prisoners – Smaller Pictures

The Batman (2022)

In recent years, we have seen many franchises emerge with plenty of reboots, prequels and sequels dominating the film industry. A lot of these films tend to provide plenty of nostalgia and familiarity that is enjoyable to watch, but offers nothing new. One such franchise that is reinvented time and time again is DC’s Batman. Following Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, it felt as though the franchise couldn’t get more gritty and dark, but Matt Reeves proves it can be done with this year’s The Batman. The film is filled with characters that we all know and love including the titular character himself (Robert Pattinson), Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), and Detective Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) to name a few. Rather than fill the film with the usual villains such as the Joker, Reeves has chosen villains who have been overlooked or not as widely used cinematically with the Riddler (Paul Dano) and the Penguin (Colin Farrell) being the major villains in the film. Unlike other Batman adaptations, this Batman is not as refined in his fighting skills, making him more realistic, while also finding out more about what his parents were really like and the mystery surrounding their untimely death.

The Batman is directed by Matt Reeves who cowrote the screenplay with Peter Craig. Reeves development as a true visionary feels as though it has come full circle since he became a household name in 2008 with Cloverfield. Just as Cloverfield pushed narrative boundaries and explored alternative filming techniques, Reeves applies this innovative way of thinking with The Batman. From the telescopic point of view that opens the film, to the brilliantly shot climactic scene in which Batman beats up a load of cronies in a dark hallway with the only lighting provided by gunfire, Reeves brings an element of true imagination to a studio blockbuster and shows that not all superhero films need to contain a formulaic structure and content. The screenplay is particularly brilliant and perfectly delves into Bruce’s character without feeling too over the top, while also having plenty of fun with the Riddler’s character and his clues.

Robert Pattinson proves himself more than capable of taking on the Caped Crusader and can simply be explained as a perfect mix between Michael Keaton’s and Christian Bale’s performances. The film has more interest and focus in seeing the character as Batman rather than Bruce Wayne, which serves the narrative brilliantly. Pattinson’s Batman is unlike others because his fighting skills aren’t perfect and there are moments when he is getting beaten up by thugs. The Batman is a much more violent take on the character, but one that feels more realistic and less like a regular superhero film as it feels as though Batman is just a man wearing a suit who can fight. Pattinson’s Bruce is moody and isolated from the world, despite living in the centre of the city, while his Batman is relentless and will do anything to get to the bottom of the situation. The scene in which Batman confronts the Riddler in Arkham State Hospital is the best in the film as it shows the character break face as he tries to figure out what the villain has planned.

Playing opposite Pattinson is Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman in a turn that feels revolutionary for a character that has been overtly sexualised over the years. Kravitz’s Catwoman is unapologetic in her actions and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it isn’t necessarily the morally right thing. From the moment that Kravitz steps onto the screen, the audience is immediately drawn to her. What is amazing about Kravitz’s performance is how well she develops Selina’s character throughout the film, so her turn never gets boring or loses steam. Not only does she have great chemistry with Pattinson which makes the film gripping to watch in its entirety, but Kravitz’s Catwoman is incredibly strong and capable of asserting her own agency without the need for male assistance or approval, which feels revolutionary and authentic in how it is portrayed onscreen.

The main antagonist in the film is the Riddler, who is played phenomenally by the always fantastic, Paul Dano. In a career that has shown gigantic range, Dano appears to be getting the recognition that he has long deserved from mainstream audiences thanks to his menacing Riddler. It’s an unpredictable performance that shows the same level of dedication and characterisation that he brings to films such as There Will Be Blood and Prisoners. Even when he is not onscreen, his presence is felt through the entire film in the game of cat and mouse thanks to his ability to be a perfect match for Pattinson’s Batman. Dano may not be obvious choice for a superhero villain, but he’s proven that he is more than capable of performing exceptionally well in any genre.

