Film Review: Barbenheimer

Barbenheimer: the portmanteau of the decade. A well-earned superlative, I would say. But before I share my thoughts on the films themselves, a word on their resulting phenomenon…

The first weekend of Barbenheimer, my family went to see Mission Impossible. Because, of course we did. That night was the most crowded I had seen a movie theater possibly ever. And when all three films let out at once, it took us over 30 minutes to exit the parking garage, as we sat in a slow procession of families and friends debriefing the past few hours of their lives during which they sat in the dark among strangers. I’m sure Hollywood likes that image very much.

So do I. Yes, it was annoying sitting in a parking garage, but it was exciting to see all these people head to the movies, some who perhaps had not gone since the onset of the pandemic over three years ago. As a fan of film in general, I want to see the industry succeed. I want theaters to prosper. And I want more people to have an opinion when awards season rolls around.

Journalists and enthusiasts everywhere have written countless articles about whether this is the boost the theaters need to reach pre-pandemic levels, or if Barbenheimer is simply a blip on the exponential trend line of streaming video. I don’t have the data or the expertise to weigh in there, so instead, I’ll tell you why this cultural moment is worthy of your participation.

I saw Barbie first, on a Wednesday after work with some friends. Snack of choice: M&Ms. My friends all wore pink, but I don’t own any and could not justify buying something to sit in the dark for two hours. Sue me. I entered without any expectations, good or bad. I knew little more about the plot than of its strong feminist bent. The film was better than expected. It was funny, culturally relevant and biting, with great original music and standout performances from Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The details of the costumes and the set are worth a second watch. The ending brings an emotional punch but also has the last laugh. And as a bonus, there is some hilarious commentary from Dame Helen Mirren.

We all left the theater smiling and dancing, unanimously praising the film. I’m telling everyone to see it, even men who may exit the film feeling a little more fragile than before (that’s a good thing). Final rating: 8.5/10.

I saw Oppenheimer on a Friday afternoon by myself. Snack of choice: regular popcorn. Transparently, I took advantage of my unlimited time off and began my weekend a few hours early. Again, sue me. I had to see it in IMAX, and the matinee, weekday showing was all I could find with a seat outside the front row. I told my friends, entirely seriously, that seeing it on the biggest screen possible was more important than seeing it with them. They would have to navigate the second arm of the Barbenheimer duopoly without me.

Side note: I am an AMC Stubs member as of last month, so I’ve also been trying to get my money’s worth. Saw four films last month, two on my own. No shame in allowing myself good, cheap entertainment. End the stigma!

Cillian Murphy won the day, playing Oppenheimer’s moral dilemmas on screen so convincingly, that even with Gary Oldman in the room, I hung on Oppie’s every word. The cast, in general, is star-studded, but the film didn’t feel bogged down by this, as Wes Anderson’s '“The French Dispatch” did. My only complaint is that Josh Peck should have had a bigger role. Love that man. Will Stronghold from “Sky High” also featured. He’s grown a bit.

This crew, in my opinion, has already secured the Academy Award for Best Sound. The theater shook with each demonstration of fission, from the splitting of a single atom to the Trinity Test. The sound played a large role in sharing the true racket that existed in Oppenheimer’s head as he marched forward with a task sure to change the world.

I also learned a lot. I entered the theater aware of the Manhattan Project but ignorant of how much McCarthyism played into Oppenheimer’s legacy. Robert Downey Jr. proved a worthy—if evilly deceptive—adversary. And his press for the film has been a treat of a bonus feature. Final rating: 8.5/10.

Bottom line: go see them both. No need for both in one day, in my opinion—rather, both in one lifetime (maybe each more than once) should do. Here’s hoping the phenomenon that is Barbenheimer will pave the way for more revolutionary filmmaking and FOMO-fueled theater-going in the future (once the strikes end, of course).

I’m planning on sharing my thoughts on films I see moving forward (and pretending people care to read them), so stay tuned.

Finally, for those of you who attended Hillstock this weekend, thank you for coming and waiting out the rain! Peace and love.