Film Review: "The Bad Guys" (2022).

"Good is No Fun at All" in The Bad Guys. This computer-animated heist comedy film directed by Pierre Perifel (in his feature directorial debut), adapted by Etan Cohen, loosely based on the children's book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey, and produced by DreamWorks Animation Studios. Never have there been five friends as infamous as The Bad Guys—dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf, seen-it-all safecracker Mr. Snake, chill master-of-disguise Mr. Shark, short-fused "muscle" Mr. Piranha and sharp-tongued expert hacker Ms. Tarantula, aka "Webs." But when, after years of countless heists and being the world’s most-wanted villains, the gang is finally caught, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal (that he has no intention of keeping) to save them all from prison: The Bad Guys will go good. Under the tutelage of their mentor Professor Marmalade, an arrogant (but adorable!) guinea pig, The Bad Guys set out to fool the world that they’ve been transformed. Along the way, though, Mr. Wolf begins to suspect that doing good for real may give him what he’s always secretly longed for: acceptance. So when a new villain threatens the city, can Mr. Wolf persuade the rest of the gang to become … The Good Guys?

In late July 2017, it was reported that several studios had expressed interest in adapting Blabey's book series The Bad Guys into a feature film. In March 2018, DreamWorks Animation announced the development of a film based on the book series. In October 2019, it was reported that Perifel was hired to direct with Cohen and Hilary Winston set to pen the adaptation. The film was described as having "a similar twist on the heist genre that Shrek did on fairy tales, and what Kung Fu Panda did for the kung fu genre". In late July 2021, Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Alex Borstein, Lilly Singh, and Barbara Goodson were cast. The filmmakers cited films such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), The Fifth Element (1997), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Heat (1995), Ocean's Eleven (2001), Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), and Ernest & Celestine (2012); anime and manga series such as Beastars, Sherlock Hound, Lupin III, and Meitantei Holmes; as well as artists such as Hergé, Akira Toriyama, Albert Uderzo, André Franquin and Jean 'Moebius' Giraud as inspirations. In early October 2019, it was reported that the film would have a September 17, 2021 release date. However, in December 2020, the film was delayed, though it was confirmed that it would get a new date "within the coming weeks" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2021, the release date was scheduled to April 15, 2022. In October 2021, it was pushed back again by one week to April 22.

Thanks to the performances, the main characters were well rounded, the humor worked, and had enough emotion for us to care about their story.

The film may not raise the bar of this rapidly developing genre, but it manages to pack a lot of fun and spectacle into its running time.

Simon says The Bad Guys receives:

Also, see my review for The Boss Baby: Family Business.

Film Review: "Morbius" (2022).

"The line between hero and villain will be broken" in Morbius. This superhero film directed by Daniel Espinosa, written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless and based on the Marvel Comics character, Morbius, the Living Vampire, created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. It is the third film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU). Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?

In May 2000, Artisan Entertainment announced a deal with Marvel Entertainment to co-produce, finance, and distribute several films based on Marvel Comics characters, including Morbius, the Living Vampire. In May 2017, Sony announced plans for a new shared universe featuring Spider-Man-related properties beginning with Venom in October 2018. Jared Leto became "loosely attached" to star in the title role, but would not commit to the film until he was happy with its direction; Leto asked to personally meet with several director candidates. In late April 2018, Sony had approached Antoine Fuqua about potentially directing the film. He expressed interest in taking on the project. However, he ultimately chose not to take on the project. Sony then approached F. Gary Gray before they approached Espinosa. In May, while on tour in Germany with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars, Leto met with Espinosa to talk about the film. In late June, Leto and Espinosa both confirmed to star and direct. By late February 2019, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Tyrese Gibson and Al Madrigal rounded out the film's cast. Smith joined the film, after previously turning down other superhero film roles, due to Espinosa's involvement and encouragement from his former Doctor Who co-star Karen Gillan, who portrays Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Smith was reported to be portraying the villainous Loxias Crown / Hunger, though he was later revealed to be playing an original character named Milo who is similar to Loxias Crown. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in June. Filming took place in London and Manchester, England under the working title Plasma. The film was originally set for a July 10, 2020 release date. However, in late March the film's release date was pushed back to March 19, 2021, due to the COVID 19 pandemic. In January 2021, the film was delayed again to October 8, 2021, then to January 21, 2022, and then finally to January 28, 2022. Finally, in early January 2022, the film was delayed to April 1, 2022.

