FILM #22
OF 39
95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE
“THE BATMAN”
FEBRUARY 25, 2023
HBO MAX
DAY 33
OF 48
Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
Makeup & Hairsyling by Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine
Best Sound
Sound Design by Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Visual Effects by Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy
As if Zack Snyder’s take on the DC properties wasn’t dark and dreary enough, Matt Reeves delivers an even darker and bleaker look at the city of Gotham. With Robert Pattison taking the helm of a much younger Bruce Wayne, the Dark Knight takes to the streets on his motorcycle, trying to dole out vengeance for the decaying city. The big bad of the story is the Riddler, played by Paul Dano, looking to exact some revenge of his own. He’s targeting the city’s corrupt officials and creating puzzles for Batman with the crime scenes.
Unlike most depictions of the Caped Crusader, this iteration walks alongside James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) down hallways filled with police officers. Even though they don’t like him, they stand next to him when they have no better options. Along the journey to catch the Riddler, Batman crosses paths with the lovely and dangerous Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), played expertly by the scene-stealing Zoe Kravitz. She’s deeply weaved into the drama unfolding during the fallout of the Riddler attacks and accusations. Colin Farrell plays the Penguin, a nightclub owner with aspirations of being a more significant crime boss than Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). All the evidence you need that “The Batman” deserves an Oscar is seeing Farrell disappear into the makeup of the Penguin, as he is wholly unrecognizable.
Despite the stark nature of the film, there are redeemable qualities that keep you invested. The score by Michael Giacchino is masterful, bringing power to the gloom. The visual effects surpass expectations, as the Batmobile spews blue flames and jumps through an exploding truck pileup on the freeway, most of which are practical effects. Even getting to see Andy Serkis play a conventional role is a draw.
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
Naomi Donne
| 94th Academy Awards (2021) | Best Makeup and Hairstyling | “Cruella” | Nominee |
| 92nd Academy Awards (2019) | Best Makeup and Hairstyling | “1917” | Nominee |
Mike Marino
| 94th Academy Awards (2021) | Best Makeup and Hairstyling | “Coming 2 America” | Nominee |
Mike Fontaine
| First-time nominee |
Stuart Wilson
| 92nd Academy Awards (2019) | Best Sound Mixing | “1917” | WINNER |
| 90th Academy Awards (2017) | Best Sound Mixing | “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” | Nominee |
| 89th Academy Awards (2016) | Best Sound Mixing | “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” | Nominee |
| 88th Academy Awards (2015) | Best Sound Mixing | “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” | Nominee |
| 85th Academy Awards (2012) | Best Sound Mixing | “Skyfall” | Nominee |
| 84th Academy Awards (2011) | Best Sound Mixing | “War Horse” | Nominee |
William Files
| First-time nominee |
Douglas Murray
| First-time nominee |
Andy Nelson
| 94th Academy Awards (2021) | Best Sound | “Westside Story” | Nominee |
| 89th Academy Awards (2016) | Best Sound Mixing | “La La Land” | Nominee |
| 88th Academy Awards (2015) | Best Sound Mixing | “Bridge of Spies” | Nominee |
| Best Sound Mixing | “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” | Nominee | |
| 85th Academy Awards (2012) | Best Sound Mixing | “Les Misérables” | WINNER |
| Best Sound Mixing | “Lincoln” | Nominee | |
| 84th Academy Awards (2011) | Best Sound Mixing | “War Horse” | Nominee |
| 82nd Academy Awards (2009) | Best Sound Mixing | “Avatar” | Nominee |
| Best Sound Mixing | “Star Trek” | Nominee | |
| 79th Academy Awards (2006) | Best Sound Mixing | “Blood Diamond” | Nominee |
| 78th Academy Awards (2005) | Best Sound Mixing | “War of the Worlds” | Nominee |
| 76th Academy Awards (2003) | Best Sound Mixing | “The Last Samurai” | Nominee |
| Best Sound Mixing | “Seabiscuit” | Nominee | |
| 74th Academy Awards (2001) | Best Sound | “Moulin Rouge” | Nominee |
| 72nd Academy Awards (1999) | Best Sound | “The Insider” | Nominee |
| 71st Academy Awards (1998) | Best Sound | “Saving Private Ryan” | WINNER |
| Best Sound | “The Thin Red Line” | Nominee | |
| 70th Academy Awards (1997) | Best Sound | “L.A. Confidential” | Nominee |
| 69th Academy Awards (1996) | Best Sound | “Evita” | Nominee |
| 68th Academy Awards (1995) | Best Sound | “Braveheart” | Nominee |
| 66th Academy Awards (1993) | Best Sound | “Schindler’s List” | Nominee |
| 61st Academy Awards (1988) | Best Sound | “Gorillas in the Mist” | Nominee |
Dan Lemmon
| 90th Academy Awards (2017) | Best Visual Effects | “War for the Planet of the Apes” | Nominee |
| 89th Academy Awards (2016) | Best Visual Effects | “The Jungle Book” | WINNER |
| 87th Academy Awards (2014) | Best Visual Effects | “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” | Nominee |
| 84th Academy Awards (2011) | Best Visual Effects | “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” | Nominee |
