By Camila Nakamura
On July 21, two of the most anticipated movies of the year will open in theatres, Barbie and Oppenheimer – whose names have been combined in online communities into Barbenheimer. For many movie lovers like me, this is the event of the year, no one should miss.
But still, what is all the excitement about? To help you get into the hype of Barbenheimer and better understand what it is about, here are some interesting notes!
Opposite Genres and Themes
The thing that stands out the most is the thematic differences between the movies. In fact, they are extreme opposites.
In the form of an epic biographical thriller, Oppenheimer follows the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a major player in the development of nuclear weapons in an American operation codenamed the Manhattan Project. From trailers and promotional material, it is a very deep, psychological story that will certainly linger in viewers’ minds after the session. Nolan himself called Oppenheimer his ‘most extreme film to date.’.
In contrast, Barbie will be a comedy film about the well-known Mattel doll, Barbie. The plot is not entirely clear, but it will be about Barbie and Ken’s journey leaving Barbieland and facing the real world. It does seem like a silly story for kids, but scenes from trailers suggest that it may be not as shallow as you would think, and the director Greta Gerwig said recently that while the movie is about dolls made of plastic, in the end, the movie is about being human.
Who is Behind the Cameras?
It is not the first time two major studios release movies on the same date, but what makes Barbenheimer stand out is that both films are directed by two important names of the cinematographic industry.
Oppenheimer is directed by Christopher Nolan, known for blockbusters such as the Batman trilogy, Inception, The Prestige, Interstellar, among others. From this list, you can tell that Nolan has an affinity for telling complex stories with innovative narrative structures, often through grand, epic productions. His works have diverse themes, but often address existential and moral questions, with the help of mysterious, ambiguous characters.
Barbie is directed by Greta Gerwig, who comes from a less blockbuster-y background. This is her third movie as a director, following her debut film, Lady Bird, and Little Women. Her previous works are coming of age stories, with seemingly simple plots, that develop into very subtle and nuanced analyses of girlhood, growing up, and facing change.
Both are extremely talented and respected artists, which makes the releases of the films even more exciting!
Who is in Front of the Cameras?
Other than the amazing people directing the movies, both also have great ensemble casts. Nolan’s main character of Robert J. Oppenheimer is played by Cillian Murphy, and he is accompanied by veterans of the industry like Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr, as well as rising stars like Florence Pugh.
Barbie doesn’t fall short of impressive names. Barbie and Ken will be played by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling respectively, supported by actors known for their comedic work like Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, and Michael Cera.
I’m sure you will find at least one actor you are a fan of in this list!
Behind the Scenes
A peculiar thing about Oppenheimer is that it was shot with IMAX film cameras, which produce incredibly high-quality images that apparently bring a new level of immersion to the public. There are only 30 theatres equipped with the technology to screen the film in the way it was meant to be, and luckily, one of them is in the GTA - Cineplex Cinemas in Mississauga! Don’t miss this opportunity to have a unique experience with one of the most anticipated movies of the year.
A feature on Barbie that has been heavily marketed is its soundtrack. Produced by Mark Ronson, the soundtrack album will feature artists from different genres, from pop to rap and alternative. Some of its singles have already been released, including Dua Lipa’s Dance The Night, and Karol G’s Watati. Other artists and bands like HAIM, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish were also announced to be part of the album!
Final Thoughts
Whether you will be doing a Barbenheimer double feature, watching them separately, or only one of them, this is the perfect opportunity to watch works of two extremely talented directors working with amazing cast and crew to bring unique stories to the big screen.
Camila is a first-year student, working towards a degree in Law and Society. Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, she moved to Toronto in the end of 2022. She spends her free time playing the piano, and exploring the city, but her favourite thing to do is watching movies, and is very passionate about cinema. She enjoys writing as she likes the process of finding words to communicate a thought and organising them.
