Y’all know I can’t resist weighing in on the cinematic event of the year! As a Nolan fan (The Dark Knight is my all-time fave film) and a Gerwig skeptic, this double feature was a particularly engrossing adventure for me. Both movies are shattering box office records, and I have to agree with the Twitter (X) discourse: the movies are back. Let’s hope this energy results in positive changes for the underpaid actors and writers on strike.
Ready for some takes? Scroll on to read…
my reviews of Barbie & Oppenheimer
a bookish update about my graduate work
For new subscribers, welcome to my nook of the internet! You’ve stumbled upon my Summer Issue. Kay’s Reveries is a monthly blog dedicated to my musings about pop culture, sci-fi, and academia. I’m a gal with many passions, so you can expect a variety of topics, from Toni Morrison to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Barbenheimer Reactions
Oppenheimer
Nolan’s done it again. Oppenheimer is a filmmaking feat with a story so haunting that I struggled to fall asleep afterwards. In his unflinching portrayal of the Manhattan Project, Nolan does not absolve Oppenheimer, the other physicists, or the US political and military powers of the so-called “necessary evil” of the atomic bombs. In fact, Oppenheimer compelled me to reckon with American hubris and reflect on this time in history with new severity. The film’s primary storyline about the A-bomb profoundly disturbed me—as it should.
Much of the movie’s power derives from its superb technical aspects and a stacked cast. From a design perspective, Ludwig Göransson’s score and the sound editing truly enhanced the emotional impact of certain scenes—such as the Trinity test. In the cast, Cillian Murphy was phenomenal, deserving of an Oscar nod, and I was equally blown away by Emily Blunt who surely, surely will win Best Supporting Actress.
To weigh in on some common critiques, I would not describe the film as “sympathetic” towards its subjects. I did not walk away from Oppenheimer thinking that it was yet another biopic about a tortured male genius. No, the film depicts Oppenheimer as a cocky womanizer whose arrogance corrodes his moral judgment until it's far too late. On the topic of not portraying Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Nolan’s decision was the responsible one; he told the story that he’s equipped to tell without causing harm. I humbly suggest Barefoot Gen if you wish to learn more about Japanese experiences of the bombings.
For all its strengths though, Oppenheimer has a few critical flaws. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS The fridging of Jean continues Nolan’s track record for killing off women, the Amadeus-Salieri dynamic between Oppenheimer and Strauss simpers, and a few plot reveals are quite predictable (perhaps recompense for the inscrutability of Tenet).
Overall, Oppenheimer does not surpass the creative greatness of The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and The Prestige for me. But, it is certainly one of the best films of 2023, an outstanding historical biopic with peak visual storytelling.
8/10
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Barbie
One word: SUBLIME! If Oppenheimer is the feel-bad movie of the summer, then Barbie is the feel-good movie of the summer. I was very suspicious of Barbie when the film was first announced. Like many others, I dismissed Barbie as another vehicle for White feminism a la Promising Young Woman. While Barbie is by no means a treatise on intersectional feminism, I was pleasantly surprised by its humor and self-awareness.
I can best describe Barbie as good, solid fun. With a fabulous soundtrack and references galore, Barbie reminds me of the charm of early Pixar. I can easily imagine myself rewatching Barbie at various stages of life and coming away with a different perspective each time. Plus, despite what Ben Shapiro claims, Barbie offers a heartwarming message for women and men and can serve as an accessible introduction to feminism for young and older viewers alike.
Most of all, I liked Barbie’s weirdness. Sure, the production design could be seen as…gimmicky (did we really need freeze frames on the outfits?), but I was here for it. Sometimes the film’s attempt at sincerity would backfire terribly (i.e. the smallpox comparison). The cast’s commitment to this silliness is also endearing to me. I would not go so far as to say that Ryan Gosling deserves an Oscar for his Ken, but his wholehearted investment in the role and Ken’s cringiness…again, I say—sublime!
Though Barbie exceeded my expectations, it does not crack my top 10 for the year. I think a Best Screenplay or Production Design win, even a Best Picture nod, could happen, but I will not be broken up if this film’s legacy stops at its box office record. I have to hand it to Greta though, she crafted one hilarious flick.
7/10
Leave me a comment! What are your thoughts on Oppenheimer and Barbie?
The Great Read!
For the rest of the summer, my nose will be stuck between books as I study for my qualifying exam. As an English PhD at Stanford, I must read ~100 books (novels, poems, plays) from the English literary canon and then pass an oral exam to test my breadth of knowledge. I’m adding some pizzazz to my studying by chronicling the process on my bookstagram!
You can follow along with my progress via my TikTok or Instagram.
And that’s it for the Summer Issue! I’ll meet you back here in September after I pass (manifesting!!) my qualifying exam.
SUBLIME!
Kay