Pop culture is the sharpest reflection of reality, allowing for critical analysis to show us our own selves, from the renegades to the stereotypes. This past week saw the debut of ‘Barbenheimer’, and pop culture is shining for us all.
While I haven’t seen either Barbie or Oppenheimer, I will see both. I know the historical reference points of both films, in a broad way, and, most importantly, the internet has shown me time and time again that you need not know much of something to speak about it. So welcome to today’s post.
What I have enjoyed tremendously since their debut last week is the profound amount of commentary coming from all corners of the internet about both films.
On first glance, the head-to-head match up of a movie about a toy and a movie about a bomb consultant would easily categorize the viewers of said films as either vapid or morbid.
Y’all, we’re all a little bit of both.
But really, coming from a place where we’re all in post-pandemic depression, I am not surprised to see the huge amount of tickets sold for Barbie, which has been expertly marketed as vibrant, fun, and kind of smart.
The above image is credited to Warner Bros. Pictures/ Universal Pictures
From what I saw, there was a backlash against Barbie from its inception, because there will always be people who rail against the color pink, commercialization, and movies made about toys. Then there are those who can’t stomach the idea of a film about a female lead, directed by a female, probably making feminist commentary— and watching the people who take issue with all that squirm at its success has been the greatest joy. Since breaking box office records over last weekend, the hyper conservative talking heads are declaring a ban on Barbie. However, just look at the sheer number of people willing to embrace all the pink! Also, c’mon, it’s Greta Gerwig at the helm. Go watch Lady Bird if you haven’t, it’s the perfect coming-of-age vibe. She’s a master, and I’m willing to see anything she makes. I’m a fangirl with no shame.
As for Oppenheimer, it’s Christopher Nolan’s brainchild. It will be thrilling, and dark, and no doubt pinpoints the more interesting psychological aspects of a story not spoken about too often, because mass murder weapons with a dicey history on US soil are often not brought up in polite conversation. The reviews point to stellar acting, Swiss-watch precision storytelling, and a vivid sense of horror brushed on the whole film as a recipe for success. There is chatter about how we shouldn’t glorify this sort of historical decimation or forget about the wrongs we’ve made as a nation, but I also know there can be deep learning from movies with historical reference, and I trust Mr. Nolan to be responsible with the material. I look forward to seeing it, in all its cataclysmic glory.
As a side note, I get why the gun-loving faction of this American country of ours would prefer seeing a theatrical think-piece about the father of the A-bomb over watching Margot Robbie… no. Nevermind. I do not understand. Except for the aforementioned issues one may take with the pink-ness of it all. Even then, a color palette alone should not be enough to deter a person from watching Margot Robbie. It seems, from the box office numbers, fewer people are bothered by pink than some would lead you to believe.
So I will see both, and I will relish the ongoing conversations and reviews of both films from now until the internet finds something more fascinating to fixate upon. And I deeply, deeply hope there will be a resolution in favor of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA— not least because I enjoy movies, but mostly because it is kind of obscene to have people fighting for fair pay and rights in the year 2023. Maybe ‘Barbenheimer’ is the experience we all need to move that conversation forward.
Let me know if you’ve been to the movies lately, and what you’re loving (or not).
Thank you for being here.
Even though I'm a fan of Greta Gerwig, I will probably miss Barbie. "Oppenheimer", I will probably check out, as it's more my speed. I really liked "Dunkirk", among other Nolan films (except "Inception" which was just ok). The last great film I saw...I'd have to go back to 2015 - "The Big Short" which was OUTSTANDING. It was the same year that "Spotlight" won the Oscar for Best Picture, and I liked that a lot too. So...kind of humdrum movie years since then.