Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima weighs in on Robert Pattinson’s performance in The Batman but, in true Kojima fashion, not in the way one would expect.
In a Twitter breakdown, Kojima commended director Matt Reeves for filming Pattinson in a way that allowed the actor’s physique to tell its own story. “Robert’s own presence and acting ability are excellent, but the director has a good way of showing it,” the video game developer said. “The scene in which he pushes a heavy object indoors with his upper body naked. Here, he gives the impression of flexible back muscles like a ballet dancer, not hard muscles from muscle training and protein soaking.” Kojima also noted a scene wherein Bruce is wearing sunglasses despite being indoors.
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Here, he gives the impression of flexible back muscles like a ballet dancer, not hard muscles from muscle training and protein soaking. Also, the breakfast scene with Alfredo. He looks dazzled and makes him wear sunglasses even though he is indoors.— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) March 14, 2022
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But in Gotham City this time, it is dark even during the daytime, so it is not necessary. Or is it a homage to “Twilight” in which he is dazzling because he is a vampire?— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) March 14, 2022
Kojima went on to analyze what this take on Bruce Wayne thematically signified, comparing it to previous on-screen portrayals of Bruce Wayne’s muscles. “Usually, they show his muscles during training scenes, or the naked during shower scenes or when healing wounds in the washroom (like stitching scenes),” he said. “Normally, they would show him wearing sunglasses while driving a convertible car during the daytime. But in Gotham City this time, it is dark even during the daytime, so it is not necessary.” Kojima also suggested that Pattinson was homaging his infamous portrayal of Edward Cullen in Twilight.
Pattinson has previously explained that in his first meeting with Reeves, he admired the director’s withdrawn, Kurt Cobain-like vision for Batman’s alter ego. “He had a really interesting take,” the actor said. “It was Kurt Cobain, Nirvana references, which as soon as he said it, I’m like, ‘Oh! Okay.’ That’s definitely a different angle on Bruce [Wayne] than we’ve ever really seen before.”
Reeves also confirmed that Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” — a song heavily featured in The Batman‘s trailer and theatrical soundtrack — directly inspired Wayne’s behavioral patterns, describing him as a cross between “Gus Van Sant’s Last Days, and the idea of this fictionalized version of Kurt Cobain being in this kind of decaying manor.” Unlike previous Batman incarnations, The Batman sparingly featured Pattinson out of the Batsuit and even demonstrated a more fraught relationship with his butler compared to other Batman/Alfred movie dynamics.
Kojima, who revolutionized the video game industry with his iconic Metal Gear franchise, released his first post-Konami game Death Stranding in 2019 under the developer’s Kojima Productions banner. The game has since received a Director’s Cut for the PlayStation 5 and will presumably be ported to the PC, according to recent leaks.
The Batman is currently in theaters.
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