Is ‘The Batman’ the First 2023 Oscar Contender?
variety.comClayton Davis As one Oscar season comes to a close, another opens (at least to speculation) with Matt Reeves’ newest take on the Batman franchise starring Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano and Colin Farrell.The director and co-writer (along with Peter Craig) delivers a dark take on the world’s greatest detective as he battles villains the Riddler, the Penguin and (sorta, but not really) Catwoman.
Receiving positive reviews from critics, will this new take on the Caped Crusader land major Oscar attention — including best picture — following in the footsteps of “Black Panther” (2017) and “Joker” (2019)?But with a limited sense of what the rest of 2022 will have to offer the cinematic landscape, there are certainly two spots well worth considering “The Batman” for recognition: cinematography and original score.
The camerawork, executed by two-time nominee Greig Fraser, is divine, framing an intimate and tension-filled experience that only a master of his caliber can achieve.
In fact, with the film set to open in theaters this Friday, his work may end up pushing him over this year’s Oscar finish line with his nomination for “Dune.” The Australian DP has also been nominated for Garth Davis’ “Lion” (2016).Composer Michael Giacchino is no stranger to the Oscar world.
Read more on variety.com