primitively appealing. This new Batman is a winner in my book, even if the character has been overdone. 7/10.
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