Summary
Robert Pattinson was incredible as Bruce Wayne inThe Batman, and yet there have been some complaints about his character not fully living up to his “World’s Greatest Detective” title – a choice, however, that perfectly suits his arc. The Caped Crusader’s detective skills are on full display throughout the film, especially considering the cat-and-mouse chase narrative which featuresthe Riddler, inspired by the real-life Zodiac killer.
The Batmanleft little to no room for any major criticism, but some have had qualms with the superhero’s “poor” detective skills in the movie. The discourse around the vigilante not being able to solve many clues on his own is exaggerated. Even the mistakes he makes or the clues he misses are a reflection of his inexperience, which is entirely appropriate for this version of the character.
BeforeThe Batman, Bruce Wayne was typically portrayed as mature and evolved, and the last time his youth was explored dates back toChristopher Nolan’sBatman Beginsin 2005. Director Matt Reeves takes this further by depicting a more vulnerable and broken version of the billionaire orphan, almost like an emo teen with trauma listening toNirvana’s “Something in the Way”.
This explains his lack of experience and composure, particularly in his pursuit of the mysterious killer. This arc isn’t just a matter of interpretation, as Reeves himself confirmed ina 2020 interview withNerdist, even before the film was released.
I just felt like well, what I’d love to do is to get a version of this Batman character where he’s not yet fully formed. Where there’s something to do in this context with who that guy would be in this world today, and to ground him in all of these broken ways. Because at the end of the day, this guy is doing all of this to deal with trauma in his past.
Bruce Wayne’s investigative skills inThe Batmancame under scrutiny, particularly since the film distanced itself from the DCEU and solely focused on his comic roots asa detective in Gotham City. The story unfolds like a classic detective procedural around his efforts to decode the Riddler’s messages about his upcoming targets, and interrogate mobsters likeThe Penguinand Carmine Falcone. It’s easy to forget, after so many years, that DC originally stood for Detective Comics, and the vital role of Batman being the World’s Greatest Detective cannot be overstated. However, inThe Batman, the Dark Knight hasn’t quite achieved this “greatness”, being only in his second year of patrolling the streets.
Even before defending the choice to make Batman an imperfect detective, the criticism of his skills in the film is mostly baseless, as he successfully solves several riddles throughout. Even if the character struggles to stay ahead ofPaul Dano’s Riddler, he often stays ahead of everyone else at a crime scene – something that’s expected from a great detective. While he does get some help from other characters, like how Alfred helps him decipher “Drive,” it’s unfair to say he never figures things out on his own. Batman initially gets the “You Are El Rata Alada” riddle wrong, but he eventually realizes his mistake during his interrogation of Penguin and deduces that “You Are El” translates to “URL”, which leads him to Riddler’s website.
Another example of Batman correcting his mistakes is when he initially overlooks the tool Riddler used to kill the Mayor. However, Officer Martinez helps him there, and he quickly uses it to rip off the carpet and find the password to Riddler’s video. Even if it’s too late to stop the bombs, he manages to thwart Riddler’s henchmen. This goes to show how Batman’s journey is not just about solving riddles, but also about overcoming his false assumptions and mistakes along the way.
On a cinematic level, this delayed realization is an example of The Detective’s Curse, a classic noir trope where the solution to the mystery has been right under the detective’s nose all along. Moreover, Batman connects deeply with audiences because he is human and lacks superpowers. Similarly, a detective must also have flaws; otherwise, the audience may feel disconnected from their journey. So, it’s only right that he experiences setbacks in the investigation, like whenRiddler succeeds in killing Falcone, which makes Batman more relatable and believable.
Despite his youth and inexperience, this Batman always has a plan of attack and seems reasonably prepared. This arc sets the stage when he returns toThe Batman Part II, where his detective skills will be put to a better test with higher stakes. Scheduled for release on June 19, 2025, Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne is likely to be seen with a more resolved and calculated approach, minimizing errors in his judgment.
The Batman
Directed by the visionary Matt Reeves, Robert Pattinson plays a dark, gritty and tormented caped crusader, looking to save his home from the corruption that eats at it, and the criminals looking to destroy it. With a stellar cast of Andy Serkis, Zoe Kravitz, Collin Farrell and Jeffrey Wright, The Batman takes a new approach to Gotham’s protector, one not seen since the Nolan trilogy.