The film stars Leto, Smith, Arjona, Harris, Gibson and Madrigal. It's worth focusing your attention on Leto's amazing, physical, and enthusiastic performance.

At least MCU titles mask their commercialism in their devotion to characters and telling a good story. By contrast, the film seems like a knock-off, or perhaps a throwback to the early-2000s era of superhero movies that is best left forgotten.

Simon says Morbius receives:

Also, see my review for Life and Venom: Let There be Carnage.

Film Review: "Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King" (2022).

"Greed is a matter of life and death" in Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King. This documentary film directed by Luke Sewell. When the young founder of a collapsing cryptocurrency exchange does unexpectedly, irate investors suspect there's more to his death than meets the eye.

Founded in November 2013, Canada's largest cryptocurrency exchange Quadriga Fintech Solutions, the owner and operator of QuadrigaCX was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia by Gerald Cotten and Michael Patryn. On 9 December 2018, Cotten died after traveling to India. Up to C$250 million (US$190 million) in cryptocurrency owed to one hundred and fifteen thousand customers was missing or could not be accessed because only Cotten held the password to off-line cold wallets. Quadriga likely never invested the funds entrusted to it, according to Chainalysis, a cryptocurrency tracking firm. Either the funds were never received or quickly went missing. Ernst & Young was appointed as an independent monitor while Quadriga was granted temporary legal protection from its creditors under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. In early April 2019 the firm entered bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act as the possibility of a successful reorganization appeared to be remote. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were reportedly investigating the company. Lawyers for the customers of the exchange have asked that Cotten's body be exhumed. In early February 2019, the exchange ceased operations and the company filed for bankruptcy with C$215.7 million in liabilities and about C$28 million in assets. Additionally, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Wood ordered a "30-day stay that precludes filing of claims against Quadriga", which is a temporary legal protection from its creditors under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, a legal status that allows insolvent corporations to restructure their business and financial affairs. Meanwhile, in order to manage the finances of the company during the process, a third-party monitor, Ernst & Young, was appointed. In early February, Ernst & Young reported that C$468,675 (US$354,300) of bitcoin were "inadvertently" sent to an inaccessible cold wallet. In early March, Justice Wood extended Quadriga's court protection to 23 April. He appointed Peter Wedlake of Grant Thornton to be chief restructuring officer. Quadriga's customers are owed C$260 million in cryptocurrency and cash. A C$24.7 million disbursement fund has been planned with C$300,000 to go to Cotten's widow, Jennifer Robertson, who advanced that amount to start the court proceedings, C$200,000 will go to Ernst & Young and another C$250,000 to its lawyers, C$229,842 will go to Quadriga's lawyers and C$17,000 to independent contractors. Quadriga's lawyer, the firm Stewart McKelvey, withdrew from the case due to a potential conflict of interest.

How do you make Bitcoin cinematic? Netflix and director Luke Sewell resorts to some rather standard practices -- fleeting graphics, subtitles and numbers -- but the strength of the movie is its interviewees. Its director, Luke Sewell, has sufficient confidence in the story and lays out many of the juicy bits as the opening credits roll.

Simon says Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King receives:

Film Review: "Drive My Car" ("ドライブ・マイ・カー") (2021).

From the director of Asako I & II (寝ても覚めても) comes Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー). This Japanese drama-road film directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi, adapted by Hamaguchi and 
Takamasa Oe and primarily based on Haruki Murakami's short story of the same name. An aging, widowed actor seeks a chauffeur. The actor turns to his go-to mechanic, who ends up recommending a twenty-year-old girl. Despite their initial misgivings, a very special relationship develops between the two.

