Even more than Christian Bale in the role, Pattinson is so skilled at making his beautiful, angular features seem unsettling. But at night, you can see the rush he gets from swooping in and executing his version of vengeance, even beneath the tactical gear and eye black.Īs he’s shown in pretty much every role he's taken since “Twilight” made him a global superstar in 2008, working with singular auteurs from David Cronenberg to Claire Denis to the Safdie brothers, Pattinson is at his best when he’s playing characters who make you uncomfortable. “But I am the shadows.” In the harsh light of day, Pattinson gives us hungover indie rock star vibes. “They think I’m hiding in the shadows,” he intones in an opening voiceover. He’s two years into his tenure as Batman, tracking criminals from on high in Wayne Tower-an inspired switch from the usual sprawl of Wayne Manor, suggesting an even greater isolation from society. This is Travis Bickle in the Batsuit, detached and disillusioned.

This is not the dashing heir to a fortune prowling about, kicking ass in a cool costume. The script from Reeves and Peter Craig forces this hero to question his history as well as confront his purpose, and in doing so, creates an opening for us as viewers to challenge the narratives we cling to in our own lives.Īnd with Robert Pattinson taking over the role of Bruce Wayne, we have an actor who’s not just prepared but hungry to explore this figure’s weird, dark instincts. This is a Batman movie that’s aware of its own place within pop culture, but not in winking, meta fashion rather, it acknowledges the comic book character’s lore, only to examine it and reinvent it in a way that’s both substantial and daring. He accomplishes here what he did with his gripping entries in the “Planet of the Apes” franchise: created an electrifying, entertaining spectacle, but one that’s grounded in real, emotional stakes. And yet, despite these touchstones, this is unmistakably a Matt Reeves film.

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