7 Gorgeous Cinematography Details In The Movie

7 Gorgeous Cinematography Details In The Movie

As The Batman’s cinematographer, Greig Fraser had the task of bringing Gotham City to life. Rainy visuals of Gotham’s nights, the recurrent mix of black and red, and alternating between light and shadows, all brought to life a noir-like depiction of Batman’s world that has delighted fans the world over.

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Fraser delivered phenomenal work that not only fits the movie’s bleak tone but creates a unique watching experience. The Batman’s cinematography welcomes the viewer to Gotham City while following Batman in a puzzling, captivating journey.

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Gotham City

A view of Gotham City in The Batman

Gotham City is one of the most famous fictional places ever created, and unsurprisingly it has been portrayed in diverse ways. Greig Fraser took the mix between a real-life New York City and the fictional universe further. Mirroring Times Square, The Batman’s Gotham is lightened up by ads and neon signs amidst the bleak, rainy night.

Neither too futuristic nor too vintage, the place seems modern without losing the old-fashioned charm of the original ’30s aesthetic. This first glimpse at Gotham City looks like it was a panel taken from a Batman comic book, which brilliantly creates the movie’s unique atmosphere.

The Mask

The Batman’s color palette includes the massive presence of a vibrant red, present in different contexts in the film, from the Iceberg Lounge to the glances at Batman’s costume, creating a stunning red-and-black mix. As the red light shines upon the mask in this shot, it’s possible to see the visible stitching in the Dark Knight’s accessory more clearly.

The brilliance of this scene comes from the fact that the color accompanies Batman in his inner turmoil between facing the world through vengeance or choosing hope, the film’s central theme. This detail-oriented cinematography is one of the aspects that makes The Batman one of the best movies of the 2020s so far.

Edward Nashton At The Cafe

Fraser’s cinematography offers several details that only make The Batman more enjoyable rewatch after rewatch. This far and blurred shot of Edward Nashton makes the cafe stand out while highlighting a peculiar tone of blue unusual to the movie’s color palette, but not at all accidental.

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The scene rings a bell to Edward Hopper’s painting “Nighthawks” (1942), as it’s been noticed by several people on Reddit. The Riddler replaces the lonely man seen in the American realist painting, with his position resembling the figure’s, and the cafe’s glass windows, the contrasting lighting, and the dimly lit streetscape are highly reminiscent of Hopper’s artwork.

The Tear

The mask Bruce Wayne wears is one of the most subtle details about Batman’s costume, and its visible stitching is one of the reasons that prove this is the best costume in The Batman. This shot encapsulates the excellent alliance between costume design and cinematography, with a close-up showing the stitching.

The highlight of the classic Batman look, with a particular focus on the tear in his eye, makes this a touching, personal moment that rings true to the superhero in a way he hadn’t been depicted before. All the background is blurred as Fraser invites the audience to see both Batman and Bruce Wayne under the mask.

A Bat In The Night

This location is visited a couple of times in the movie, shown from many angles, but this is the most relevant one. Batman is the center of the screen, resembling a shadow in contrast with the night lights of Gotham City in the background.

Alone and looking like a bat in the night, this is an interesting visual representation of him being the shadows, a statement that’s one of the best quotes in The Batman. Beside him, the bat signal is on, illuminating the night sky as Batman stands in the dark. This shot is also a stunning example of how the movie’s cinematography aligns with the narrative, setting a scene that impacts the viewer and connects them with the Caped Crusader.

Upside Down

DC has been playing with angles, and the results have been nothing but brilliant, from The Suicide Squad’s fighting scene to an upside down-Penguin seeing Batman coming to get him. As Batman approaches the car, this shot alternates with the terrifying look on Oswald Cobblepot’s face.

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The rain falling “upwards” and the explosion in the background add to the intimidating atmosphere of the moment, making this shot phenomenal because of its peculiar angle. On top of that, it’s been pointed out on Twitter that Batman’s pose is reminiscent of the usual position of a bat hanging down. This combination is pivotal proof of the excellent cinematography put in this project.

Beacon Of Hope

The vibrant red reaches its peak at the finale of Reeves’ movie. Shot from above, the Caped Crusader’s costume is seen a shadow surrounded by the yellow and red light, as Batman lights the way leading a crowd into safety.

The red light that had accompanied Batman in his vengeance path is turned into a beacon of hope, creating a visual representation of the shift from the force that drives Bruce Wayne throughout the movie. Among the words to describe The Batman, “gorgeous” is one of them, thanks, notably, to the majestic work of Greig Fraser.

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About The Author

Ana de Castro
(21 Articles Published)

Ana de Castro is a writer, Law graduate, and you’d likely call her a nerd. She was interested in television and movies from a very young age — yes, this was a reference to Succession — and she’s passionate about many great works. She has a picture of Spock on the wall and writes articles with her Funko pops staring at her.

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