Roger Deakins: ‘The Batman’ Had the Best Cinematography of 2022

Roger Deakins, a legendary cinematographer, one of the greatest ever, is saying “the best cinematography [of 2022] wasn’t Oscar-nominated.”

And no, it’s not Claudio Miranda’s work in “Top Gun: Maverick.” Miranda practically won every major critics award, but received no Oscar nomination, nor was he rewarded by the ASC.

Rather, according to Deakins, “It’s “The Batman”. That’s the best work in my view,” he says, heaping praise on Greig Fraser’s “extraordinary” work in Matt Reeves’ movies.

“The reason it wasn’t is pure and simple: snobbery. There’s this unfair tendency to avoid the Marvel universe and the other popular universes,” he says.

Another work, according to Deakins, that should have been nominated was Miranda’s photography in “Top Gun: Maverick” — “It comes down to the work. Good work is good work whatever the genre,” he adds.

Deakins has been nominated 16 times for an Oscar and again this year for his work on Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light”. He’s won twice before — for “Blade Runner 2049” and “1917”.

Deakins is not being predicted to win tonight. The race seems to be between James Friend (“All Quiet on the Western Front”) and Mandy Walker (“Elvis”).

When asked, “Isn’t it about time a woman won the Oscar for best cinematography?” Deakins responded in the correct fashion: “It’s about the work, not the gender,” was his response, though he didn’t deny that such an outcome would be welcome, “but it has to be backed up by the work.”