I will second After Hours. For a comedy I remember experiencing more anxiety and fear than I expected. It’s a classical comedy since at the end everything gets back to normal.
I don't know where you live, Sonny. But, I will say that if you have access to Woods Comfort Systems, they have always treated us well. Sorry for your situation, it sounds like a nightmare. And here there be hot.
Barbie is one of the most intellectual screenplays I have ever seen. If you don't get it; it's probably because you don't have a clue about the history of women or feminism. Sad for you.
I'm a boomer and I loved Barbie. It's smart, and funny as hell and entertaining. Most of the jokes land and the casting, choreography and set design are outstanding. There are stories and character arcs that surprise you--when was the last time a movie actually did something you didn't expect? Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling couldn't be better--really, they nailed the entire cast.
I can't believe you wrote, "I hope the sequel is about Ken. Now there’s a character whose interior life is pretty interesting …" I read this and think we saw a completely different version of the movie. The Kens in Barbie have such a wonderful arch--it not only parallels what women have gone through since forever, it shows how men are damaged by patriarchy too. I also look at the right-wing freak out about masculinity and think only people who haven't seen the movie, or people who keep their eyes shut when anything challenges their preconceived beliefs can think it was man-hating.
By the end, men and women embrace the entirety of themselves, regardless of gender roles, celebrating masculinity and femininity as traits that can be cherished in either gender. What a great message.
It not a perfect movie, I know you liked this, but I thought all the Will Farrell parts could be cut with very little determinate to the final product. I'm also not happy that we'll now get dozens of Mattel branded movies that won't come anywhere close to this, but judging Barbie on its merits alone I give the overall experience 4.5 stars.
First, a prayer to the home improvement gods... my hot water heater died recently but it merely leaked all over the concrete floor damaging nothing. My condolences.
Re: Barbie - my 18 year-old daughter and her best friend (also an 18 year-old female) saw Barbie and loved it. My GenX wife gave it a hard pass. I think, per Sonny, its primary demo is older GenZ to young-ish millennials (certainly not elderly and decrepit millennials like Tim Miller). From my daughter's telling, she and her friend loved it and plan to return. Its not just, or even primarily, the fashion - its the colors, setting, and commentary on Barbie (especially loved by my daughter was when Barbie was called a fascist) and Ken's journey. I haven't seen it, but from my daughter's telling the person getting the focus on the interior life was Ken.
I'm certainly not the target demo either, but it sounds like it succeeded on its terms? Maybe?
Anyway, it sounds better than whatever Marvel movie just came out and the Flash... (can't do any more super hero movies...)
Well, Sonny, everyone's taste in entertainment is different. All I need to say about mine, I suppose, is that for some time now I've found it much more entertaining and enjoyable to read what you have to say about what's been coming out of Hollywood than to actually watch what's been coming out of Hollywood, though I have to admit that Oppenheimer's actually piqued my long dormant interest, and I just might stop yawning long enough to check it out at some point. Keep up the good work.
Your comment about overhearing the other moviegoer admiring the dresses in Barbie - remember when they used to make "women's pictures" in the 30's, 40's and 50's that a lot of the draw for women moviegoers to enjoy the clothes and see what Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck and Bette Davis were wearing in their pictures. It's still a draw, women love fashion! So, I think that Hollywood needs to remember that. I didn't love the movie either but I'm also happy for its success - and yes, Ryan Gosling is the best thing about the movie.
I'm reading the Oppenheimer biography now, little by little. I love it. Rarely do we get so deeply into the interior life of a person, as well as hear from people who knew him and, there's more! a thorough account of the larger world in which the person operated. The whole enchilada. Reading the book and the reviews and seeing a few previews makes me realize I must wait till I'm a little better put-together, emotionally speaking, than I am right now before seeing it. Hell, I was a little wrecked by Baz Luhmanns's Elvis. Hate to think what Oppenheimer could do. There's something about a person (usually/always a man) of huge talent and drive and divine spark colliding/colluding with his times to make history. Then it ends up sad. So much greatness laid to waste and so much pain. Anyway, maybe Barbie is a movie about a woman doll who unknowingly had an appointment with history; I can't say because I haven't seen it.
Of course you didn't like Barbie. It's not FOR you. Women are consumers too. The funny things is - YOU need Barbie to create your content - but Barbie - and that audience - does not need you ; )
For some of us the thought of universe that only contains the Marvel or iterations of middle age stars blowing up things is as horrifying is as horrifying a movie the future one that inclues the Eight Ball. Barbie? Great. And I want more Midge not Ken. Enough with bros.
“Will this be yet another piece of evidence in Sarah Longwell’s long-running effort to paint me as indifferent to the interior lives of women? Yes. It probably will”
Yep. And she will be right about it. Just like she was right when you mocked her for believing that Tár was a straightforward manipulative villain instead of a complicated figure who we are meant to view as *both* an ambitious, inspirational genius and a troubled, manipulative liar/fraud. Also the relationship between her and her lesbian partner, Sharon, was complicated but she knew the type of person Tár was and what she was getting in to. There was a manipulative, transactional quality to it but there was real love there as well.
