It seems as if each summer brings with it a cultural phenomenon stronger than the last. This year’s seems poised to outdo even the most passionate of 2019 VSCO fans: Pink is already adorning our hallways and sports teams, and the Manhattan Project has jumped into day-to-day conversations. Therefore, we at the Clipper Chronicle would be remiss if we failed to offer our own insight into the biggest blockbuster of our lives.
Deriving from the name “Barbara,” the nickname “Barbie” holds the meaning of “foreign; strange.” The same can be said of the movie that came out this summer, combining a popular childhood toy with a dialogue that approaches gender stereotypes and pressures in a fun and vibrant way. Barbie breaks barriers in many different ways; directed by Greta Gerwig, it was the most successful movie after release directed by a woman, and by raising questions about Barbie’s relevence in today’s world. Barbie is not simply a musical with bright colors. Barbie is a movie that can be viewed with friends, sisters, mothers, and even brothers and fathers (who may be a little dubious of it at first). It’s a movie to wear pink dresses to and take selfies in cardboard boxes. It’s a movie to be shared by generations, for women to be able to laugh about the scenarios we’ve all experienced, and to appreciate the idealism of having women in powerful positions. While Barbie is obviously the most major character in the film, it is also worth noting that “Weird Barbie” is incredibly necessary to the film as well. Weird Barbie challenges our primary perceptions by creating a plot to reclaim Barbieland from the Kens. Additionally, Weird Barbie’s outfit and hair choice reminds us that power and intelligence doesn’t come from appearance, but instead comes from the individuality we can express. “Barbie” was more than a cultural phenomenon, it’s a stepping stone for needed dialogue that involves all gender identities so we can help the future Kens, Allans, and Barbies.
Barbenhiemer shook the cinematic world this July, bringing in billions of dollars and millions of views. Many of those views were people who booked a ‘double feature’ for themselves, me being one of them. The transition from the morbidity of the atomic bomb to Barbie’s pink dream house was a bit of a fever dream - still, I’d definitely recommend. To sum it up, it’s the story of how one man was responsible for the death of millions of people as well as all nuclear issues - from the Cold War to today. It explores the complex morality of creating the bomb as well as setting it off and the corruption of the US government concerning the Manhattan Project. This movie leads it’s viewers down a rabbit hole in history. It made all of us think about the dropping of the bomb in a way that is much less black and white than it is in history class. We were presented the messy, original story, and that’s something I love.
Cillian Murphy plays J. Oppenheimer, the scientist who ran the whole project. The movie explores his relationships with his wife as well as his insane ex, played by Florence Pugh. Their relationship on screen is responsible for a certain nickname the film has obtained. The movie also dives into his passion for science and the moral complexity that came with making the bomb.
Throughout the movie, scenes flash back and forth to an event years after the bomb went off. Oppenhiemer is being reviewed by a government panel. They’re evaluating if he’s still trusted enough to have the level of security clearance he does. He’s accused of being a communist and of betraying America. They interview his friends, co-workers, and even his wife to dig up every bit of dirt they can find. The whole ordeal is set up by a politician who thinks that Oppenheimer has set him up for failure, adding to the theme of complex human behavior in the well-studied event in American history. My favorite part of the movie, however, was Tom Conti’s portrayal of Albert Einstein. He refused to participate in the project because he knew that the creation of the bomb would lead to a horrible ending. He is a steady mentor for Oppenheimer, honest but comforting at the same time. And, let’s be honest, he’s an adorable old man. Oppenheimer gave us a chance to think a little deeper about the U.S. history lesson we’ve all been through, and to further understand the real human nature of the whole ordeal. Barbie adds on to this understanding in her own bright pink way, so if you are going for the double feature, be prepared to walk out of the movie theater with a new understanding of humanity.