In a film full of brilliant performances it’s difficult to choose which one was best of all, but in this instance, it has to go to Colin Farrell who is completely unrecognisable as the Penguin, a sleezy mobster who helps Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) run Gotham’s crime scene. Although he only has a small role in the film, Farrell is absolutely magnetic and steals every scene he is in. The chase scene between him and Batman is brilliantly executed and highly intense. Farrell has been knocking it out of the park for years and proven that he is a flawless character actor who is able to fully immerse himself into each character he plays. His Penguin doesn’t feel like a caricature, although there are some funny moments, and it’s exciting to see if he will star in the sequel.

The score is composed by Michael Giacchino, who has brought us a slew of iconic soundtracks over the years spanning across various genres including family films such as Ratatouille and Up as well as blockbusters such as Jurassic World and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It only makes sense that someone like Giacchino fits the bill considering his resume, and he delivers his best score in years. The main character theme consists of four hard-hitting notes that have become immediately identifiable. The opening track “Can’t Fight City Halloween” is riveting and atmospheric, instantly transporting the audience into the grime and horror of Gotham City.

The Batman delivers brilliance from start to end thanks to its gritty aesthetic, innovative filming techniques, and incredible characterisation filled with great performances from both the heroes and the villains. Pattinson’s career has gone from strength to strength and with The Batman, he is able to translate his indie successes to a huge blockbuster. Reeves has done a great job of setting up this particular Batman universe, and with the hint of a new villain (probably the Joker) incorporated into the film’s narrative, it’s only a matter of time before we see a sequel to The Batman.

What did you think of The Batman? Let me know in the comments below!

The Batman is available to view in cinemas now!

Top 5 Viola Davis Performances

A reigning Queen of the Silver Screen, Viola Davis is a titan of acting who shows us time and time again that she really is among the best of the best. She is also the first black actress to receive the Triple Crown of Acting. She is renowned for her grace and poise, she fights for what she believes in and only takes on roles that she wants. She is an icon in a number of different ways but for me, it is her passion for acting and determination to get to the heart of her characters that really stands out for me. You can tell that she truly loves what she does and that she puts herself into the characters whether it be an FBI agent in Suicide Squad, the mother of a missing child in Prisoners or a woman broken by a society that cripples her family because of the colour of their skin in Fences. I can’t even begin to say how much I love VIola Davis as an actress and activist

As ever, these posts delve into film performances so even though her inputs in projects such as the TV series How to Get Away With Murder are incredible, they won’t be added in the list. This also makes it a bit easier when picking the performances for my list.

Here are my top 5 performances in chronological order:

Doubt (2008)

The breakthrough performance that cemented Davis’ career onscreen, Doubt is a star-studded film that features iconic stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman, who all received Oscar nominations for their performances. Following Sister Aloysius (Streep) and Sister James (Adams) as they plot to bring down Father Flynn (Hoffman) who is suspected of molesting the school’s first black student. What was the most heartwrenching scene to come from this film was the performance from Viola Davis, an actress who had made her name on TV and the stage but had not broken into the film industry just yet. Her performance as Mrs. Miller, the mother of the abused child, is small but captivating as she struggles with the truth and her faith. It’s a pained performance that holds its ground against three of the best actors in modern times. Davis’ character admits that she would overlook the abuse if it meant that her son could still attend the school and escape from the socioeconomic background that he would be subjected to were he not attending. In one scene she becomes a parent torn by the abuse of secular and religious authorities. She knows that it is a world where they cannot win without suffering and the heartbreak of that realisation sits with you for the duration of the film.

