The Batman
Fear is a tool... đŠ

Welcome to Pop ânâ Pizza, a weekly newsletter highlighting whatâs new in pop culture and pulp fiction. This week, Iâm talking about THE BATMAN, the neo-noir psychological crime thriller directed by Matt Reeves. đđ„€
Title
- Genre: Crime Thriller
- Release Date: March 4, 2022
- Running Time: 176 minutes
- Rated: PG-13
- Studio: Warner Bros.
Behind the Scenes
- Directed by Matt Reeves
- Written by Matt Reeves & Peter Craig
- Cinematography by Greig Fraser
- Music by Michael Giacchino
In Front of the Camera
- Robert Pattinson (GOOD TIME, TENET)
- Zoë Kravitz (HIGH FIDELITY, BIG LITTLE LIES)
- Paul Dano (THERE WILL BE BLOOD, LOVE & MERCY)
- Colin Farrell (IN BRUGES, THE LOBSTER)
- Jeffrey Wright (THE FRENCH DISPATCH, NO TIME TO DIE)
Whatâs It About?
âBatman ventures into Gotham City's underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator's plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.â â Warner Bros.

Why You Should Check It Out
Created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, Batman debuted in 1939âs Detective Comics #27. Since then, the caped crusader has become one of the most iconic pop culture characters, recognized worldwide for his signature cowl and his colorful coterie of supervillains.
On the big screen, Batman (and his alter-ego, billionaire industrialist and playboy Bruce Wayne) has been portrayed by several talented actors â Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck â each with their own distinct take on the character. Now the cape and cowl belong to Robert Pattinson (THE LIGHTHOUSE), who adds yet another layer of intrigue to the brooding vigilante who strikes fear in the hearts of criminals.
Co-written and directed by Matt Reeves (LET ME IN, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), THE BATMAN takes the grounded realism of Christopher Nolanâs THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY (2005-2012) and drapes it in the gothic theatricality of Tim Burtonâs BATMAN (1989), making for an atmospheric, psychological slow-burn that captures the essence of the character and the crime-ridden cesspool he protects.
Drawing inspiration from neo-noir crime thrillers like David Fincherâs SE7EN and ZODIAC, THE BATMAN is, first and foremost, a detective story. Here, the Riddler (Paul Dano) isnât a spandex-wearing schemer with an affection for alliteration â heâs a sadistic serial killer targeting Gotham's corrupt elite, leaving cryptic clues behind for Batman and Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) to decipher, whose rookie/veteran relationship mirrors Brad Pitt and Morgan Freemanâs in SE7EN.
The Riddlerâs proclivity for puzzles sends the Worldâs Greatest Detective on an investigation into Gothamâs seedy underbelly where he encounters the equally enigmatic Selina Kyle (ZoĂ« Kravitz), the Penguin (Colin Farrell), and crimelord Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). More intriguing is that the Waynes are at the center of Riddlerâs mystery, forcing Bruce to question his familyâs legacy. Are they pillars of society or further proof of its corruption?
THE BATMAN is a darkly compelling and magnificently composed story about a young Batman â in year two of his self-appointed role as Gothamâs embodiment of vengeance â who is seething with rage. Pattinsonâs Batman is violent and, perhaps more unsettling, heâs nihilistic. He doesnât think Gotham City can be saved; heâs fighting a hopeless battle, caught up in an endless cycle of violence. He hasnât yet become the symbol of hope Gotham City needs him to be. Itâs hard to see a brighter future when you live in darkness, after all.
Pattinson is fantastic as Batman, his dynamic performance effortlessly conveys the war that rages within Bruce at all times. His voiceover narration, reminiscent of Robert De Niroâs in TAXI DRIVER or Jackie Earle Haleyâs in WATCHMEN, furthers the filmâs noir vibes and allows the audience to occupy the same headspace as Bruce in a way previous films have not. It captures the experience of reading a comic book, where internal monologues are delivered via thought balloons.
Wright, Kravitz, Turturro, Dano, and Andy Serkis, who plays Alfred Pennyworth, are all great in their roles, but itâs Farrell, wearing impressive prosthetics designed by Mike Marino, who really shines. As the proprietor of Gothamâs nightlife hotspot, The Iceberg Lounge, Farrellâs Penguin is a bit of a showman; more of a Fredo Corleone than a Michael. The mid-level gangster is something of a joke â a punching bag â but under the surface is a ruthless, cunning kingpin waiting to be unleashed.
THE BATMAN is a gorgeous, mesmerizing piece of filmmaking. Cinematographer Greig Fraser (LET ME IN, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, DUNE) conjures some wondrously macabre imagery. In concert with production designer James Chinlund and Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (1917, LITTLE WOMEN), Fraser shows us a Gotham City we havenât seen before â one that shares more in common with the dystopian cityscapes from films like BLADE RUNNER, AKIRA, and DARK CITY than other superhero movies. The city feels as brutal and inhospitable as the hero who protects it.
Reeves is a great director â his body of work speaks for itself â and THE BATMAN may be his finest work yet. Like the aforementioned ZODIAC, it is the work of a filmmaker at his peak, utilizing every skill and tool heâs picked up along the way. Despite its three-hour runtime, the filmâs length is never felt. As Batman digs deeper into the Riddlerâs mystery, the plot steadily burns away like a fuse leading to a powderkeg of a finale.
And then thereâs the score, composed by Michael Giacchino (SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, DOCTOR STRANGE). Itâs elegant and affecting, pulsating with dread, and feels as definitive to Reevesâ vision of Batman as Danny Elfmanâs score was to Burtonâs. Weeks after seeing the film, I canât stop listening to it. Listen for yourself on Spotify or Apple Music. Also, Reevesâ usage of âSomething In The Wayâ by Nirvana is so disquieting and oddly moving.
Thoroughly entertaining and engaging, THE BATMAN is the best bat-movie since 2005âs BATMAN BEGINS. Reeves has set the table for a new trilogy that will explore different aspects of the iconic hero and his roguesâ gallery, and I canât wait to see whatâs next.
Slices (Out of 5)
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You May Also LikeâŠ
If you dig this, you may also enjoy:
- SE7EN (Amazon Prime Video)
- ZODIAC (Amazon Prime Video)
- PRISONERS (Amazon Prime Video)
- BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN (Amazon)
- CATWOMAN: WHEN IN ROME (Barnes & Noble)
- BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (Amazon Prime Video)
Trailer
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