Richer & Darker Characters Raise This "Batman" Above Expectation

Rating: 9/10 (9 June 2005)

Batman is a long-standing pop culture icon that requires dark treatment because of his fixation on walking the line between justice and revenge as well as the brutal nature of his methods. From "Memento" and the remake of "Insomnia", it's clear that Christopher Nolan knows how to work with these themes and bring about characters that can be simultaneously engaging and repulsive. These are present throughout the film at various levels, but no one gives a soapbox speech about duality. It is a movie about taking action and living with consequence, and Nolan keeps the film's words at its heart. Things happen and characters deal with them. Bruce comes to learn what his new lifestyle and revenge cost, and it is a quiet struggle to him. It is for better and for worse, but it all amounts to solid drama and thrilling dark action. (To put a fine point on it, this is not a "Batman" adventure for children.)
While Batman's origin has received several treatments over the years, this tale moves further into the unexplored territory of his young alter-ego's life between the murder of his parents and the first rooftop adventures in full costume. Through flashbacks, we see a young Bruce Wayne (played by Gus Lewis) grow up into a rebellious, but privileged, adult Bruce (Christian Bale). When he cannot take revenge on those he feels responsible, he travels to learn about and fight criminals, any criminal, anywhere until he finds himself in an Asian prison. He receives early release and an invitation to train with an elite fighting group from Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) who is in the service of Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Wantanabe). As his training ends, Bruce parts ways with his teachers and returns back to his crime-ridden home of Gotham City. Bruce's intent to fight crime is only doubled by his experiences.
The family's loyal Butler, Alfred Pennyworth (a layered portrayal from Michael Caine) has kept the pilot light on in Bruce's absence, and he unflinchingly assists with Bruce's new directions. Bruce moves back into his father's company, and enlists the help of engineering guru Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) for many of the tools in his growing arsenal. With crime being Gotham's primary industry, power rests with Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson) who is being hunted through the legal system by Bruce's childhood friend, idealistic Assistant District Attorney Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) and District Attorney Carlton Finch (Larry Holden). Psychologist Dr. Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy) is working both sides for his own interests as he develops plans as the eerily calculating psychopath, Scarecrow. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) has grown weary of trying to stay honest in a crime-ridden police department and city. Events surrounding this dizzying compilation of characters all come to a head as Batman starts to prowl the night and become publicly known.
It is populated by famous actors, not movie stars. Each actor deserves discussion of their contribution, but there is simply no room. Among the many notable performances is Gus Lewis who brings the full force of childhood Bruce's torment to bear. Tom Wilkinson brings an unexpectedly hard edge to his presence. Alfred is a familiar character, but Michael Caine gives him depth of conscience and gives real hints of what motivates a man to such devote loyalty. Christian Bale displays amazing subtlety as he constructs a character who is a mystery to most of those around him, but lets bits of thought become known to the audience silently and gradually. He is also original and convincing physically and vocally as Batman. The largest surprise among the cast is Katie Holmes. Her movie roles have never quite overcome the typecasting as the "Dawson's Creek" TV love interest. Here she makes you believe that she is one of the few with a clear moral center and tough enough to face hard criminals in court daily.
The universe where this "Batman" takes place is a gritty and realistic one. It isn't as obviously Gothic as Tim Burton's visions in the 1989 and 1992 films with Michael Keaton under the cowl, and it never comes near Joel Schumacher's two primary colored camp-fests that harkened back to the 1960's TV show. The score by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer never soars or trumpets over the events. They get it to hum along like adrenaline pounding blood through your ears. The dialogue in David S. Goyer's script has a natural flow, and in the hands of these talented people, it feels as though anything can and will happen. Settings become set pieces because the characters are there, rather than characters arriving at set pieces for a big scene. The action scenes arrive almost without warning. That isn't to say that there isn't any fun to be had. There are some comic quips for the audience. Then its right back to the story, and it doesn't rupture the overall mood.
Superheroes abound in the cinemas in recent years, and there is no sign of them disappearing anytime soon. Studios garner large masses with the recognizable character names. Film makers seize the opportunity to make spectacular stories of these fantastic heroes as writers plumb the decades-deep piles of pulp fiction for just the right heroic tales. This offers a chance for fans to see their characters in vivid life and for the uninitiated to take a chance on a bit of escapism. Taking chances on the darker and more introverted stories have paid off, and that is the strength of "Batman Begins".
9 out of 10