Warning: This post contains spoilers for The Batman.
The Batman looks a lot different than previous live-action films about the Dark Knight and that sets it apart, but why is it also so blurry? Directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay by him and Peter Craig, The Batman is a crime mystery following the title character as he establishes himself as a hero in Gotham City.
The Batman looks and sounds great, but viewers may have noticed there are some scenes where the background is somewhat fuzzy. Greig Fraser’s cinematography is beautiful, but the blurriness becomes noticeable in scenes that are focused on close-ups on Batman and Catwoman’s faces — as well as any other character — and the background gets slightly out of focus. In a scene depicting Batman standing in front of a wall of newspaper clippings, the word “lies,” written across in blood by The Riddler, and the board look a bit hazy, whereas Batman, his Batsuit and features, are awash in cutting, lighted detail. In another scene, Batwoman and Catwoman are standing very close to each other while talking. Behind them, audiences can make out the Gotham skyline, but the buildings and the sky aren’t rendered with as much clarity as its central subjects in the foreground.
The blurry, out-of-focus images are likely due to the fact that The Batman was filmed using Arri Alexa LF anamorphic camera lenses, giving the film a soft bokeh effect, which is used to draw attention to and away from whatever is shown onscreen. That could mean making images in the background sharper or, in the case of The Batman, ensuring the characters and the action in the foreground are crystal clear while the rest of the subjects in the scene slightly blur softly without disappearing entirely. The closer things are in The Batman, the smoother and sharper they look, with the lenses giving focus to the vertical images at its center. This tactic accentuates the faces of the actors and keeps the audience’s focus on them instead of what may or may not be going on in the background.
Aside from the technical aspects, The Batman having out-of-focus backgrounds highlight the story that is unfolding and, in many instances, enhances the intensity. A scene involving The Riddler attacking District Attorney Gil Colson is filmed from the exterior and the car blurring slightly while the sounds within the vehicle intensify add to the dark, unsettling tone of the film. If something is crucial to the story, such as a clue that has to be read or a digital conversation in an empty warehouse, the camera lenses used make sure to keep the audience’s eyes on what is important throughout the story. Just as the Caped Crusader has a clear focus when trying to solve The Riddler’s many clues, the technical aspects of The Batman are just as honed in on what’s important.
How a film looks plays an important role and The Batman is an example of how much of a difference it makes to its aesthetic and story. Some moviegoers may not like the fact The Batman’s background can be blurry (it’s not too noticeable, though), but it works in the context of its narrative and characters.