Russell Earl
| 92nd Academy Awards (2019) | Best Visual Effects | “Avengers: Endgame” | Nominee |
| 91st Academy Awards (2018) | Best Visual Effects | “Avengers: Infinity War” | Nominee |
| 87th Academy Awards (2014) | Best Visual Effects | “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” | Nominee |
| 82nd Academy Awards (2009) | Best Visual Effects | “Star Trek” | Nominee |
| 80th Academy Awards (2007) | Best Visual Effects | “Transformers” | Nominee |
Anders Langlands
| 93rd Academy Awards (2020) | Best Visual Effects | “Mulan” | Nominee |
| 88th Academy Awards (2015) | Best Visual Effects | “The Martian” | Nominee |
Dominic Tuohy
| 92nd Academy Awards (2019) | Best Visual Effects | “1917” | WINNER |
| Best Visual Effects | “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” | Nominee | |
| 91st Academy Awards (2018) | Best Visual Effects | “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” | Nominee |
When a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city’s hidden corruption and question his family’s involvement.
Directed by Matt Reeves
Warner Bros. Pictures
March 4, 2022
176 minutes
ACCOLADES
BAFTA Awards — Best Make Up & Hair (Nominee)
BAFTA Awards — Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects (Nominee)
Saturn Awards — Best Make-Up (Nominee)
Chicago Indie Critics Awards — Best Makeup [Winner]
Chicago Indie Critics Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Cinema Audio Society Awards — Sound Mixing/Live Action (Nominee)
CinEuphoria Awards — Best Sound/Sound Efects/Intl Competition [Winner]
CinEuphoria Awards — Best Make-Up/Intl Competition (Nominee)
CinEuphoria Awards — Best Special Effects/Intl Competition (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards — Best Hair & Makeup (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Makeup and Hair Styling [Winner]
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Sound (Nominee)
Gold Derby Awards — Makeup/Hair (Nominee)
Gold Derby Awards — Sound (Nominee)
Gold Derby Awards — Visual Effects (Nominee)
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards — Best Makeup [Winner]
Hollywood Critics Ass. Creative Arts Awards — Best Hair and Makeup (Nominee)
Hollywood Critics Ass. Creative Arts Awards — Best Sound (Nominee)
Hollywood Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist Guild Awards — Best Contemporary Makeup (Nominee)
Hollywood Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist Guild Awards — Best Special Makeup Effects (Nominee)
Hollywood Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist Guild Awards — Best Contemporary Hair Styling(Nominee)
Hollywood Professional Ass. Awards — Outstanding Sound (Nominee)
Hollywood Professional Ass. Awards — Outstanding Visual Effects (Nominee)
Houston Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Intl Online Cinema Awards — Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Nominee)
Intl Online Cinema Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Latino Ent. Journalists Ass. Film Awards — Best Hair and Makeup (Nominee)
Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards — Best Sound Work (Nominee)
Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards — Best Special Effects (Nominee)
Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards — Best Costume and Makeup (Nominee)
Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards — Sound Editing (Dialogue/ADR) (Nominee)
Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards — Sound Editing (Effects/Foley) (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Hair and Makeup (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Sound Design (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Special Effects (Nominee)
Satellite Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Visual Effects Society Awards — Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature (Nominee)
Visual Effects Society Awards — Outstanding Virtual in a CG Project (Nominee)
Visual Effects Society Awards — Compositing and Lighting in a Feature (Nominee)
Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “The Whale”
2. “Elvis”
3. “The Batman”
4. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
5. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Elvis”
2. “The Whale”
3. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
4. “The Batman”
5. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
Best Sound
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Top Gun: Maverick”
2. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
3. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
4. “Elvis”
5. “The Batman”
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Elvis”
2. “Top Gun: Maverick”
3. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
4. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
5. “The Batman”
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
2. “Top Gun: Maverick”
3. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
4. “The Batman”
5. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
2. “Top Gun: Maverick”
3. “The Batman”
4. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
5. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
