“The Batman” (2022): Cash-Grab or Cinematic Masterpiece?
When “The Batman” (2022) was announced, a common question was “do we really need yet another Batman movie?” There had already been numerous incarnations of this character, and to some, it seemed like there was nothing left to tell. However, the answer to that question turned out to be a yes–while this character is not new, “The Batman” brings a fresh take on one of the most iconic characters of all time and proves that the art of filmmaking is not dead.
One of the most impressive aspects of this film is its cinematography. Every single shot is composed very intentionally, with clear influences from Alfred Hitchcock, 90s thrillers, and film noir. For example, there are several scenes throughout the film that show events through one character’s eyes or binoculars, adding intrigue and tension to the moment. The cinematographer, Greg Fraiser, and the director, Matt Reeves, constantly make creative choices like leaving important aspects of the frame out of focus or using gunfire in a fight scene as the only light source. The visual tone is also stunning–Gotham City is dark, dripping wet, and dirty, so the use of light, shadows, and vivid colors fully immerses the viewer into the setting.
Another aspect of movies that often goes unnoticed is the score. In this movie, it was masterfully crafted by Michael Giacchino, an award-winning composer. Batman’s theme is exciting, intimidating, and dramatic, effectively building up the intensity of certain moments. It also noticeably takes great influence from Darth Vader’s theme, “The Imperial March,” from the Star Wars films. While some superhero movies have forgettable scores, this one stands out and is something one could listen to separately from the movie and still enjoy.
As for the plot, “The Batman” includes a moving character arc as this inexperienced version of Bruce Wayne learns to be the hero that the city needs, realizing that hope is a more powerful motivator than fear. This story is very grounded and is more of a detective crime thriller than a traditional “superhero” movie. Batman also earns the title given by the comics of the “world’s greatest detective” as he investigates clues to stop the serial killer known as the Riddler. The movie is extremely long, spanning almost 3 hours, but the plot still moves forward at a steady pace and earns most of that runtime. This film successfully develops the Riddler as a villain by allowing the audience to understand his motivations, even if his actions are inexcusable. His childhood experiences clearly guide his belief that Gotham City needs to reduce its corruption, and the movie even draws parallels between Batman and the Riddler’s goals to highlight Batman’s internal conflict.
The choice to cast Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne was a highly controversial one, to say the least. Pattinson is best known for his sub-par acting in the role of Edward Cullen in the Twilight movie series from 2008. However, in “The Batman,” Pattinson proves to the naysayers that he has grown into an incredible actor and was a great choice to play this character. Instead of portraying Bruce Wayne as the typical playboy billionaire like in other iterations, this movie shows him as a depressed and broken man who is a mere shell of a person when he takes off the mask. In this version, Batman is his real identity where he feels the most himself, while Wayne is the mask he puts on. Despite wearing a mask and staying silent for many of his scenes, Pattinson is able to skillfully emote his feelings mainly through his eyes and body language, displaying subtle reactions instead of blatantly telling the audience his thoughts.
Is this the best Batman movie? Different movies may hold nostalgic value for different people, but in terms of objective quality, this film is a top contender for that number one spot. Regardless of comparisons, “The Batman” excels in every aspect of filmmaking and its incredible strengths greatly outweigh its extremely minor weaknesses. While it had the potential of turning into a mediocre cash-grab solely riding off of the iconic status of the character, this movie proved that the director had a distinct vision and was able to execute it with incredible precision.
