Batman is Human Too
By: Mckenzie Gerdes
Batman fans probably didn’t expect to see Bruce Wayne driving a motorcycle through Gotham’s cobblestone streets in the rain with Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” playing in the background, but luckily, “The Batman” film made that happen.
When “The Batman” 2022 was announced, it was questionable to DC fans whether a remake was necessary, as there have been many successful Batman films in the past. As an avid Batman fan and amateur film critic, I also joined in the initial skepticism of fans and critics everywhere, who wondered if a project like this was going to be able to outdo Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” series, starring Christian Bale as Batman.
After seeing “The Batman” in theaters, my hesitation was quickly put to rest, as director Matt Reeves brings a creativity that far exceeds all of its predecessors. One of the most unique moves the movie made was to go in a different and surprising direction with the character of Batman/Bruce Wayne, played by Robert Pattinson.
Robert Pattinson as Batman. Photo courtesy: Warner Bros.
Bruce Wayne is no longer Batman by night, billionaire-playboy by day. Rather, director Reeves said he is someone who has “gone through a great tragedy and become a recluse,” becoming, “this fictionalized version of Kurt Cobain being in a kind of decaying manor.”
Another characteristic of Batman that struck me as unfamiliar was his self-reflective narration, and the subtle hints at the childhood trauma of losing his parents. At the beginning of the film, Wayne isn’t sure if he is actually making a difference in Gotham, or if his years of crime-fighting have all been for nothing. If this is the case, then Batman is useless, and Gotham is irredeemable, making Wayne’s tragic past somehow more tragic.
Zoë Kravitz does an amazing job playing antiheroine Catwoman, who teams up with Batman for her own reasons. Journalist Dana Stevens says Catwoman differs from past portrayals, in that she “is less slinky predator than aggrieved survivor of a brutal childhood.”
Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz as Batman and Catwoman. Photo courtesy: Warner Bros.
Daniel Lang, in an audience review, said, “Robert Pattinson does some stunning acting work in this movie, although I felt all of the actors, whether they had big or small parts, were absolutely stellar. Alfred the Butler even, whose role was quite minor, was perfect.”
The film captures the audience’s attention from the beginning to end of its three-hour runtime. The Riddler, played by Paul Dano, facilitates the mysterious and vicious attacks on Gotham’s corrupt elite. Journalist A.O. Scott for New York Times said, “The Riddler exposes the connections between Gotham’s power structure and its underworlds, links that seemed to have eluded [Batman].” This antagonist causes tension for the audience, especially because he seems to have good intentions.
Madison Lincoln, in an audience review, said, “In the end, it was everything I wanted. It was beautifully shot, and the cinematography was top tier. The score also resonated with me.”
Towards the end of the film, there is a touching scene where Batman is gently reaching out his hand to save a young kid from an accident. In that moment, it seems that Wayne is finally realizing while being a hero, he can also be human.