BARBENHEIMER (Non-Spoiler Talk)

 

The 21st of July 2023 is one of the most significant date on the calendar for moviegoers since it marks the simultaneous release of two of the most anticipated films of the year. Audiences are torn between choosing to watch Barbie or Oppenheimer or both of them. So, here I am sharing my opinions on both films. Don't worry; I'll do my best to avoid offering any spoilers or mentioning anything that wasn't shown in the trailer.

 

Let's start with movie which I saw first,

·       Barbie is a Greta Gerwig-directed film starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.

·       Greta Girwig's colorful brainchild is a satirical take on the impacts of the Barbie fashion dolls manufactured by Mattel and its effects, most of which were negative to the young minds of the girls who played with them.

·      The story centers around how everything was perfect in the vibrant Barbieland, but one day Barbie senses some changes in her surroundings and thoughts and is given the opportunity to travel to the real world so that everything in Barbieland returns to normal.

 

Now lets talk about the things which I liked in the movie.

·       Barbieland's aesthetics are so vibrant and wonderful that they instantly transport one back to their childhood when they created their own fantastical realms in which anything was imaginable.

·       Ryan Gosling outshines everyone with his comic timing and, in my opinion, is the sole constant from the prior Barbie products, whether they be animated series or movies. Margot Robbie spends most of the film responding to the changes in her environment and is mainly reactionary.

·       There are two appearances in the film that are extremely wholesome and are even jumper if you know the appropriate context and the history of Barbie dolls, but I can't really say much about this without giving the movie away.

·       And how can I not include Ryan Gosling's original song, I'm Just Ken, which is a vibe to listen to and fits the movie well.

Now let us talk about the things which I didn’t like in the film

·       The movie employs a lot of meta and sarcastic jokes in the setting of very complicated issues, which makes these topics easier to digest but can be a little problematic or insensitive when seen in a broader context.

·       The movie's climax felt somewhat stretched out and generic, but if handled more properly, it may have had a profound effect on everyone as the subject is so timely in today's society.

·       While we're talking about the conclusion, I should mention that Will Ferrel, who I think was terribly wasted in the film, also appears in it as the CEO of The Mattel. The gags in his scenes aren't funny, and he was practically forgotten by the movie's finale.

 

In general, Barbie is a good family film, especially considering that it only lasts for two hours.

And now, lets talk about Nolan’s magnum opus

Filmed by the man, the myth, the legend Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss

·       Oppenheimer is based on the novel American Prometheus, which centers on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is regarded as the father of the atomic bomb.

·       The movie acknowledges this by stating “ Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity. For this he was chained to a mountain and tortured for eternity.” , in the beginning of the movie.

·       Before talking about what I liked and didn’t like, I need to talk about something. It's crucial to research Oppenheimer's life and the circumstances surrounding the explosion of the first atomic bomb because Nolan, being Nolan, has broken down the chronological story into numerous pieces and arranged them in such a way that you need some background knowledge on the subject to comprehend it. Even though some narrative parts may be spoiled for you, I believe it will be more helpful if you are unfamiliar with Oppenheimer.

·       It's also essential to understand that this film is not about how the first atomic bomb was detonated, but rather why it was detonated and what effects it had, particularly on Oppenheimer's mental state. Therefore, it's crucial to keep one's own expectations in check.

     You'll undoubtedly be let down if you're hoping for a fast-paced action thriller  movie.

Now that being said, lets talk about things I didn’t like in the movie

·       As is typical of a Nolan film, the final 45 minutes are extremely brisk and the dialogues are spoken at such a tempo that if you miss anything or let your attention wander, it will be very difficult to understand the ending.

That’s the only problem I had and now lets discuss what I liked about the movie

·       Oppenheimer is one of Nolan's lesser complicated films, but it nonetheless makes the strongest impression on viewers because the subject matter is so timely.

·       The striking resemblance between Cillian Murphy and J. Robert Oppenheimer in real life and the performance he has provided demonstrate that Murphy was born to play Oppenheimer.

·       I had my reservations about RDJ's ability to fit into a Nolan universe, particularly one set in the World War II era, but he disproves everyone by putting on one of his best performances. RDJ is known for his quick one-liners, but here he was instructed to play a character who has served his country for a considerable amount of time and has a generally grey character. His approach to Lewis Strauss is a masterclass.

·       The on-screen interaction between Leslie Grove, played by Matt Damon, and Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, is particularly witty and exhilarating because it occurs when the movie is beginning to feel a little sluggish. The frequent arguing while still showing respect for one another generates several fascinating conversations.

·       It's incredible to think that Nolan captured the entirety of the Trinity test sequence without the use of any computer graphics, and the background music throughout the film never steals the spotlight but effectively builds anticipation for the test so well that you can feel the tension and angst the scientist felt while performing it.

·       As you watch Oppenheimer converse with numerous physicists whose theories you have studied in your books, this movie is a feast for scientific students, especially those studying physics. It is even more thrilling if you are familiar with the theories that the characters are referencing.

 

So ,Oppenheimer is, all things considered, the ideal movie to watch if you enjoy watching films where the plot is explained by two individuals simply chatting to one another, leaving you to infer the specifics.

 

 

Which movie have you seen or do you intend to see in theatres?

If you've already seen them, what did you think of them?

And let me know if I missed any information or a topic.

 

Also, keep an eye out for a spoiler-filled discussion about Oppenheimer coming soon because I think there is a lot more to be talked about it.

 

Finally, I'd like to say thanks for reading all the way through and I hope that you gained information from it.

 

Regards.

Ayaan Khan

FlixCricSound.