The Batman (2022) is a masterpiece directed by Matt Reeves. This movie redefined what was possible in the likes of comic book movies and created what is arguably the best superhero movie ever made. 

The Batman is a Neo-Noir film set in Gotham, the fantasy city Batman protects. We follow the story of Bruce Wayne, a reclusive billionaire orphan, and his alter ego, Batman, a broken vigilante as he tries to make sense of the mystery of the Riddler and his murders of big political figures around the city. Through all the corruption in politics, the greed of mob leaders, and moral questions presented by an honest psychopath, we begin to understand the psychology of a grieving hero and gain a sense of wonder at the determination of a single man in a world full of seemingly endless evil.

The cinematography in this film is some of the best work films have ever seen. Cinematographer Greig Fraser created a unique look for The Batman, with a Noir framework to base it on. He had lenses purposely detuned to create a blur around the corners and sides of the frame, focusing our attention on the center of the scene with the background out of focus. Often raindrops are shown on the very lens of the camera to further immerse the viewer into the universe, a bold and effective move. The angles of many of the shots in this film are unique, often ground up or weirdly focused because of the angle, but it works extremely well in setting a realistic tone to each scene. This is a risk people don’t take often enough because the result can be just this good.

The soundtrack of The Batman is unique, composed by Michael Giacchino directly compliments the cinematography with its monotone style alongside the Neo Noir film techniques used by Greig Fraser to create feelings of unrest throughout the film. Batman’s theme is subtle, but easy to pick out and distinctly his, and it carries a heavy weight because of how somberly powerful it sounds. It is one of the best themes in the sense that it reflects exactly the mental state of the person it is associated with.

Matt Reeves wanted to create an “unsettling” Batman, different from all the Batman depictions we have ever seen. The Batman (2022) needed to make a world so corrupt, so flawed, and so dirty that Batman could be the clearest, most fitting contrast to the city of Gotham. This aspiration for a believable Batman is nearly impossible, but with the casting of Robert Pattinson as the hero, and a compelling femme fatale of Catwoman being Zoe Kravitz, the cinematography of Greig Fraser and the music of Michael Giacchino, as well as a wonderfully skilled production team, this film came together to create a true masterpiece.  

  

Tate is a staff reporter.

Edited by Asha