THE BATMAN (2022)
click here to return to "REVIEWS"
The Pattinson fits into his role and costume as snugly as possible, a brooding recluse found knee deep in an appreciable sludge of amber tones and vigilante justice. His cohorts Jeffrey Wright and Andy Serkis unfortunately do not, both unable to express any sort of real emotion or human feeling whatsoever. There's a moment where a USB unloads an email worm and not-yet-Commissioner Gordon just sort of mumbles in reaction. Mumbles in gruff raspiness, additionally, which just about provides the worst possible contrast to a brooding bat--it's a rasp off. It's ridiculous. Butler Alfred is no better--even if he isn't gruffing it up with his own voice, all deliveries are ultra serious and stilted; when a serious, emotional scene involves him--depends on him--you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of his presence.
Listen: angsty Batman is a great hook, but that angst can't shine if there isn't anyone to properly bounce it off of. You can't have misery without joy. It's like trying to make an ANIMAL CROSSING game without rude villagers (...). What good is kindness if we can't contrast it with dicks and rudesters? I'm not asking for Marvel quips here, but there needs to be contrast.
Anyway, all that and an annoying deus ex machina are most of what i have to offer in the way of criticism. I greatly adored the cinematography and its aforementioned amber tones. I loved the building upon of bat eye technology and how such becomes a connecting piece between that and the cat. I love the club as a central location and AVE MARIA as a central leitmotif. There's something insidiously brilliant about contrasting two vigilantes against each other, both accomplishing similar objectives in radically different, twisted, ways. And oh, that 'fear'. The bat that inspires fear just as much as he inspires chaos. It's handled so, so well, a terrific ending seeing light out of the darkness and a renewed philosophy.
But seriously, that deus ex machina is ridiculous. Just absolutely ridiculous.
