Not sure whether Greta Gerwig of Christopher Nolan’s new films are for you? Here are some answers.
Although the two films couldn’t be more different on paper, Greta Gerwig’s candy-coloured comedy Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic Oppenheimer have somehow ended up going hand in hand in the eyes of film fans.
Depending on who you ask, the two movies have been pitted against each other by cinephiles during the last week, while others have put them side by side as the most unlikely of double features in what has been dubbed the ‘Barbenheimer’ effect. Still, five hours of sitting in a dark cinema screen at the height of summer is not everybody’s idea of a good time, so if you are torn between which one of them to see first or not at all, we may be able to help you out.
First of all, what are Barbie and Oppenheimer actually both about?
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer tells the life story of a scientist named J. Robert Oppenheimer, who eventually became known as the father of the atomic bomb, and was responsible for developing the world’s first nuclear weapons. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/barbie-vs-oppenheimer-barbenheimer-films-guide_uk_64b91424e4b038c60cc8f45d
One of the bombs that Oppenheimer helped to create was dropped on August 6, 1945, by the United States in the city of Hiroshima, Japan, while another was detonated in Nagasaki two days later, altering the course of World War II and indiscriminately killing tens of thousands of non-combatants leaving indelible scars for the immediate survivors that they, their children and grandchildren still carry today. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109602
Oppenheimer admitted to then-President Truman months later, that he felt he had blood on his hands over the devastation caused by the weapons he designed, and eventually spoke publicly about the dangers of nuclear warfare.
Barbie
On a much lighter note, the Barbie movie centres around one incarnation of the iconic doll who lives in Barbie Land with her Barbie pals and obviously a few Kens, for good measure. While her life seems perfect, things begin to quickly unravel for Barbie when she finds herself in the centre of an existential crisis, with her daily routine becoming difficult and unable to shake thoughts of impending death.
She heads off into the Real World to try to make things right, to seek out whoever has been playing her, which has unexpected results on herself, Barbie World at large and indeed, her boyfriend.
The Cast
Barbie
Both films are equally star-studded, boasting seriously impressive casts with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the film’s principal Barbie and Ken. Other variations of Barbie are played by the likes of Sharon Rooney, Issa Rae, Due Lipa, Hari Nef, Kate McKinnon and Sex Education star Emma Mackey. Simu Liu and future Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa star as other Kens. Outside of Barbie Land, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell and America Ferrera all play key roles and there are a few fair surprise cameos to watch out for too.
Oppenheimer
Cillian Murphy leads Oppenheimer in the title role, being joined by the likes of Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty and Florence Pugh as physicist Jean Tatlock.
Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon and Case Affleck star as key military figures with Kenneth Branagh, Josh Hartnett and Rami Malek also in the cast. You could also look out for appearances from the likes of Benny Safdie, Gary Oldman and Solo’s Alden Ehrenreich.
Soundtracks
Barbie
Music super producer Mark Ronson was responsible for curating the soundtrack of Barbie, which has appearances from artists like Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Sam Smith and Charli XCX.
Billie Eilish meanwhile is gunning for Oscar number two with What Was I Made For, her heart-wrenching ballad which plays at a pivotal moment in the film, as well as over the credits. It is worth mentioning that Barbie also sees director Greta Gerwig reuniting with Alexandre Desplat, the French composer who is a two-time Oscar winner, whose big-screen work includes juggernauts like Argo, The Queen, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, the French Dispatch, The King’s Speech, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Isle of Dogs.
