Halle BerrypraisedAriana Grandefor her recent portrayal of Catwoman with her new video forThe Boy Is Mine. The pop icon’s video has quickly garnered attention both for its inventive story and its striking visual homage to a classic cinematic figure. The track, part of her seventh studio album titledEternal Sunshine, has already drawn over 5.5 million views within a day of its release.
In the video, Grande adopts a homemade costume that closely mirrors the look Michelle Pfeiffer famously donned in Tim Burton’s 1992Batman Returns. The setting is an unnamed city, where Penn Badgley ofYoufame plays a mayor battling a peculiar rat infestation with the help of stray cats. The plot thickens as Grande, smitten with the mayor, tries to weave a love potion into the story.
Berry gave her stamp of approval onX, saying, “Get it, Ari! Living.”
The video is directed by Christian Breslauer, who has become a regular collaborator with Grande. The singer’s video is a seamless blend of dark urban aesthetics and playful storytelling. Breslauer’s direction ensures that every frame captures Grande’s transformation into the feline vigilante with an elegance that echoes Pfeiffer’s original portrayal.
Batman Returns
Batman Returns sees the return of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne after his victory over the Joker. This time, the Dark Knight faces a new threat in the form of The Penguin, an outcast who wants revenge on Gotham City. Featuring Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot, Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman, and Christopher Walken as Max Schreck, Batman Returns is Tim Burton’s second and final movie based on the iconic DC comics character.
Interestingly, the song itself is a creative reinterpretation of the 1998 hit by Brandy and Monica, also titledThe Boy Is Mine. Grande’s version takes this familiar melody and combines it with her video’s narrative, adding a modern twist to a classic tune. Brandy and Monica even make appearances as news reporters in the video.
Grande continues her streak of creating music videos with cinematic references, following her previous works inspired byAll That JazzandEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Each project shows her ability to fuse pop music with cinematic narration, crafting pieces that are as visually engaging as they are musically appealing.
The Evolution of Catwoman Through Cinema’s Lens
Over the years,Catwoman has seen various cinematic incarnations, each evoking a different reaction from viewers. Among these, Tim Burton’sBatman Returnsand the standaloneCatwomanfilm starring Halle Berry stand out for their particularly contrasting receptions.
InBatman Returns, which emerged as a darker and more gothic sequel to its predecessor, the depiction of Catwoman by Michelle Pfeiffer became a memorable highlight. Pfeiffer’s portrayal, coupled with the movie’s bold imagery and Danny Elfman’s haunting score, helped the film achieve both critical acclaim and financial success. It went on to gross over $266 million worldwide against a budget of $80 million, cementing its status as a cult classic within the Batman saga.
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On the other end of the spectrum lies the 2004Catwomanfilm, which unfortunately did not fare as well. Criticized for its underwhelming script and excessive reliance on special effects, the film struggled at the box office, barely scraping together $82 million worldwide against its $100 million budget. Halle Berry’s performance, although earnest, earned her a Razzie Award for Worst Actress, which she famously accepted in person, displaying good humor about the film’s poor reception.
