Posters via IMDb
“Barbie” – 9.5/10, “Oppenheimer” – 10/10
The feeling going into this weekend was unlike anything I’ve felt in a long time. Although I’m used to the hype of upcoming movies as well as the routine of going to see them, I was not prepared for what I was going to experience during the iconic “Barbenheimer” weekend showing.
The excitement for Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” was astronomical. With both films being released on the same day, there was pressure to secure seats. My best friend, Kyle Heise, and I bought our tickets for Oppenheimer a month in advance to see it at the nearest IMAX theater in Madison, Wisconsin. “It’s the way it was intended to be watched!” Kyle exclaimed throughout the ticketing process. I agreed and waited patiently for the exciting weekend. Kyle was visiting from out of town and we share a love for everything filmmaking and writing, so we knew that we had to experience this together. July 21 finally arrived and Kyle and I, along with some close friends of ours, decided to see Barbie on the big screen. Besides some minor changes in plans, some stress and switching theaters and showtimes, we finally ended up in our seats and were able to relax and wait for the film to start.
One of the things that blew my mind and made me happy was how packed our theater was. People of all ages, mothers, daughters, couples and grandparents were all laughing and filling into the theater sporting some kind of pink outfit or accessory. It was a beautiful and wholesome experience. It reminded me why I fell in love with cinema in the first place. Film brings people together and provides the opportunity to tell a story that can relate to everyone in one way or another. I loved being able to see this happen. I hadn’t seen a full theater like that since the pandemic. The lights eventually dimmed, the pink Warner Bros. logo was revealed on the screen and everything felt incredibly surreal and exciting. “Barbie” is the perfect example of everything you want to feel while watching a film. I laughed many times and thought about what the movie was saying. “Barbie” is an incredibly powerful and meaningful message about womanhood, as well as growing up and facing constant changes in life. It applies to everyone, not only a female audience. The diversity and chemistry of the cast stood out heavily as well as the unique costume design. The most resonant theme was that everyone can be Barbie but distinctly themselves at the same time. No matter how different we all are, we’re all still human. In a movie about fake plastic dolls, I believe they captured accurately what it means to be human in the world today and how to find yourself and be happy. This was a comforting, bold and beautiful message. Having the chance to experience it with my best friends was the cherry on top.
The following day Kyle and I got ready for our trip to see “Oppenheimer.” After the excitement of Barbie the night prior, we wanted to keep the feeling going into our viewing of Oppenheimer and decided to make a fun day trip out of it. We arrived early and prepared for the film to start. I had high expectations for Oppenheimer and was excited to see what Nolan had up his sleeve this time. This was both Kyle and I’s first time seeing a Nolan film in theaters and seeing it in IMAX couldn’t have been any better. The lights dimmed and the giant IMAX screen lit up in front of us. The speakers under our seats trembled like an earthquake and I couldn’t contain my excitement. This is how films are meant to be seen. Nolan expertly paces his films and creates a realistic world. Everything from the powerful performances by the cast, including Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey, Jr., the explosive soundtrack (pun intended), all the way to the groundbreaking levels of storytelling and directing were masterful. The first act of the film features lots of information, but the unfolding of key elements as the story continues plays a big role in the expert pacing. The intersecting non chronological storylines and changes in point of view using black and white versus color film was a creative way to distinguish important moments in Oppenheimer’s life. By the time it ended it felt like a whole day had passed, but at the same time felt like I just sat down. This film is a three hour biopic that I didn’t want to end. I was blown away literally and figuratively while watching this and can’t give it enough praise. Leaving the theater after this was a surreal experience. I felt a sense of shock and the confused feeling of trying to process everything at the same time. This film made me feel like no other film has before.
Not only was “Barbenheimer” a chance to see two of my most highly anticipated films of the year, it was an opportunity to do it with the people that mattered to me most. I got to see the magic that cinema offers once again and was reminded why I fell in love with it to begin with.
SZNS MAG 