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.