Though the film is primarily based on Murakami's short story of the same name from his 2014 short story collection, Men Without Women, the script also features elements from Murakami's stories Scheherazade and Kino (both also part of Men Without Women). Hamaguchi chose adapting Murakami's text for two reasons: because the characters were in a car, and also because of the questions of acting that the story explored. The film was originally set in Busan, South Korea, but was changed to Hiroshima due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamaguchi wished to incorporate the Beatles' song Drive My Car, which the film and story are named after, however it was too difficult to get permission for its usage. He instead included a string quartet piece by Beethoven, which is directly referenced in Murakami's original story. The original story features a yellow Saab 900 convertible, but it was changed in the film to a red Saab 900 Turbo to visually complement the Hiroshima landscape.

The film stars Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tōko Miura, Masaki Okada and Reika Kirishima. Thanks to the terrific performances from the cast, the characters and viewers are taken on a journey that both fascinates and unsettles.

Perfectly calibrated as a piece dependent on nuanced performances and an exacting tone, the film rewards those willing to invest and engage in all that Lee refuses to spell-out or show to his audience. It's the script that shines: layered with hefty metaphors and symbolism, yet the film is surprisingly subtle. It unfolds like a poem in its esotericism, wearing the ambiguity on its sleeves that make for something almost entirely transfixing. Whether deliberate or tedious, meditative or dull, depends on the eye of the beholder, and as thrilling and fantastic as certain elements are, other tested the bounds of patience. As often happens in the films of Hamaguchi, there comes a mysterious moment when the scattered threads of the plot begin to tie together, and the film suddenly moves up to a higher level of intensity. Despite the uneven narrative, the film is a visually striking slow-burner of a mystery with three intriguing performances. The film is patient with the story. He illustrates the rather grim reality of how circumstance and people can define you and shape your perception of the world for better or worse. For Murakami's regular readers, the film will be a stimulating revelation; for movie lovers, an invitation to venture into the complex intellectual orbit of this great Japanese storyteller.

Simon says Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) receives:

Also, see my review for Asako I & II (寝ても覚めても).

Film Review: "Deep Water" (2022).

"The love story is never the whole story" in Deep Water. This erotic psychological thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne, adapted by Zach Helm and Sam Levinson, and based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. The film takes us inside the marriage of picture-perfect Vic and Melinda Van Allen to discover the dangerous mind games they play and what happens to the people that get caught up in them.

In 2013, the project began development with Lyne hired to direct and Fox 2000 Pictures set to finance. The project would mark Lyne's first film since Unfaithful (2002). In 2018, Fox 2000 sold the rights to New Regency. However, the project entered development hell. In August 2019, the project was revived when Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas agreed to star, with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures agreeing to handle the distribution via their 20th Century Studios label. By early November, Tracy Letts, Lil Rel Howery, Dash Mihok, Finn Wittrock, Kristen Connolly, Jacob Elordi and Rachel Blanchard rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place throughout New Orleans, Louisiana. The film was originally scheduled for a November 13, 2020 release date, but was delayed to August 13, 2021, and again to January 14, 2022. In early December 2021, it was taken off the release schedule. In mid February 2022, it was announced that the film would be released on Hulu on March 18, 2022 and on Prime Video simultaneously.

The film stars Affleck, de Armas, Letts, Howery, Mihok, Wittrock, Connolly, Elordi and Blanchard.
Sure, Melinda may be little more than a sexy Latin-American housewife but the film is still notable for de Armas' resilient, complex performance. Whether portraying hesitancy, fear, trembling desire or passionate surrender, de Armas is always honest, truthful, and utterly convincing. Affleck anchors the movie: he plays real and he looks real, with just enough lines and hints of wrinkles; a handsome man who's been distracted by too many thoughts of infidelities committed by his wife. Works precisely because it is so upsetting, unusually so for a studio film, and so empathetic for Vic at the hands of her attractive manipulator.

