By Erich R Pilcher

Although very entertaining, most current comic book films follow a very simplistic formula. They are action-packed, with bright pulsating colors, dynamic special effects, and a star-studded cast. Keep in mind, I said MOST comic book films, there is a new film that is bucking that trend.

The Batman is the most recent film to tell the story of Gotham City’s masked avenger of the night. Directed by Matt Reeves, it stars Robert Pattinson (The Twilight Saga) as the cowled crusader (and his secret-identity Bruce Wayne). In the film, he takes on the Riddler (played by Paul Dano) who is taking out high-ranking members of the Gotham Community in a violent attempt to expose corruption in the city. Assisting Wayne is Commissioner James Gordon (Jeffery Wright) and Catwoman/Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz).

In the lead-up to this film, some reviews attacked Pattinson’s performance. Calling it emo, whiny among other emasculating descriptions. However, this is who Batman is. He is dark, brooding, and emotional. He is not your clean-cut superhero, glossed over for the masses. He is flawed. That is a part of his appeal and quite frankly exposes the ignorance of the reviewers in regards to the source material. That source material is largely assumed to be the critically acclaimed Batman comic miniseries The Long Halloween and Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, among other darker Batman tales.

Pattinson delivers an excellent performance. I must admit, I have not been a fan of his work in the past. However, he makes the role his own and meshes the two personas of Batman and Bruce Wayne together in a beautifully haunting way. He gives the viewer the flawed, human, and emotionally scarred Batman we are drawn to. It is quite possibly his most powerful and best performance to date.

The drawback to this film (and it is a minimal one) is the pacing, at least initially. It is a slow build. There is not this cataclysmic event that brings Batman into the fold or even a drawn-out origin story like other superhero films. It builds suspense through dialogue and mystery. If you can make it past the first 30-minute slow build, it is quite rewarding to view. It plays out like a suspenseful mystery. This hearkens back to Batman’s prowess as a detective extraordinaire. Even with the suspense, there is enough action to satisfy you. It is not over the top and does not feel mind-numbing. When it is put into play, it is placed quite well.

To have a strong superhero movie, there needs to be a strong villain. That is where Dano as the Riddler comes into the fray. When we first see the Riddler he wears an outfit that is reminiscent of The Gimp from Pulp Fiction. When I saw this on the screen I was horrified. There was this throughout of this is where the film “jumps the shark” and that issue has plagued most DC Comic films. Dano’s performance makes you quickly forget about this gaffe. His dialogue is minimal but when he speaks it is like a moth to a flame. You are drawn in by his insanity and rage. It is the perfect foil to the tormented and conflicted role of Batman.

The final credit to this film is the overall cast works well together and the direction of Reeves. The one dynamic that drives this is between Batman and Catwoman. The romantic tension that has always been present between the two is here. It’s a tension that this relationship will never be fully developed due to their philosophical differences, but the feelings do not go away. Kravitz delivers the greatest Catwoman performance with her outing and that might even be an understatement to what she achieves.

I have long stated that the DC Cinematic Universe has needed to have its own identity and separate from what the Marvel films do. With the success of The Joker and this film, I believe they have found that identity. They need to be darker and edgier than the Marvel films. That approach seems to be what works for them. This film is proof of that.

When going into this film I was concerned. Mainly due to the early negativity surrounding the performance and I honestly felt Ben Affleck did exceptionally well as The Dark Knight. Despite that, this film is a credit to the film legacy of Batman. It is a strong, suspenseful film with just enough action to drive it to that exceptional film level. If you are a fan of Batman, comic book films, or even film in general, you would make a grave mistake by dismissing The Batman.

Final Rating: **** out of 5 stars

SPECIAL BONUS: To honor the release of this film, I reviewed the 1966 film Batman: The Movie starring Adam West and Burt Ward. It aired on WMNH and Matt Connarton Unleashed on 3/4/22. You may listen to the review by clicking here