Why THE BATMAN is so beautiful. | A Cinematography Video Essay

Summary

This video delves into the unique cinematography of 'The Batman,' directed by Matt Reeves and shot by Greg Fraser. It highlights the film’s dark, immersive visual style, influenced by 70s crime thrillers and David Fincher’s 'Seven.' Fraser’s use of custom detuned anamorphic lenses, practical lighting, and imperfections like blurring and lens dirt create a gritty, atmospheric look that stands in contrast to the clean, polished aesthetics of modern blockbusters. The video explores how these techniques contribute to the film's raw, visceral feel, offering a fresh perspective on cinematic style.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The Batman is hailed as one of the best-looking comic book films, with a distinctive, immersive, and dark visual style crafted by director Matt Reeves and cinematographer Greg Fraser.
• 📽️ Greg Fraser, known for his work on films like Dune and Rogue One, brings his signature use of anamorphic lenses, shadows, and practical lighting to create a gritty, atmospheric world.
• 🌃 The visual style of The Batman is inspired by 70s crime thrillers, utilizing custom anamorphic lenses to achieve center sharpness with corner falloff, enhancing focus on the middle of the frame.
• 🌑 A key technique is 'dirtying up the frame,' where elements in the background are blurred, and shadows are heavily utilized to heighten suspense and mystery.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The film frequently employs Hitchcockian angles and framing, using silhouettes and point-of-view shots to immerse viewers in Batman's perspective as a detective.
• 🖼️ The Batman draws significant inspiration from David Fincher's Seven, with similarities in lighting, rain usage, and its crime thriller narrative involving a psychopathic serial killer.
• 💡 Natural and practical lighting, like flashlights and lamps, is used extensively to ground scenes in reality without relying heavily on post-production fixes.
• 🌆 Gotham City is portrayed as a gothic, neon-lit, wet and gritty environment, contrasting Nolan’s Gotham, which resembled a more pristine Chicago.
• 🎨 The team enhanced digital cinematography by scanning footage onto 35mm film to add texture, ensuring that scenes had a tactile, immersive feel instead of a clean, overly processed look.
• 📉 Modern superhero films often focus on pristine, clean visuals, but The Batman intentionally embraces imperfections and texture to create a raw, visceral experience.

Q & A

What makes *The Batman* visually distinct from other comic book films?

The Batman stands out due to its unique use of shadows, anamorphic lenses, and the decision to 'dirty up' the frame, which adds texture and imperfection. The film avoids the clean, digital aesthetic typical of many modern blockbusters, instead opting for a darker, grittier look inspired by 70s crime thrillers and David Fincher's *Seven*.

Who were the key figures responsible for the cinematography of *The Batman*?

The film's visual style was crafted by director Matt Reeves and cinematographer Greg Fraser. Fraser, known for his work on *Dune*, *Rogue One*, and *The Mandalorian*, has a reputation for his masterful use of lighting and anamorphic lenses.

What are 'dirtying up the frame' and its significance in *The Batman*?

‘Dirtying up the frame’ is a technique where cinematographers intentionally add imperfections, such as blurring, elements in the foreground, or visual artifacts, to make a scene feel more immersive and textured. In *The Batman*, this technique helps convey atmosphere, tension, and a sense of realism that fits the film’s dark and mysterious tone.

How did Greg Fraser adapt his cinematographic style to fit the tone of *The Batman*?

Fraser used custom ARRI anamorphic lenses that were purposely detuned to create sharpness at the center but falloff around the edges. This draws the viewer’s eye to the middle of the frame and complements the film’s noir-inspired look. He also made extensive use of shadows and practical lights to build mood and atmosphere.

What cinematic inspirations influenced the visual style of *The Batman*?

*The Batman* draws heavily from 70s crime thrillers and David Fincher’s *Seven*. The film’s lighting, use of silhouettes, and rain-soaked, gritty environments all pay homage to these earlier works. Other inspirations include Hitchcock’s visual techniques, which are referenced through the use of perspective shots and off-balance framing.

Why did the team behind *The Batman* decide to use anamorphic lenses?

Anamorphic lenses were used because they provide a vintage look, adding character and texture to the image. This style contrasts the clean, polished look of modern digital lenses, making the film visually distinct and helping it stand out in a crowded genre.

How did the team achieve a gritty and immersive visual texture in *The Batman*?

To create a gritty texture, the filmmakers processed digital footage onto real 35mm film and then re-scanned it. This technique, also used partially in *Dune*, was taken further in *The Batman* to add grain, contrast, and a sense of tangible texture to the imagery.

What role does lighting play in establishing the mood of *The Batman*?

Lighting plays a crucial role in *The Batman*, with colors like red, cyan, and classic sodium vapor oranges and yellows dominating the palette. The use of natural lighting, minimal augmentation, and strategic diffusion helps maintain the film's dark, moody tone while avoiding the overly lit aesthetic of many modern films.

How did Matt Reeves and Greg Fraser incorporate practical effects into *The Batman*?

Reeves and Fraser used practical effects such as real rain, diffusion screens, and even silicone on the lenses to achieve the film’s gritty, immersive look. This approach helps integrate the audience into Gotham City and enhances the feeling of being in a real, lived-in world.

What impact might *The Batman's* cinematography have on future films?

The cinematography of *The Batman* challenges the trend of clean, digital aesthetics and could inspire future films to embrace more texture, imperfection, and practical lighting techniques. If successful, it may push studios to prioritize style and visual storytelling over budget-driven efficiency.