Under the direction of Adrian Lyne, most of the picture's situations seem like randomly chosen place holders, flat events that just fill time until the final bizarre confrontation. While billed as an erotic thriller, the film strictly qualifies as neither, appealing to our prurience, guilt, hatred, and dread. The film is a shameless stew of sensationalist effects, destined to give the appearance of a movie to its absolute emptiness. The film is called Deep Water, but it's actually anything but -- to the adultery movie rulebook, anyway. Until it goes berserk in the last reel or so, the film is an absorbing drama of civilized adultery that gets less civilized as it goes on to its inevitable conclusion. This is not a great movie, and so many of the things being written about it are just plain sexually vacant.

Simon says Deep Water receives:

Series Review: "Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives" (2022).

From the director of Fyre and Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal comes Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. This docuseries by director Chris Smith. A scandalous four-part documentary series that uncovers how Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur behind the New York hotspot Pure Food and Wine, went from being the queen of vegan cuisine to the tabloid-touted “Vegan Fugitive” when she falls for a man who promises to make her dreams come true. Millions of dollars, immortal dogs, meat suits, and secrets lead to a twisted tale of love turned criminal.

In June 2004, with Chodorow and Kenney, Melngailis opened Pure Food and Wine as New York City's first upscale raw food restaurant. Located in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood, the restaurant was listed twice in New York magazine's "Top 100 Restaurants" and five years in a row in Forbes magazine's list of "All Star New York Eateries." The couple opened One Lucky Duck Juice and Takeaway, a takeaway retail store attached to Pure Food and Wine. In 2005, OneLuckyDuck.com, launched. In December 2009, a second One Lucky Duck location was open in New York City's Chelsea Market. In January 2015, it closed. In 2014, One Lucky Duck Juice and Takeaway's first location outside of New York City opened in San Antonio, Texas. In January 2015, Pure Food and Wine and One Lucky Duck staff walked out en masse due to Melngailis' failure to pay employees a month's worth of owed wages. This was the second time within a year that a month's worth of wages had been withheld, the first being in July 2014. In February 2015, Melngailis addressed the walkout and subsequent closure of both restaraunts in a blog post. She apologized for the incident, but her blog post was subsequently removed. In an interview, Melngailis said that the delayed wages were due to slim margins caused by debts and expensive ingredients. During the ordeal, Melngailis provided employees with a different explanation, blaming the situation on changing banks. In April, Pure Food and Wine, One Lucky Duck, and OneLuckyDuck.com reopened. A majority of staff did not return to the restaurant after its reopening. Again, in July, the staff of both restaurants walked out due to unpaid wages. Both have since been permanently shut down. In mid May 2016, it was reported that Sarma and her then husband Anthony Strangis (also known as "Shane Fox") were arrested in Sevierville, Tennessee. In late December, prosecutors offered Melngailis a plea deal in which she would agree to serve one to three years in prison. In May 2017, Melngailis pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from an investor, and scheming to defraud, as well as criminal tax fraud charges. She received a nearly four-month jail sentence. In May 2018, she filed for divorce from Strangis.

Smith delivers a sporadically interesting yet mostly underwhelming documentary that feels like it's missing huge chunks of the story. The film is a pretty solid example of how to direct a documentary regarding a case whose controversy speaks for itself.

Simon says Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives receives:

Also, see my review for 100 Foot Wave.

Film Review: "Turning Red" (2022).

"Growing up is a beast" in Turning Red. This computer-animated coming-of-age fantasy comedy film directed by Domee Shi, in her feature directorial debut, written by Shi and Julia Cho and produced by Pixar Animation Studios. Mei Lee is a confident, dorky thirteen-year-old torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming, is never far from her daughter - an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren't enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she "poofs" into a giant red panda.

In late October 2017, after the completion of Shi's Pixar short Bao, Pixar invited her to pitch three ideas for a full-length film. Her concepts were all based on coming-of-age centered on teenage girls, with the one that became Turning Red based around a girl going through a "magical puberty", which Shi has written based on her own personal experiences. Manga and anime such as Sailor Moon, Ranma ½, Fruits Basket, Inuyasha and My Neighbour Totoro served as influences for the film. Shi pitched these concepts, including Turning Red. Pixar all unanimously loved Turning Red and approved the idea. In early May 2018, it was reported that Shi was writing and directing a full-length feature film, making her the first woman to solely direct a Pixar film, as well as the first solo Pixar director for a feature film. In early December 2020, Shi's film was announced with the title Turning Red, with the plot also being unveiled. The film was originally scheduled for a March 11, 2022 theatrical release date, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. However, in early January 2022, due to the rapidly increasing spread of the Omicron variant, the decision was made to shift the film from its planned theatrical release to its direct-to-streaming release on Disney+. In international markets where Disney+ is not available, it was released theatrically. The decision was met with dissatisfaction from Pixar.

