Review by Robbie Fleming
On July 21, 2023, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie were both released to cinemas worldwide. To celebrate the occasion of these two big releases coming out on the same day, many people decided to try and see both films back-to-back in a global cultural phenomenon known simply as Barbenheimer.
Even though I have seen both films many times, I never got around to watching them both back-to-back. Since I was on hiatus from film reviewing at the time, I never had the chance to write reviews for both movies. So, I decided to watch them back-to-back one night and write this article for Keziah Hyde Media, reviewing them both.
This isn’t a film-off (as I have one coming up soon) but a reviews and revisitation of the cultural event that defined 2023.
Barbie (2023)
Director: Greta Gerwig
Studio: Warner Bros
I never would have imagined that a film related to Barbie dolls would be one of my favorite films of 2023. However, I love this film because it tells a well-layered story with deep meaning, similar to The Lego Movie (2014).
The film serves as a strong commentary on how women are treated in society and explores the subject of patriarchy, which plays an important role in my favorite part of the story. I also appreciate how it incorporates themes of existentialism, making the film more relatable.
Barbieland, where the Barbies have jobs and the Kens play at the beach all day, is brought to life perfectly through its outstanding production design, which is mostly created practically. The costume design is iconic and shines throughout the film, while the cinematography, shot by Rodrigo Prieto, crafts some brilliant shots that immerse you in Barbieland.
Margot Robbie’s performance as the main Barbie (known as "Stereotypical Barbie" throughout the film) is great and showcases her leading-lady abilities. Although I prefer her role in Damien Chazelle’s Babylon (2022), I still regard this as one of her best performances.
Like Oppenheimer, Barbie is packed with A-list actors who shine in their roles, no matter how big or small. Four supporting performances stand out the most to me: Will Ferrell, who gives a strong comedic performance as the Mattel CEO; Ariana Greenblatt, who brings fun energy to her role; and America Ferrera, who delivers a powerful monologue about how society views women.
Finally, there’s Ryan Gosling, who completely steals the show as Beach Ken (the main Ken in the film). Gosling’s portrayal of Ken demonstrates his range and comedic chops. Normally cast as mysterious or stoic characters, Gosling proves here that he’s more than his typecast. His performance opens the door for more comedic roles, like in 2024’s The Fall Guy.
This film leans more on its soundtrack than its score, and honestly, I couldn’t tell you much about the latter. However, the soundtrack suits the tone of the film perfectly, balancing fun and deep meaning. Featuring tracks from Dua Lipa, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish, the Barbie soundtrack is just as iconic as the film and works well alongside it.
My favorite song from the soundtrack is “I’m Just Ken,” which I think should have won Best Original Song over Billie Eilish’s song for the film. It’s not because I’m not a fan of Billie Eilish—I just find “I’m Just Ken” catchier, fun, and perfectly suited to its scene. The sequence accompanying the song plays into the cheesy, campy tone the film aims for, and it’s a highlight. Plus, Billie won for her Bond theme two years ago, so giving this one the award would have made sense.
Greta Gerwig is a director I closely follow, as her career shifted just as I started getting more into prestigious films. I enjoyed her debut film, Lady Bird, a lot, and I see Barbie as her mastering her craft. Here, she showcases how she can turn an iconic doll into a fully fleshed-out movie with stunning visuals, great performances, and a deep but fun story that is both interesting and entertaining to watch.
Overall, I highly praise Barbie as one of the best films of 2023. It’s remarkable what Greta Gerwig achieved with her third feature film, and it’s impressive how well she transitioned into more mainstream cinema compared to her past work in independent films. I was thoroughly impressed with how they brought this film to life, and I will defend it as a genuinely good movie that could have been terrible in the wrong hands.
I give Barbie a rating of a 5/5 stars and a 10 out of 10
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Oppenheimer (2023)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Studio: Universal
For a three-hour-long epic, Oppenheimer isn’t boring and has a narrative that keeps you engaged throughout the experience. Nolan’s screenplay is fantastic, as the dialogue has a rhythm to it that makes it flow well and helps tell the story through the conversations the characters have, keeping you on edge. While I enjoy the first two acts a lot, it’s the third act (centered around his security clearance hearing) that I consider my favorite part of the film. It drives up the intensity by showing Oppenheimer’s guilt about building the bomb and how his reputation was ruined.
What Nolan achieves as a director with this film surpasses what many directors accomplish in their careers (yes, even Spielberg and Kubrick). The whole sequence with the bomb testing is a cinematic achievement in itself and was created entirely using practical effects. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography is another grand highlight, helping Nolan bring the story to life with amazing shots that capture both the visual storytelling and the cinematic bomb scene itself.
Ludwig Göransson’s score is his best work under Nolan, carrying the film’s tone in a unique way. It feels like it works in harmony with both the narrative and visuals, ensuring that all the cogs work together to make this film stand out. Even though Göransson excels with themes, this score stands out as some of his finest work in cinema.
Cillian Murphy’s performance as Robert J. Oppenheimer is fantastic and drives the film forward with his Oscar-winning performance. His portrayal demonstrates how well he can embody the role of Oppenheimer and handle extensive dialogue, expressing it in a way that I can’t imagine any other actor matching.
The supporting cast (an ensemble of well-known actors) is also fantastic, even if some appear in only one or two scenes. Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett, David Krumholtz, Benny Safdie, Jack Quaid, Alex Wolff, Jason Clarke, Rami Malek, and Casey Affleck all give strong performances and manage to shine even in smaller roles. Even Tom Conti’s portrayal of Albert Einstein is worth noting as he delivers another excellent performance.
Robert Downey Jr., who plays Lewis Strauss, gives a career-best performance in this film, showcasing that he is more than just a franchise star.
Downey Jr.’s performance embodies the role and steals the show whenever he’s on screen. I’m glad he won his Oscar for this role. Let’s face it: no one has had the career he’s had, and this was the perfect role for him to win on.
Although Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh deliver fantastic performances, I feel like their characters could have been explored further. I understand that Pugh’s character in real life passed before the bomb’s creation, making it challenging to explore her further. However, Kitty Oppenheimer was also a renowned scientist in her own right, and more focus on her contributions would have been welcome. It’s often noted that Nolan’s films tend to lack strong female character presence, and unfortunately, this film is no exception.
Overall, Oppenheimer is a fantastic film that stands out thanks to its story, performances, cinematography, score, and Nolan’s direction. I also give this film additional credit for its bomb scene, which is a cinematic achievement in itself. Alongside The Dark Knight and Inception, I consider this Nolan’s third masterpiece.
I give Oppenheimer a rating of a 5/5 stars and a 10/10
Final Words
Watching both films back-to-back for the first time was an interesting experience, and I still think both films hold up on rewatch and stand the test of time, thanks to the achievements that Nolan and Gerwig pushed themselves to deliver.
While I recommend both films, I think it’s best to watch Oppenheimer first to get the serious and dark film out of the way, allowing you to enjoy the fun and light-hearted Barbie afterward.
Thanks for reading today’s review! Let us know your thoughts on Barbie and Oppenheimer in the comments. Also, tell us about your Barbenheimer experience.
Which do you prefer? Did you see both films back-to-back?
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