The Help (2011)

Now for the film that solidified Davis as a leading star and should have won her an Academy Award (let’s not even get into that one). I am aware that The Help is a controversial film to put in here and it is completely understandable. The film sadly follows white saviour tropes as Emma Stone’s character, Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, helps to expose the abuse that the black maids in Jackson have received. The maids that she initially speak to are Aibileen Clark (Davis) and Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer) who both provide brilliant performances. I know that sadly these kinds of roles feed into prejudice perceptions of non-white actors who are often delegated to subservient characters. I remember watching this film for the first time and absolutely loving the characters and how much they fight back. The film definitely has its flaws but both Davis and Spencer shine and earn their acclaim. Both characters are brilliantly developed and the scenes with the two of them in are fantastic. Davis has such a presence and says so much with a facial expression. Her performance as Aibileen is a masterclass of acting and only serves as a small step in a huge career.

Prisoners (2013)

This may be an unexpected inclusion into the list but I enjoyed this film a lot. Serving as Denis Villeneuve’s English-language debut, I went into thinking it would be a typical action drama but it was so much more than that. Davis plays Nancy Birch, a woman who’s daughter is kidnapped with her best friend. It’s a film that plays out every parent’s worst nightmare and the lengths one will go to to bring back their child. Davis is maternal, fierce and conflicted when Kevin Dover (Hugh Jackman) who’s daughter also went missing finds a suspect, locks him up and begins to beat him. Nancy is a character who refuses to play by others’ rules and does what feels right to her. Although this is a supporting role, Davis still maintains that strong presence onscreen and brings her A-game in a cast that includes Jackman, Terrence Howard and Jake Gyllenhaal to name a few. Much like the conflict Davis brought in Doubt, it’s hard not to feel affected by her performance. Whereas Jackman and Gyllenhaal fit a traditional “masculine” trope, Davis is the maternal heart but brings a strength that is not often given to women in thrillers. Her involvement shows her desire to work with respected directors and actors and also shows her perseverance to choose roles that help progress to women’s roles in films.

Fences (2016)

The one that brought her all the gongs, Fences is an adaptation of August Wilson’s 1985 play of the same name and directed by her co-star, Denzel Washington, who also brings a career best. Washington refused to divert from WIlson’s script meaning that Wilson is credited as screenwriter and received a posthumous Oscar nomination. Admittedly, Washington’s reluctance to divert from the script does make the film feel a bit too stage-like at times but there is no doubt that this is Davis’ film. I honestly think that they should have gone for the Best Leading Actress awards and she would have won it but the Supporting seemed a “safe” category. She plays Rose Lee Maxson, a woman whose life revolves around satisfying the desires of her husband and their son whose goal is to play baseball. Living in a rundown neighbourhood in a deeply racist society where the odds are stacked against them, Rose does not give up and fights while her husband Troy Maxson delves deeper into madness in his failure to succeed in his American Dream. It’s a highly emotionally charged film that sees Davis go into a different league of acting that is rarely seen. She refuses to be put down by the men she takes care of despite their physical intimidation. Rose is another strong woman that Viola can add to her extensive repertoire.

Widows (2018)

The last blockbuster that Viola starred in saw her take the lead as Veronica Rawlings in Steve McQueen’s fourth feature, Widows which follows four women who plot to carry out a heist after three of their husbands died in a botched job. Veronica is the group leader who draws together the plan using a notebook that her late husband, Harry (Liam Neeson) left in a safety deposit box. The other three women played by Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Enviro and the four together have great characterisation and rapport. It’s a film built on the strength on its performers and Davis leads with ease. It’s refreshing to see such a strong action-based role which would traditionally be taken by a white male instead being portrayed by a black woman. The film is fearless and knows its strength. Veronica is one of the best female characters in recent years. She’s deeply complex as a grieving widow, a mother who’s son was wrongly murdered due to racism in authority and a woman who knows what she has to do to survive. She shields her fragility and fuels the operation with her persistence.

I am so excited to see where Viola’s career will go next. Even in films like Suicide Squad, she was a shining star to me. She’s an actress who is consistent, likeable and bankable. She is one of the key figures to pushing for more strong female characters in film and constantly talks about the importance of women in film.

What Viola Davis film is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!