"THE Batman" Matt Reeves x Keishi Otomo "same age" director special conversation complete version [Director's Interview Vol.194]

`` Cloverfield/HAKAISHA '' (2008), which attracted attention as a mockumentary-style panic movie, ``Rise of the Planet of the Apes' ' (2014), and ``War for the Planet of the Apes '' (2014), a ``renewed' ' version of ``Planet of the Apes ''. Director Matt Reeves has brought new surprises with every release of his works, including (17). Many movie fans were excited when they heard that he was taking on the role of Batman movie.

``THE Batman'', which is currently being released as a big hit in Japan, is a tough, high-quality work that is full of surprises that are typical of him. Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson), in his second year as Batman, pursues the Riddler (Paul Dano), a serial killer who terrorizes Gotham City.

Director Keishi Otomo, who sparked a revolution with the Rurouni Kenshin series, was the first to respond to this work. Director Otomo, who is coincidentally the same age as Reeves (born in 1966), said that he sensed the smell of Hollywood movies of the 1970s, represented by American New Cinema.

Now, a special conversation between the two directors has been held. We will deliver a large volume of the complete version of Director Reeves' ingenuity brought out from director Otomo's unique point of view.

Index

• American New Cinema created by both directors of the same age.
• I definitely didn't want to tell the story of Batman's birth.
• Batman's appearance was inspired by David Lynch.
• Lighting that creates darkness and innovative Gotham City obsessions
• Batman and the Riddler are two sides of the same coin.
• Actions must be driven by emotion
• Batman's strength lies in his failures.

American New Cinema created by both directors of the same age.

Otomo: Actually, Director Matt and I are the same age, and our birthdays are two weeks apart. After watching ``THE Batman,'' I felt that we all grew up watching similar movies and admiring them.

Reeves: Really! What kind of works has Director Otomo seen?

Otomo: The films that I've watched and have attached to this film are American new cinema such as `` The Godfather '' (1972) and `` Taxi Driver '' (1976). Rather than using flat lighting designed with TV in mind, they used shadows to compete, and instead of giving their emotions to the winners, they sympathized with the feelings of the losers...

Furthermore, the inner complexity of the characters. This work really conveys the intention of depicting a human drama based on the idea that ``human beings are not black and white,'' which is the complete opposite of hero movies, which tend to be easy to understand.

Reeves: All of the director's recent films such as `` Morse '' (10) and ``Planet of the Apes'' are genre films, but the films that I was aiming for early in my career were exactly the 70's films that Otomo was famous for. It was influenced by. A personal story that depicts the complexity of human life... At first, I never imagined that I would make a movie like the one I am currently working on (lol).

However, I have long thought that even in a blockbuster work like THE Batman, there must be a methodology for depicting personal matters. In fact, I think the theme of Batman is perfect for depicting the complexities of humanity and the inner lives of individuals. I was really lucky to be approached this time.

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Otomo: That said, I think there must have been a tremendous amount of pressure when taking on a series as long-established as Batman. As a fellow creator, I would like to hear how you overcame the pressure.

Reeves: I think it's necessary to approach it with a certain level of reasonable fear. The reason Batman has a history of 80 years is because the stories are so powerful, and there have been some great Batman movies made over the years. So even though I felt the same fear, it was a good fear.

If we continue to do what we have always done, it will be a failure, and if we fail to show that we are ambitious, that will also be a failure. Other directors have set their ambitions and succeeded spectacularly, so in that sense it's the ultimate challenge.

With so many great Batman movies already out there, how can you make something different? What can we do to make a great movie? It was a mixture of a certain level of elation and a healthy level of fearlessness.

I definitely didn't want to tell the story of Batman's birth.