Dog’s Movie House: “The Batman” A Bold, Original Take On The Dark Knight!

“The Batman” takes place two years into Bruce Wayne’s transformation into the Batman. He’s still trying to find his way, not just only as the Dark Knight but also as Bruce Wayne. He knows what he wants to do but not quite how to do it. Batman has managed to instill fear into the criminals of Gotham City but is also dismissed by the police as a crazy vigilante. The only cop who trusts Batman is Lt. Jim Gordan (Jeffrey Wright) which makes him something of a pariah among his fellow cops. When a serial killer calling himself the Riddler (a terrifying Paul Dano) starts offing members of Gotham’s political and law enforcement elite, it’s up to Batman, Gordon, and a new ally in Selina Kyle (a scene-stealing Zoe Kravitz) to not only stop the Riddler, but to unravel the knots of corruption that created him, a knot that leads back to secrets involving Bruce Wayne’s own father.

The word “masterpiece” is thrown around a lot, but rarely has it applied more than it does with “The Batman.” At first you might be tempted to feel that this film is simply a companion piece to Christopher Nolan’s excellent trilogy but you would be mistaken. “The Batman” is brooding and serious, of course, but it carries a tension, atmosphere, and more importantly, a momentum all its own. Reeve’s and his team have crafted a Batman film that feels like a horror film akin to “Silence Of The Lambs” or “Seven” without indulging in overt grue and gore. This is a nail-biter at times (starting with the Riddler’s first gasp-inducing appearance) that fully immerses you in this gritty and unseemly world. The story (from a script by director Reeves and Peter Craig) is twisty and turny without being difficult to follow. The Riddler’s ciphers are creative without being to overly complex when they’re revealed. And while “The Batman” is a detective story, Reeves packs the film with enough memorable action scenes to fill any traditional adventure film. (The less you know about the story, the better, of course.)

“The Batman” is anchored by a terrific cast. Robert Pattinson is a terrific Batman/Bruce Wayne. Unlike other films, Pattinson spends the bulk of his time in the impressive bat suit. This decision emphasizes the emotional dilemma Bruce faces when it comes to his place in the world as Bruce Wayne. He broods more and is more indecisive when he’s not the Batman. Pattinson is excellent in both roles, however, and I think he’ll surprise a lot of folks who only know him as Edward Cullen from the “Twilight” series of films. He carries an imposing physicality that makes his Batman an intimidating figure. Reeves makes the choice to have the Batman approach with loud, ominous footsteps, an inevitable doom from the shadows, rather than the stealthy operator he will later become. The straightforward approach represents his rage and relative inexperience in the role of The Dark Knight. Pattinson’s performance is on par with that of Christian Bale or Michael Keaton.

Pattinson is matched by Kravitz as Selina. Though she is never mentioned as Catwoman, it’s abundantly clear that she is that character. Kravitz owns the role and her chemistry with Pattinson is off-the-charts good. She’s also an accomplished performer as far as the action goes, delivering convincing ass-kicking despite her diminutive frame. Dano is a revelation as the Riddler. His penchant for cyphers and puzzles is probably the only thing he has in common with his cinematic counterparts. His reasons for his actions are chillingly authentic and relatable and he serves as the dark opposite side of the coin to the Batman. He is truly an iconic villain here.

The other standout performance belongs to Colin Farrell as the Penguin (or Oz, as he calls himself.). Completely unrecognizable under layers of excellent makeup and prosthetics, Farrell disappears into the character, a mobster lieutenant with aspirations of power that will eventually reveal themselves in an HBO Max series featuring the legendary Batman villain. “The Batman” also gets great support from Wright as Gordon, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone (who in his own way is almost as scary as the Riddler), and Andy Serkis as Alfred.

One other thing to note is that Michael Giachinno’s score is one for the ages, harkening back to the classic works of John Williams, James Horner, and Jerry Goldsmith. His Batman theme is going to become a classic along the lines of Danny Elfman’s. With a dense, evocative atmosphere, suspenseful pace, exciting set pieces, wonderful performances and one hell of a story, Matt Reeves and his crew have made a Batman film for the ages. 5 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog! (Note: The film is dark in terms of lighting, so see it on the biggest screen you can for the best resolution. I recommend the Esquire IMAX. It’s a terrific theater and Doug Link and his staff will take good care of you. Here’s the link for tickets! )

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