The film features the voice talents of Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Wai Ching Ho and James Hong. The cast is both incredibly charming yet venomous in their emotions that can sneak up on the audience with their power and presence.

A light, enjoyable movie that would look much better coming from any other studio. However, with the weight of history that comes with the Pixar name, many will be expecting more. The film is an absolutely charming animated feature that takes audiences to an unforgettably touching trip to Toronto, Canada. The film welcomes underdogs and outcasts of all stripes to learn to love themselves, and it encourages us all to look back on our childhoods fondly. Read on surfaces alone, the film presents a familiar coming-of-age fable about growing up and family, albeit impeccably animated and confidently told. As usual in Pixar films, the characters are well-developed and the story is compelling. The artwork is detailed, bright and colorful. Everything is first-rate. This is a top quality animated film.

Simon says Turning Red receives:

Also, see my review for Luca.

Film Review: "The Adam Project" (2022).

"Past Meets Future" in The Adam Project. This science fiction action film directed by Shawn Levy and written by Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett, and Mark Levin. After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his twelve-year-old self on a mission to save the future.

In October 2012, it was announced that Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to Nowlin's spec script Our Name is Adam with Tom Cruise attached to star. However, the production went into development hell. In July 2020, the project was revived when Netflix bought the rights from Paramount with Levy hired to direct and Ryan Reynolds attached to star after previously collaborating on Free Guy (2021). Trooper, Flackett and Levin were hired to rewrite and polish Nowlin's script. By late November 2020, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Keener, Zoe Saldaña, Alex Mallari Jr. and Walker Scobell rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in early March 2021. Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The film stars Reynolds, Ruffalo, Garner, Keener, Saldaña, Mallari Jr. and Scobell. Reynolds and the cast refuses to let audiences leave the film without being entertained, no matter how silly matters get.

Though initially targeted at younger teenaged boys, the film has somehow made more of itself and become a feel-good movie both families and adult escapists will applaud. I don't know where your past self meets your future self on your moral spectrum, but I'd take a pre-teen to see the film, as long as we had a long talk afterwards about the consequences of time travel. The film envisions a future where your future self can meet your past self. Great special effects and cool fight choreography makes this a must-see. The film offers plenty of fun and engaging moments -- of both the human character drama and giant CGI sci-fi time travel variety. The ending is predictable and played out with all the drama that's typical throughout the film. I'd say Levy missed the mark on the target audience for this one. Even though the story is paint by numbers and there really isn't anything new being done in this it is still pretty enjoyable. The film has cliched high concept blockbuster written all over it and yet, miraculously, it is one of the most effective family films I have seen in many a moon. It's as corny as Kansas, but the mix of old fashioned heart and new fangled animatronic sci-fi tech will make this picture a winner. All things considered, it is a well-wrought piece of entertainment, confidently paced, although its necessary subplots are little more than dutiful filler sandwiched between fight sequences. A feelgood film about family, friendship and growing up, the film was always going to attract cynicism but it really does a fine job of delivering for a young audience. By no means is the film an original one, at least in terms of its base story, but that doesn't mean it's not an effective, tear-jerking kids movie.

Simon says The Adam Project receives:

Also, see my review for Free Guy.

Series Review: "Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall" (2022).

"A two-part documentary from Erin Lee Carr" comes Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall. This crime documentary series directed by Carr. Accomplished journalist Kim Wall was last seen just prior to interviewing the eccentric entrepreneur Peter Madsen aboard his self-made submarine in Danish waters. Madsen changes his story multiple times during the course of a police investigation that ultimately uncovers the truth: Wall was murdered on the submarine. Madsen is soon put on trial, and a judge is tasked with determining what actually happened on the vessel.The documentary weaves together trial testimony, expert opinion, never-heard-before audio from Madsen himself, key new interviews with those who knew Wall and Madsen, and includes commentary from a range of officers, scientists, and journalists close to the case.

