The Movie Minute

By Joanna Langfield

Matt Reeves has delivered The Batman we have earned. Bleak, yet hopeful, true to its origins while being very much of our times. And wait till you see that car chase!

Disrupted and delayed by the pandemic, on top of production overhauls when Ben Affleck stepped away, what is hitting the big screen was worth the wait. Reeves, who also wrote the script with Peter Craig, stays on brand while creating what could be a stand alone dramatic thriller, superheroes aside. Each character is written and performed with a savvy mix of history and integrity, helping to make this a Batman movie for people who could care less about Batman, as well as for those who, oh so passionately, do.

Yes, Robert Pattinson is very good as the brooding 30 year old Bruce Wayne/Batman. But it’s fantastic to watch great actors such as Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, and unrecognizable Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis and Peter Sarsgaard deliver absolutely perfect turns with their very colorful spins in this overall extremely dark film. Special mention for Zoe Kravitz, who, as Selina/Catwoman, is a force of nature. This, along with her excellent work currently streaming in Steven Soderbergh’s Kimi establishes Kravitz as one of the most exciting actors of her generation.

Yes, at a running time of almost 3 hours, this movie is too long. But it sure moves. And it moves with great assuredness, bringing us a savvy mix of fun and moral potency. This is a Batman filled with questions, about heroism, responsibility, one’s place in society. We question our leaders, our fathers, our own thirst for vengeance. It is unfortunate timing the war-like scenes of this are being released as the world is watching worse in real life. But this is, after all, a movie. We also drive along in cool cars and meet some damn entertaining people, reminding us that good movies, like life, are all about finding the right balance.