The Penguin

Who would have thought that the Batman universe could become a given Sopranos TV treatment?

That’s exactly what director Craig Zobel and screenwriter Lauren LeFranc have done in HBO’s latest drama based on the DC Comics character, The Penguin.

Star Colin Farrell is completely unrecognizable, but actually quite spectacular, in the title role.

Forget superhero action and stunts. This Gotham City is a dark noir metropolis, which The Riddler nearly destroyed.

But Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (Colin Farrell reprising his role from the 2022 film) Batman feature) is hungry for power and takes on Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen), the son of crime boss Carmine Falcone (Mark Strong). He will stop at nothing.

Oswald maneuvers between rival crime gangs, the Calzones and the Maroni, and acts as a double agent with a rocky, duplicitous relationship with Sofia Calzone (Cristin Milioti). But Sofia is fierce, deeply distrustful, and a match for all of Gotham’s worst adversaries.

Oswald is aided by a stuttering young street criminal, Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz), who Oswald threatens if he does not become his driver.

“I can help you. I have ambition… I need a chance,” Victor begs for his life.

Also starring are Michael Kelly as underboss Johnny Vitti, Clancy Brown as imprisoned criminal Salvatore Maroni and the enigmatic Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadia Maroni.

There’s a lot to explore here: Colin Farrell’s mesmerizing Tony Soprano/De Niro-esque performance, the unexpected and mutual friendship he has with Victor, or Sofia’s sinister power grab.

There is also a deeper side to Oswald in scenes with his vulnerable but demanding mother (Deirdre O’Connell), whom he can never seem to please, which helps us understand his motivations and flaws, though we don’t necessarily forgive them.

“This city is meant to be yours, darling. What will you do to get it?” she asks.

Director Craig Zobel also surprises with a number of long dialogue scenes that are not typical of the comic book genre. One in the first 10 minutes of the series totals about 7 minutes.

Yet The Penguin rises above its comedic roots. Mafia-style violence wouldn’t be out of place in a Scorsese film. Kalina Ivanov’s production design combines the underbelly of New York as Gotham with modern demands like iPhones without being jarring. Dark humor is sprinkled throughout the soundtrack – wait for Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5….

But this is Colin Farrell’s triumph, with his character, in almost every scene, so memorably jutting out of the suit and prosthetics that you almost feel sympathy for his cause. Almost.

The Penguin will be shown on Friday 20th September on Binge and then every Monday from 30th September at 1.30pm on Showcase.