Sorry to be the “actually” guy, but that scene takes place on the Venice boardwalk (and that’s the Venice police station). There is mention of Santa Monica, which is coastal and adjacent, but Santa Barbara is 100 miles north of LA.
Ha, let’s not get carried away. Meanwhile we went to the Valley this morning to see a screening in Burbank, and you can bet I called it BARBank. (My wife’s underwhelmed, Baumbachian reaction: “Barbie gets a rethink, and Chantal Akerman is dead.”)
I wasn’t as enamored of Oppenheimer as Keith is -- and I did see it in 70mm IMAX, which means it was under the best possible circumstances -- largely because I felt the Strauss confirmation hearing was probably one layer too many.
Last night I watched Roland Joffé’s Fat Man and Little Boy to see how it treated the same story. As expected, it’s much more linear, and even provides the viewer with multiple scenes of Oppenheimer being actively involved in the science behind the development of the bomb. In Nolan’s film, we’re expected to take it on faith that he’s so brilliant because he knows so many other brilliant scientists (Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, etc.) and everyone else keeps mentioning how brilliant he is.
Reading about the fluid time-jumping of Oppenheimer reminds me of the finest chapter in the Watchmen graphic novel, the one with Dr. Manhattan on Mars. I can't even remember if that chapter is depicted at all in the awful movie...sounds like Nolan does a better job here, thankfully.
As far as Barbie goes...I almost feel like I've seen this movie five times. Certainly the marketing machine is set to 11.
Went to a BARBIE pre screening party/movie event last night. Film def tries juggling a myriad of messages, trying to please many masters. May not have been perfect, but the absolutely full theatre (first time for me since pre-pandemic seeing that) had a blast (although a number of jokes blew well over their heads, like a throwaway Proust joke)
I actually see Oppenheimer on Sunday (70mm!) but every time I see Cillian Murphy in the previews I want him to be cast as a younger Christopher Walken in a biopic.
We have a 70mm print at Music Box, which is great, but our IMAX theater was shut down. It was at Navy Pier. I remember seeing the press screening of Nolan's The Dark Knight there, which was only partially shot in IMAX format and that was fun. You'd get a 2:35-1 ratio for much of the film and during certain sequences, screen-filling IMAX. Given how obviously Chicago the film's Gotham City is, it was a good time.
That said, I don't believe the Navy Pier IMAX ever projected on film. I could be wrong about that.
Oddly enough, the one movie I saw at that IMAX was BATMAN BEGINS.
About to see it in 70mm--the IMAX 70mm release in DC got canceled (damn the Smithsonian for still not having the Air and Space IMAX in DC proper open) so this will be the next best thing
I have also been thinking about Twin Peaks: The Return in the lead up to Oppenheimer! And last week I realized that Ruth De Jong is the production designer for Oppenheimer! (She was also the production designer for Twin Peaks: The Return - I have her name memorized from seeing it in the opening credits so many times.)
I doubt it. It reminds me of how everyone was gushing over Tarantino filming The Hateful Eight in 70mm and...dude...whole thing takes place inside a cabin. Who gives a shit?
My local cinema will either let me see Oppenheimer at 6pm (smack in the middle of getting small children ready for bed) or 10pm (which will end at 1:30am, 4.5 hours before small children get out of bed). Genuinely contemplating taking a half day off work to go further afield.
Keith, what's your take on Oppenheimer's portrayal of Kitty? We get some glimpses of how she was suffering, but for me she did not seem to exist for any reason other than to serve the main character's story. There was almost nothing about who she was or what she wanted to do with her life. My main frustration with the film was that you could extend that description to almost all of the other characters except for Strauss.
I get that. I think having Blunt play the role goes a long way, though and that the narrow focus is by design, whether that’s fair to the others or to history. I also think the line “We’ve walked through fire together” (or whatever the exact quote is) says more about their marriage than the usual biopic moment with yelling and smashed plates.
Perhaps this is Barbie-influenced Gosling brain speaking, but I think Oppenheimer would make an interesting double feature with First Man - I feel like Chazelle accomplished something similar in creating a kinetic, visceral and somewhat iconoclastic/avant garde/experimental experience out of the historical biopic structure and within the major studio system.
I don’t really know if that movie’s left much of a cultural or critical impression (maybe it’s too much in the shadow of the Right Stuff - which could work too!) but I love it.
Enjoyed Barbie a lot and think Scott is spot on in his review, although I rated it a bit higher just because I found the Ken stuff so funny. Second act is a little weak (the real world) but it bounces back so strongly in the third.
What I think the culture war surrounding it (from seemingly both conservatives and leftists) misses is that any political statement Barbie is making is functionally the same as venting. It is not seriously arguing that men should be relegated to Ken status at the end of the film, it’s just giving women a fun time to let their frustrations escape through.
But man, those tv screens with horse footage on a loop - I laughed so hard at that. That’s all I really needed
Shouldn’t it be Santa Barbie-ra?
I’m sorry, I’ll show myself out.
We haven't had to suspend anyone's accounts yet, but...
Sorry to be the “actually” guy, but that scene takes place on the Venice boardwalk (and that’s the Venice police station). There is mention of Santa Monica, which is coastal and adjacent, but Santa Barbara is 100 miles north of LA.
A year or two in California and already an expert. Damn.
Ha, let’s not get carried away. Meanwhile we went to the Valley this morning to see a screening in Burbank, and you can bet I called it BARBank. (My wife’s underwhelmed, Baumbachian reaction: “Barbie gets a rethink, and Chantal Akerman is dead.”)
I wasn’t as enamored of Oppenheimer as Keith is -- and I did see it in 70mm IMAX, which means it was under the best possible circumstances -- largely because I felt the Strauss confirmation hearing was probably one layer too many.
