UNITED STATES: It’s been two years since Bruce Wayne became Gotham’s dark knight, whose sole desire is to rid the city of criminals. His persona as Batman frightens the vindictive goons. The narrative transitions when the Riddler begins to murder Gotham’s famous personals one by one. And each victim carries a cryptic clue to the next murder. This pits Batman and Lieutenant James Gordon against the enigmatic Riddler’s serial killings. Struck by the cryptic clue and the heinous methods of the Riddler’s crime, it’s up to Batman to put an end to the Riddler’s anarchist mindset.
Ensemble cast
Robert Pattinson plays young Bruce Wayne, who is in the early stages of his vigilante career. Since he is addicted to the archetype of Batman, he has no time for the persona of Bruce Wayne; all that remains is a detective ethos and a true sense of justice, which holds the brutal tactics of combating crime. As Lieutenant James Gordon, Jeffrey Wright is not only one of the Cape Crusader’s allies but also the only decent, willing, and clean individual in the Gotham Police Department. Andy Serkis as Alfred is a father figure butler and Bruce Wayne’s advisor.
Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle is a cat burglar who steals from Gotham’s crime mafia while searching for her missing friend. Colin Farell plays the unrecognizable Oswald Cobblepot, later known as Penguin, runs an underground club known as Iceberg lounge full of corrupt Gotham personals. John Turturro, as Carmine Falcone, is the ruthless crime lord of Gotham who has a personal connection to Bruce Wayne’s past. Paul Dano plays the Riddler, who has a twisted sense of justice that includes a series of murders that leave an enigmatic clue for the next victim.
Excellent performances with Matt Reeve’s unique directing style
Robert Pattinson’s performance as Batman is jittery at first, but his persona perfectly fits the mantle as the story unfolds. His character embodies the early stages of Batman, who is brutal and has a strict sense of justice. He is in his early stages, so he tends to make numerous mistakes and is always haunted by the loss of his parents. Robert Pattinson has nailed the role with a brilliant performance, as evidenced by his expression in every situation and his tense personality. This assures him of being one of the best Batman.
Paul Dano, as the Riddler, steals the show. Even though his character is shown wearing a mask, he gives an excellent performance. His acting abilities perfectly capture the Riddler’s chaotic mind. His expression conceals the trauma that shaped his character into an anarchist. Matt Reeve’s take on the Riddler is inspired by the real-life serial killer known as the Zodiac Killer, who, like the Riddler, leaves an enigmatic clue for the next victim. All of this adds up to the perfect Batman antagonist. And whenever he alter ego appears on the screen, there is a palpable sense of foreboding and chills in the air. His performance as the Riddler, in particular, is a terror film that keeps the audience guessing about what his character will do next.
The film’s directing style establishes Matt Reeves as the ideal choice for the director’s chair. His distinct take on the Cape Crusader differs from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, an obvious comparison given Nolan’s reinvigoration of the Batman persona.
The best thing about Matt Reeves’ directing style is that the film has a unique take on Batman while remaining true to the cape crusader’s main ideology. And his take on the younger, more grounded version of Batman feels new on the screen. In addition, he co-wrote the film’s story with Peter Craig, confirming his vision for the Cape Crusader. His filmmaking approach portrayed the film as a murder mystery that heavily explored Batman’s investigative side, absent in all of the character’s earlier incarnations.
Greig Fraser’s cinematography enthralls the simple scene with a beautiful texture of the camera angle, transforming every scene into a work of art. The set design is also important; Gotham is depicted in this film has never been depicted in any other Batman film. The dark and grittier setting, as well as the constant rain, are the icing on the cake.
Batman’s raw and crazy action sequences spark the character’s reality, which is an amazing phenomenon to witness. In addition, Michael Giacchino’s music perfectly complements the film’s tense atmosphere. The majority of the scene is accelerated by the background score, which keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. This preserves the legacy of never having a lousy or average Batman theme song.
What could have been better
The only flaw of the film is that the trailer contains the majority of the suspenseful parts, somewhat increasing the predictability rate. Since the trailer has mainly depicted all of them, every best situation that will arise later in the plot can be foreseen. Selina Kyle’s character appears to be perplexed at times, making the plot a little hazy.
Verdict:
The film is an action-packed ride of seriousness that sets the tone of a perfect murder mystery that explores Batman’s detective site to hold the mantle of the world’s greatest detective, continuing the legacy of the Cape Crusaders’ fight against anarchists. Matt Reeves’ distinct style elevates the film to one of the best Batman films ever made, something never seen before. It’s a fascinating story acting as a blend of vigilante murder mystery and a must-watch for every Batman fan.
Transcontinental Times ratings: 4.9/5
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