The Magnificence Of Barbenheimer
It feels surreal that two major blockbusters are doing so well at the theatre, specifically ones that aren’t connected to a superhero universe. Though we had glimpses of non-superhero blockbusters doing well last year—i.e. Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar—it’s nice to see that trend continue with Barbie and Oppenheimer.
I imagine both films would’ve done okay without the internet hype behind the pair, but this Barbenheimer declaration is definitely helping. I wouldn’t be surprised if more studios try to replicate this marketing technique in the future–who knows how many will succeed with that endeavor.
In case you’re not online or are unaware for whatever reason, Barbenheimer gained traction on social media ahead of the concurrent theatrical premiere of two major films, Barbie and Oppenheimer, on July 21, 2023, across the United States and various other countries. Hence, the phrase Barbenheimer which is a fusion of the two movie titles (duh).
The stark contrast between Barbie, a whimsical comedy directed by Greta Gerwig centered around the iconic fashion doll, and Oppenheimer, a gripping biographical thriller directed by Christopher Nolan portraying physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the development of the first nuclear weapons during World War II, makes the phenomenon all the more intriguing.
I had the pleasure of watching both this past weekend—Barbie on Saturday and Oppenheimer Sunday—and loved both. They’re both fantastic accomplishments in their own right–Barbie managing to tell such an emotional story amidst a fantastical comedic world and Oppenheimer being so dense yet entertaining without boring the audience throughout its three-hour runtime.
If I had to pick, I enjoyed Oppenheimer more, but both went above my expectations. Barbie is an easy watch that’s brilliantly done, funny, and executed very well. If I’m being critical or am feeling edgy (why), not all of the comedic moments worked for me, and the middle of the film felt a bit rushed. Still, that’s not to take away from such a good movie.
On the other end, Oppenheimer is a monumental technical achievement, with Nolan claiming there to be zero CGI in the entire film (upon watching it, it’s challenging to understand how). The score, cinematography, and performances are superb; it’ll surely win an Oscar, no? It lost me slightly in the final act, but I loved it, and it’s probably my favorite from Nolan.
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