As much as we have been lukewarm about DC film releases as compared to its Marvel Cinematic Universe counterparts, there's one thing that we love about DC and that from time to time, they risk everything by doing something totally different from the norm and completely blows away our minds. Like 2019's "Joker", "The Batman" is different. It's not as bombastic or action-packed as the competition but what we get is a nuanced crime film that turns out to be awesome.
Watch "Joker" which was mentioned in this review right now:
When Gotham city's mayor is murdered, the killer leaves clues through riddles that promises to unearth the mastermind behind the corruption that has mired the city for decades. These clues in particular are left for the Batman (Robert Pattinson) who is still in his second year of crime-fighting. As more corrupt politicians are murdered by a man calling himself as the Riddler (Paul Dano), the Batman finds himself entangled in a case that will challenge him in ways he could never have imagined.
If we could describe "The Batman", it was like watching a Law and Order episode more than an action film. The whole film's premise was figuring out who the Riddler was and what was his real agenda in terrorizing key people within Gotham's civil servants. The investigation stuff was great, but for us, this was the film's weakest link. Not that the actual content, revelations, and characters involved were poorly written or developed but it had elements that were never expounded upon. It felt incomplete considering the huge implications that eventually happens within the film. Additionally, not all character turned out to be well-adapted. For us, the biggest letdown was John Turturro as Carmine Falcone. There was something off about his portrayal that really doesn't match with his character's and film's overall tone.
But aside from the points mentioned above, "The Batman" was an awesome film experience. At almost 3 hours long, we were ready to be bored at our wits but the film never felt slow or bogged down. Those 175 minutes flew by fast. Considering the film's less action-oriented approach, this was an achievement in itself in terms of pacing its various scenes of dialogue, puzzle-solving, and fights. Additionally, the character of Batman here was rough, imperfect, and critically, relatable as a human being. It deviates from the typical origin story of Bruce Wayne and starts off two years since he donned the suit. This Batman was unsure if the sleepless nights and crime-fighting is worth it or actually doing nothing to solve Gotham's crimes. This also reflects on other aspects of the film, from the unsophistcated batmobile to the villains littered throughout the film, there's little or no tinge of fantastical elements here. For a superhero film, this was probably the groundest portrayal of the Batman yet and could easily happen in real-life right now. This was our favorite aspect within "The Batman".
Finally, what can we say about Robert Pattinson's portrayal of Bruce Wayne? We loved it. While we have to admit that this wasn't his best performance as an actor, his Batman here was distinct enough to stand out against the others that went before him. Given the limitations of his character here, Robert Pattinson felt like the perfect actor to portray the role. Overall, "The Batman" was excellent in its own right but you have to set your expectations ahead of time. If you expect fights, explosions, and grandiose out-of-this-world elements then you'll be sorely disappointed. But if you're up to experience nuanced, grounded, and deep experiences, then "The Batman" will thrill you.
Rating: 4 reels
Why you should watch it:
- a nuanced and grounded take on the character of Batman
- we loved that this was different from your usual superhero film affair
Why you shouldn't watch it:
- if you want all-out action from you superhero film then the slow-pace will disappoint
- some characters like Carmine Falcone and Alfred was underused
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