Serial killer and puzzle enthusiast, the Riddler (Paul Dano), murdered Gotham City's mayor on Halloween night. Lieutenant James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) arrives on the scene to investigate the crime. Along with him is the vigilante Batman (Robert Pattinson). They soon discovered hidden messages left behind by the Riddler, hinting at the possible corruption in the city’s governance.
Batman’s investigation to find out the identity of the enigmatic Riddler leads him to the Penguin (Colin Farrell). He confronted the mobster in one of his nightclubs, who then pleaded his ignorance of the crimes. He also met the stunning Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), who he suspects of having a role in the death of the city's mayor.
As the mystery surrounding the death of the mayor becomes increasingly complicated, the Riddler continues to commit one murder after another. This sends Batman into a frenzy of mind-boggling puzzles and crimes he needs to solve before things get out of hand.
"The Batman" is a new take on the character on the big screen. As opposed to being a true action blockbuster as established by Christopher Nolan and Zack Synder, the film is more grounded, having a lofty mystery-thriller core. However, even though it is not as exhilarating as other Batman films, it is far more intimate, darker, and disturbing than its predecessors. And it was able to stand on its own by taking inspiration from movies like "Saw" and "Zodiac" without relying heavily on the lore and stories told before.
As was to be expected, the story of "The Batman" touches heavily on the subject of corruption and power. It depicts a world ruled by elites who take advantage of the people and the economy of the city in which they live. Because of the oppression of the authorities, the characters in the story are empowered with real-life motivations to commit heinous crimes against these authorities. The film reminds me of Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" trilogy, which embraces the chaos brought forth by the same people living in Gotham City.
People who are loyal to the previous interpretation of the caped crusader will not exactly love this film right away. It moves at a leisurely pace, soaking up the atmosphere of the mystery. But they might like Robert Pattinson’s take on the character. Pattison owns his role as an already broken Batman. He effortlessly shows the susceptibility and complexity of the hero's emotional and psychological state. He overhauled the Bruce Wayne we know by putting a spotlight on his weaknesses rather than his strengths.
Not only was Pattinson the star of the film, but Zoë Kravitz's performance is just as compelling, if not more so, than any other actor in the movie. Kravitz adds layers to Selina Kyle by portraying her as a vulnerable yet dangerous, seductive, and sophisticated woman. She’s cunning, elegant, and vengeful, finally giving the fans the long-overdue proper interpretation of Catwoman. Paul Dano also stepped up as the antagonist of the film. He’s a brilliant actor, and he certainly delivered everything that was expected of him in his demented approach to the Riddler.
Even though it's always easy to get Batman and Bruce Wayne wrong in films and TV shows, "The Batman" succeeds thanks to great technicalities, the careful direction of Reeves, and the talents of Pattinson, Kravitz, and Dano. It's new, exciting, bleak, and grounded all at the same time. This is the kind of treatment that the comic book hero deserves.
4/5
