The Batman Review: 7 Ups & 2 Downs

3. Other Supporting Characters Soar

It's another compliment to The Batman that this article has gone so deep without mentioning Colin Farrell as The Penguin or Jeffrey Wright's role as Jim Gordon once. Both star in notable scenes throughout the run time, but it's especially amazing that characters as important as Penguin don't actually dominate.

Think about that for a second!

Reeves could've framed the entire movie around just one villain, and had Farrell steal the show. The fact he didn't puts Batman in even more danger (there's a 'Bruce Wayne vs. The World' element to proceedings that rocks) and helps sell the idea that everyone in Gotham doubts the Bat.

Special mention for Wright. His skills raise the typically-curmudgeonly Gordon up a notch, and make him more than a sideshow irritant in Batman's personal fight against crime. Unlike Alfred, these characters are fleshed out enough to make them valuable to the plot whilst still keeping enough in reserve for inevitable sequels.