On 10 August 2017, the murder of Kim Wall, known in Denmark as Ubådssagen ("The submarine case"), took place after Swedish freelance journalist Kim Wall boarded the midget submarine UC3 Nautilus, in Køge Bugt, Denmark, with the intent of interviewing its owner, Danish entrepreneur Peter Madsen. From 2016, Madsen's RML Spacelab ApS was developing a nano satellite launch vehicle using venture investments. Under the title Raket-Madsens Rumlaboratorium (Danish for 'Rocket-Madsen's Space Laboratory') Madsen has blogged about his activities on the website of the Danish news magazine Ingeniøren. During this time, Wall was invited by Madsen to cover the venture. Wall was reported missing after Nautilus failed to return to the harbour at Refshaleøen, Copenhagen. The submarine was found sunken the following morning and Madsen was arrested upon being rescued from the water. Between 21 August and 29 November, parts of Wall's dismembered body were found in different locations around the area. Charged with her murder, Madsen was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on 25 April 2018 by Copenhagen City Court following a widely publicised trial. On 20 October 2020, Madsen briefly escaped from prison by threatening a prison employee, but was surrounded and apprehended by police five-hundred metres (five hundred and forty-seven yards) from the prison and subsequently taken back into custody.

Directed by Erin Lee Carr, the documentary does an outstanding job of remaining as objective with the case as possible. It's by no means an easy question, and filmmaker Erin Lee Carr presents every side of the debate fairly: It is to her credit that you come away from the film not knowing what to think. The film by the daughter of deceased journalist David Carr provides plenty to consider as the Danish entrepreneur's ego and megalomania reached an unprecedented high prior to Wall's disappearance and murder. This is all compelling, stomach-churning stuff, but one wishes that Carr dug deeper into the broader implications of the Danish entrepreneur's downfall. Ultimately, Madsen was convicted and sentenced, but it may be a long time before it's finally resolved, but the film at least ensures that the discussion of its real issues will continue to penetrate the panicked noise. Carr has a terrific knack for knowing when to cut, just when your sympathies are veering too far in one direction.

Simon Says Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall receives:

Also, see my review for Britney vs Spears.

Film Review: "The Batman" (2022).

"Unmask the truth" with The Batman. This superhero film directed by Matt Reeves, written by Reeves and Peter Craig, and based on the DC Comics character of the same name created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. The film is a reboot of the Batman film franchise. Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies -Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon-amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens. When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

In 2013, development began after Ben Affleck was cast as Batman in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Affleck signed on to direct, produce, co-write, and star in The Batman, but had reservations about the project and dropped out. Reeves took over and reworked the story, removing the DCEU connections. He sought to explore Batman's detective side more than previous films, drawing inspiration from the films of Alfred Hitchcock and the New Hollywood era, and comics such as Year One (1987), The Long Halloween (1996–97), and Ego (2000). In May 2019, Pattinson was ultimately cast in the title role. By late January 2020, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place throughout England and Scotland. However, in mid March, filming was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming resumed in mid September and ultimately wrapped in mid March 2021. In early October 2020, the film's release date was pushed to March 4, 2022, due to the production delays.

Pattinson provides the series with the best Batman thus far, with a dark and conflicted performance that easily matches Nolan's tone. Kravitz makes all the right choices, from the mechanics of her walk and her voice inflection to the penetration of the girl's raging psyche. It is a rare performance in a comic book movie. With every murder more sordid than the previous one, nothing prepares them - or us - for the heart-pulsating climax, when the masterplan made The Riddler into one of the most notorious on-screen villains.

Reeves and company are at the top of their form with this film, one of the darkest, creepiest, and most brilliant comic book pictures in American film history, far more interesting than all of the MCU and DCEU films combined.

Simon says The Batman receives:

Also, see my review for War for the Planet of the Apes.