Last night I watched Roland Joffé’s Fat Man and Little Boy to see how it treated the same story. As expected, it’s much more linear, and even provides the viewer with multiple scenes of Oppenheimer being actively involved in the science behind the development of the bomb. In Nolan’s film, we’re expected to take it on faith that he’s so brilliant because he knows so many other brilliant scientists (Einstein, Bohr, Heisenberg, etc.) and everyone else keeps mentioning how brilliant he is.
Though the actor who plays Oppenheimer in FMALB has so little presence it's truly startling.
Reading about the fluid time-jumping of Oppenheimer reminds me of the finest chapter in the Watchmen graphic novel, the one with Dr. Manhattan on Mars. I can't even remember if that chapter is depicted at all in the awful movie...sounds like Nolan does a better job here, thankfully.
As far as Barbie goes...I almost feel like I've seen this movie five times. Certainly the marketing machine is set to 11.
Oh, that’s a good point of comparison.
Went to a BARBIE pre screening party/movie event last night. Film def tries juggling a myriad of messages, trying to please many masters. May not have been perfect, but the absolutely full theatre (first time for me since pre-pandemic seeing that) had a blast (although a number of jokes blew well over their heads, like a throwaway Proust joke)
I want to read this so bad, but I’m going to wait until after tomorrow.
I have tickets for Oppenheimer at the IMAX, and Barbie at the local arthouse.
My husband is taking the day off work so we can go together.
I haven’t been this excited for a movie release date in years.
I actually see Oppenheimer on Sunday (70mm!) but every time I see Cillian Murphy in the previews I want him to be cast as a younger Christopher Walken in a biopic.
I'm so desperate to see Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX, but I'd have to drive from Chicago to Indianapolis to do it.
I get 70mm, no IMAX — pretty much an either/or for me in Portland, and I'd rather give my money to the Hollywood than Regal.
It’s a hike, to be sure, but the IMAX screen at the Indiana State Museum is awe-inspiring.
Chicago doesn't have it??
We have a 70mm print at Music Box, which is great, but our IMAX theater was shut down. It was at Navy Pier. I remember seeing the press screening of Nolan's The Dark Knight there, which was only partially shot in IMAX format and that was fun. You'd get a 2:35-1 ratio for much of the film and during certain sequences, screen-filling IMAX. Given how obviously Chicago the film's Gotham City is, it was a good time.
That said, I don't believe the Navy Pier IMAX ever projected on film. I could be wrong about that.
I’m almost 100% sure Interstellar was shown in 70mm IMAX film at Navy Pier.
Oddly enough, the one movie I saw at that IMAX was BATMAN BEGINS.
About to see it in 70mm--the IMAX 70mm release in DC got canceled (damn the Smithsonian for still not having the Air and Space IMAX in DC proper open) so this will be the next best thing
Hell yeah. See you on the other side.
Just looked it up because I was curious and for 70mm IMAX I'd have to drive to either Langley, BC or Sacramento from Portland.
I have also been thinking about Twin Peaks: The Return in the lead up to Oppenheimer! And last week I realized that Ruth De Jong is the production designer for Oppenheimer! (She was also the production designer for Twin Peaks: The Return - I have her name memorized from seeing it in the opening credits so many times.)
S/o to Keith for being the only reviewer I e seen mention that millennial icons Olivia Thirlby and Michael Angarano are in this 😂
Snow Angels, part 2!
got this emailed to me today "Experience Oppenheimer in IMAX 70mm Film, the way Director Christopher Nolan intended!"
are senate hearings really improved in IMAX?
I doubt it. It reminds me of how everyone was gushing over Tarantino filming The Hateful Eight in 70mm and...dude...whole thing takes place inside a cabin. Who gives a shit?
My local cinema will either let me see Oppenheimer at 6pm (smack in the middle of getting small children ready for bed) or 10pm (which will end at 1:30am, 4.5 hours before small children get out of bed). Genuinely contemplating taking a half day off work to go further afield.
I hear you. Luckily mine had a 3:40 showing
Keith, what's your take on Oppenheimer's portrayal of Kitty? We get some glimpses of how she was suffering, but for me she did not seem to exist for any reason other than to serve the main character's story. There was almost nothing about who she was or what she wanted to do with her life. My main frustration with the film was that you could extend that description to almost all of the other characters except for Strauss.
I get that. I think having Blunt play the role goes a long way, though and that the narrow focus is by design, whether that’s fair to the others or to history. I also think the line “We’ve walked through fire together” (or whatever the exact quote is) says more about their marriage than the usual biopic moment with yelling and smashed plates.
Perhaps this is Barbie-influenced Gosling brain speaking, but I think Oppenheimer would make an interesting double feature with First Man - I feel like Chazelle accomplished something similar in creating a kinetic, visceral and somewhat iconoclastic/avant garde/experimental experience out of the historical biopic structure and within the major studio system.
I don’t really know if that movie’s left much of a cultural or critical impression (maybe it’s too much in the shadow of the Right Stuff - which could work too!) but I love it.
Just wanted to mention that Barbie’s design was based on that of a German sex doll named Lilli. Was THAT addressed in the film?
I would never spoil such a thing.
Enjoyed Barbie a lot and think Scott is spot on in his review, although I rated it a bit higher just because I found the Ken stuff so funny. Second act is a little weak (the real world) but it bounces back so strongly in the third.
What I think the culture war surrounding it (from seemingly both conservatives and leftists) misses is that any political statement Barbie is making is functionally the same as venting. It is not seriously arguing that men should be relegated to Ken status at the end of the film, it’s just giving women a fun time to let their frustrations escape through.
But man, those tv screens with horse footage on a loop - I laughed so hard at that. That’s all I really needed