I’ve spoken endlessly about why The Batman is my all-time favourite live-action Batman film (or, thus far, at the very least, since there are many upcoming DC motion pictures to sit up for). I like Robert Pattinson’s intense efficiency as Bruce Wayne, the astonishing motion sequences, Gotham’s grim design, and the truth that the 2022 movie lastly places the Darkish Knight in a real detective story.
There may be additionally one factor from Matt Reeves’ comedian e book crime epic that’s decidedly minor within the grand scheme of issues, however proved to be a significant reduction for me and different BatFans. Now that I do know who’s answerable for this element, I want to present my appreciation.
Robert Pattinson’s Lingering Eye Make-up In The Batman Was Mattson Tomlin’s Thought
Viewers might recall how, in The Batman, anytime Bruce Wayne returns from an evening out lurking the streets of Gotham Metropolis, the black eye shadow he wears beneath his cowl stays on his face. Mattson Tomlin, who did some uncredited script revisions on the movie, confirmed in an X publish that he was the brains behind this visible element. Try the publish right here:
Sure. Once I was younger I seen that when Batman takes off his masks the attention make-up is gone and it broke the spell for me. I’d had a picture in my head for 20 years of how loopy he would look with the make-up and once I pitched it to Matt he cherished it. https://t.co/dBanKvPKm4July 31, 2025
There might not be a extra essential element contributing to The Batman’s repute as probably the most grounded comedian e book movies of its time than this, and it makes me proud to see Tomlin formally credited as Reeves’ co-writer on the Batman Half II screenplay, which was completed in June. Now, on the prospect that you’re confused over why I’ve such a excessive opinion of the movie acknowledging eye make-up as a part of Batman’s costume, enable me to clarify.
Why It Issues That The Make-up Stays On In The Batman
There isn’t any such cowl that would comfortably or virtually match completely to the contours of Batman’s eyes, which is why it has at all times been essential that Bruce Wayne masks that recognizable space of his face with eye shadow. But, nearly any time he’s seen eradicating the cowl in a comic book e book or display adaptation, the make-up is one way or the other absent.
One of the crucial broadly scrutinized examples of this comes from 1992’s Batman Returns, through which Bruce (Michael Keaton, arguably the best live-action Batman actor), who’s clearly sporting the attention shadow underneath his rubber cowl, rips it off to disclose the make-up has magically disappeared. Talking as somebody who loves the Tim Burton motion pictures, this scene has at all times irritated me. So, it ought to go with out saying how a lot I appreciated that The Batman not solely reveals black circles round Pattinson’s eyes after he removes his cowl, however even reveals a glimpse of him making use of the make-up early on.
This previous Halloween, my spouse and I went dressed as Catwoman and Batman, and I made positive to incorporate the attention shadow as a part of my outfit. The variety of compliments I obtained for my costume ought to present sufficient proof for why it’s important to Bruce’s after-hours ensemble and why Mattson Tomlin deserves the reward he has obtained for this addition to The Batman. I’m trying ahead to seeing what different contributions to the Darkish Knight’s lore he might usher in The Batman Half II, which comes out in 2027, and, hopefully, in lots of extra upcoming superhero motion pictures.