Will Barbie movie be tolerable?

Another thread on something interesting hijacked

 

Barbie movie interesting?

Now that’s super duper woke.

 

So they're pushing inclusivity and marketing to kids. I wonder if it's going to get the Bud Light treatment? Matt Walsh must be salivating.

‘A pink, glittery, existential dance party’: Barbie movie marketing machine kicks off global tour

Gerwig’s Barbie movie, produced through Robbie’s production company LuckyChap Entertainment, has been at pains to emphasise its inclusivity. The cast includes Barbies and Kens from all backgrounds and body types, with trans actor Hari Nef as Doctor Barbie.

During a media event the day before at Sydney’s Bondi beach, Gerwig says the target audience for the film is anyone from eight to 108. “It’s a movie that I think can really cut across generations and genders. Everyone can find a pink, glittery existential dance party in their heart.”

 

They aspire to be. And not in terms of "wokeness", whatever that means, unless you think that Genesis, St. Augustine and Aquinas are woke in their explorations of original sin.

The movie aspires to explore some of the more persistent themes of human philosophy, though whether they can pull that off remains to be seen. They will also try to be funny at the same time, so many viewers may totally that miss that theme. But it is deliberate, as Gerwig explains.

Gerwig’s Barbie Land is a post-feminist utopia, or perhaps a prelapsarian one. “You live in a place where there’s no pain, and nothing dies, and there’s no suffering, and you are not separate from your environment, and you have no shame. And then, all of a sudden, you have shame,” she said, laughing. “I mean, we know the story! It’s in some books people have heard of.”

The best way to incorporate this tragic arc into a joke-dense comedy, Gerwig decided, was to heighten the dissonance. “I wanted Margot and Ryan to play it as if they were in a drama on some level,” she told me. Early in the movie, Robbie’s Barbie begins to experience intrusive thoughts about death, interrupting a succession of “perfect days” and immaculately coördinated girls’ nights. Later, when her feet—until now perennially arched, the better to fit in her heels—go flat, the scene plays like body horror. Ken, too, has an awakening ahead of him. “Instead of women not having, you know, jobs or credit cards or power in the world, it’s the Kens,” Gerwig said. “And then they realize, ‘Wait a minute. I don’t just want to look good all day and wait for you.’ ”

 

I’m just here to shit on waterworld.

 

Extremism is bad. Left or right, extremism is bad.

 

Yep. 100% my point.

 

Its amazing the things we agree on outside of politics.

 

So the movie adpires to, The movie aspires to "explore some of the more persistent themes of human philosophy" via a "pink, glittery existential dance party"? If Gerwig can pull that off she deserves all the awards.
I am stoked for Oppenheimer. I haven't been this excited about a movie in probably a decade or more. But tackling life's larger issues through a pink glittering dance party would rank right about even with, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
.

 

I was wondering when someone would bring up the Shiva quote. I also played my daughter Sting's "Russians" to prepare her. I suspect it will get some play.

You can explore those themes through frivolity. Augustine used stealing fruit. In fact, I would submit that Barbie is the ultimate symbol of superficial frivolity in our current culture, so it might be the optimal vehicle to explore the inadequacy of that life. I will see if Jim McDermott, S.J. reviews it. Someone at America will review and fix it, if possible, into larger themes. Consistent with Ignatian spirituality, you try to find God in all things.

A recent example



In any event, I am excited on both. Trying to talk the wife into seeing both this weekend, but we may wait a week till Oppenheimer. Review embargo expires at 7pm.

 

There is such a party within walking distance of my house (don't plan to go)

Barbie Beach Bash at Armature Works | Heights District

Seriously, the marketing has been brilliant. The Malibu Beach House was quite a touch -

As is the love/hate appeal - talk about inclusivity

 

FYI: "‘Oppenheimer’ Called the Best and Most Important Film This Century – The Hollywood Reporter

The official review embargo for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer isn’t lifted until Wednesday, but writer-director Paul Schrader has some strong words about the World War II science epic.

Writing on Facebook, the Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Last Temptation of Christ screenwriter called Oppenheimer: “The best, most important film of this century. If you see one film in cinemas this year it should be Oppenheimer. I’m not a Nolan groupie but this one blows the doors off the hinges.”

 

Thanks. Can't wait to see. Will try to talk my wife into going Sunday. What a great movie weekend

 

Going to go see Lala land as a warm up for Barbie.

Or just make a drink

 

Got approval to buy Oppenheimer tickets for Sunday. We are seeing 2 movies and going out to dinner with friends Saturday night. That qualifies as a blowout wild party weekend when you're in your 60s

 

Oppenheimer is 3 hours. I like longer movies when they're good, but my biggest concern would be trying to strategically time a bathroom trip if needed. At least in the theater I wouldn't be putting down multiple bottles of wine like I do at home, lol.

 

3 hours and bathroom breaks is an issue. Not going to drink anything before. But looking forward to it. Hoping it will be one of those immersive movie watching experience where you lose yourself in the movie and lose time perspective

 

One of the reasons I like watching movies in my home theater. My tv has a pause button.