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a14 people & arts
Tuesday 1 March 2022
Gloomy nights for the Dark Knight in 'The Batman'

By JAKE COYLE scene he's been sneaked
AP Film Writer into by detective Gordon
Batman, never a day per- (a fabulous, melancholy
son, is plunged into perpet- Jeffrey Wright). It's a frame-
ual night in Matt Reeves' work — a Batman of ques-
nocturnal, nihilist, neo-noir tionable vision and even
take on the Caped Cru- more dubious self-aware-
sader. ness hunting clues — that
Reeves' three-hour-long makes "The Batman" a dis-
"The Batman" includes tinctive work separate from
plenty of action, character previous movie iterations of
introductions, gadgets and the character.
other various superhero ac- But as Reeves and co-
coutrement. But it is no ex- writer Peter Craig weave
travaganza. This "Batman" in the antagonists of this
is a morose mood piece, Gotham underworld — a
soaked in shadow and serial killer named Edward
rage, that has stripped the Nashton a.k.a. the Riddler
comic's archetypes down (Paul Dano, leaning into se-
to abstracted silhouettes rial-killer tropes), the crime
and grubbily human char- lord Carmine Falcone (a
acters. If Jim Carrey's Rid- suavely villainous John Tur-
dler were to wander into turro) and a mid-level mob-
this movie, he would fit in This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Zoe Kravitz, left, and Robert Pattinson in a ster Penguin (Colin Farrell,
about as well as Bugs Bun- scene from "The Batman." unrecognizable) — "The
ny in "Taxi Driver." Associated Press Batman" wears other influ-
Scorsese's movie, with Trav- ences, like David Fincher's
is Bickle sneering at societal intonations — "They think abandoned nearly all so- issues. Today, vigilantism is "Seven," more obviously.
collapse, was a prominent I'm hiding in the shadows, cial engagement, instead most associated with cases As firmly gripped as "The
influence on Todd Phil- but I AM the shadows" — tortuously writing a diary like George Zimmerman, Batman" is early on, you
lips' muddled "Joker," but in a stunning, operatic to document the horrors Kyle Rittenhouse and the can feel its hold slipping as it
it may be more so for "The montage set to Nirvana's he witnesses nightly. Pretty fatal shooting of Ahmaud extends into its lengthy run-
Batman," which likewise "Something in the Way." much since Adam West Arbery. "The Batman," ning time, and I think that's
rests on the precarious psy- It's an electric fusion of im- put on the cape and cowl, mobbed with crooked cops partly because Pattinson's
chology of its DC protago- agery and sound, and the Batman has steadily grown and culminating in a terror- performance is largely lim-
nist. Robert Pattinson's is a movie's most fully realized darker. But Pattinson's de- ist plot of masked "fringe- ited to either sudden erup-
young Batman, relatively section. This "Batman" is a spondent Dark Knight takes types," reflects much of our tions of fury or timid skulk-
new to the gig and suffer- dirge. the cake. grim current reality. In the ing in the shadows. For an
ing mightily from the nightly The issue, though, is that The comic blueprint is "Bat- course of the film, Batman's actor who has long stayed
battles with Gotham's most "The Batman," having man: Year One," Frank doubts about who gets to clear of the mainstream, it's
depraved. A feeling of found its tone and immer- Miller and David Mazzuc- mete out justice only grow. thrilling to see him take on
helplessness consumes him, sive atmosphere, wallows chelli's 1987 four-issue series OK, but does Batman, like, something this ambitious.
and a sense that he can in it. There is surprisingly little in which Wayne turns vigi- kick some butt, too? What But Pattinson's talent lies in
never stem the tide. suspense because the film lante. That step — a citizen about the Batmobile? It's his cryptic charisma and
"It's a big city," he says in the struggles to find more than taking up violence in the not all just a seedy slog that's not always a compel-
movie's opening. "I can't be one note (powerful though name of justice — is much through the Gotham sew- ling fit for a three-hour psy-
everywhere." it is) to strike. Even Pattin- the subject of "The Bat- er, is it? Well, almost. "The chological portrait. He's no
Reeves, the "Planet of the son's Bruce Wayne is just man." And while Reeves' Batman" is structured as a chatterbox, this Batman.
Apes" filmmaker, starts as downbeat and grave film is seldom overtly topi- detective story. There's a Zoë Kravitz, however, has a
"The Batman" with numer- as his Batman. Like a Paul cal, it's clearly colored by delightful scene where he, more instant and intimate
ous such gravely voiced Schrader character, he has predominant social justice in costume, stalks a crime bond with the camera.q
Chris Licht appointed as new CNN chief to replace Zucker

NEW YORK (AP) — Chris Li- The appointment was stronger, more innovative
cht, most recently Stephen made by David Zaslav, Dis- and more cohesive."
Colbert's top producer at covery CEO, who is expect- Zucker was forced out ear-
CBS, was appointed Mon- ed to take over the merged lier this month, after admit-
day as the new head of company when Discovery's ting that he had violated
CNN, where he's expected acquisition of CNN parent corporate rules by not re-
to take over in May. WarnerMedia is approved vealing his romantic rela-
Licht's expected appoint- this spring. tionship with a CNN mar-
ment to replace Jeff Zucker Zaslav called Licht a "dy- keting executive, Allison
as chief of CNN was widely namic and creative pro- Gollust. Gollust later exited
reported over the week- ducer, an engaging and the company, too.
end. Before moving into thoughtful journalist, and a Licht, in a statement, prom-
late-night TV, Licht was the true news person." ised to uphold and build
Television producer Chris Licht attends The Hollywood Reporter's chief executive behind the He said Licht is "a highly upon CNN's legacy.
annual Most Powerful People in Media cocktail reception on "CBS This Morning" news principled individual who is "I am looking forward to
April 11, 2019, in New York. program and "Morning trusted, hard-working and returning to my journalism
Associated Press Joe" on MSNBC. makes every organization roots," he said.q