I haven’t seen ‘Barbie’ but I’m predisposed to thinking you missed a lot of the subtle subtext there as well because Greta Gerwig doesn’t do anything thoughtlessly or by accident:
Anyway, I’ve heard so many great things about this Oppenheimer discussion between you and Mona that being able to listen to that discussion is a large part of my motivation to go see it sooner rather than later.
Also thanks for the tip on “After Hours” - it’s been on my watch list since I saw the Ted Lasso parody.
Sonny, Sonny, Sonny, How could not not enjoy all the witty sarcasm truths in the Barbie movie? I feel for you man because you are missing out big time! Maybe you will get what it is all about years from now after you have a bit more life experience under your belt! XO From a fan
I Didn't Like 'Barbie,' but I Love Its Success
I will second After Hours. For a comedy I remember experiencing more anxiety and fear than I expected. It’s a classical comedy since at the end everything gets back to normal.
I don't know where you live, Sonny. But, I will say that if you have access to Woods Comfort Systems, they have always treated us well. Sorry for your situation, it sounds like a nightmare. And here there be hot.
Plenty of boomers are enjoying the Barbie movie also. We also know who Greta Gerwig is.
Did you need an I love Ricky after I love Lucy, Sonny? Sometimes a supporting character is just that.
Barbie is one of the most intellectual screenplays I have ever seen. If you don't get it; it's probably because you don't have a clue about the history of women or feminism. Sad for you.
I'm a boomer and I loved Barbie. It's smart, and funny as hell and entertaining. Most of the jokes land and the casting, choreography and set design are outstanding. There are stories and character arcs that surprise you--when was the last time a movie actually did something you didn't expect? Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling couldn't be better--really, they nailed the entire cast.
I can't believe you wrote, "I hope the sequel is about Ken. Now there’s a character whose interior life is pretty interesting …" I read this and think we saw a completely different version of the movie. The Kens in Barbie have such a wonderful arch--it not only parallels what women have gone through since forever, it shows how men are damaged by patriarchy too. I also look at the right-wing freak out about masculinity and think only people who haven't seen the movie, or people who keep their eyes shut when anything challenges their preconceived beliefs can think it was man-hating.
By the end, men and women embrace the entirety of themselves, regardless of gender roles, celebrating masculinity and femininity as traits that can be cherished in either gender. What a great message.
It not a perfect movie, I know you liked this, but I thought all the Will Farrell parts could be cut with very little determinate to the final product. I'm also not happy that we'll now get dozens of Mattel branded movies that won't come anywhere close to this, but judging Barbie on its merits alone I give the overall experience 4.5 stars.
Wanted to share this critique from The Atlantic since it's a divergent, though I think complementary, review to yours: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/07/barbie-movie-ken/674852/
First, a prayer to the home improvement gods... my hot water heater died recently but it merely leaked all over the concrete floor damaging nothing. My condolences.
Re: Barbie - my 18 year-old daughter and her best friend (also an 18 year-old female) saw Barbie and loved it. My GenX wife gave it a hard pass. I think, per Sonny, its primary demo is older GenZ to young-ish millennials (certainly not elderly and decrepit millennials like Tim Miller). From my daughter's telling, she and her friend loved it and plan to return. Its not just, or even primarily, the fashion - its the colors, setting, and commentary on Barbie (especially loved by my daughter was when Barbie was called a fascist) and Ken's journey. I haven't seen it, but from my daughter's telling the person getting the focus on the interior life was Ken.
I'm certainly not the target demo either, but it sounds like it succeeded on its terms? Maybe?
Anyway, it sounds better than whatever Marvel movie just came out and the Flash... (can't do any more super hero movies...)
Well, Sonny, everyone's taste in entertainment is different. All I need to say about mine, I suppose, is that for some time now I've found it much more entertaining and enjoyable to read what you have to say about what's been coming out of Hollywood than to actually watch what's been coming out of Hollywood, though I have to admit that Oppenheimer's actually piqued my long dormant interest, and I just might stop yawning long enough to check it out at some point. Keep up the good work.
Your comment about overhearing the other moviegoer admiring the dresses in Barbie - remember when they used to make "women's pictures" in the 30's, 40's and 50's that a lot of the draw for women moviegoers to enjoy the clothes and see what Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Barbara Stanwyck and Bette Davis were wearing in their pictures. It's still a draw, women love fashion! So, I think that Hollywood needs to remember that. I didn't love the movie either but I'm also happy for its success - and yes, Ryan Gosling is the best thing about the movie.
I'm reading the Oppenheimer biography now, little by little. I love it. Rarely do we get so deeply into the interior life of a person, as well as hear from people who knew him and, there's more! a thorough account of the larger world in which the person operated. The whole enchilada. Reading the book and the reviews and seeing a few previews makes me realize I must wait till I'm a little better put-together, emotionally speaking, than I am right now before seeing it. Hell, I was a little wrecked by Baz Luhmanns's Elvis. Hate to think what Oppenheimer could do. There's something about a person (usually/always a man) of huge talent and drive and divine spark colliding/colluding with his times to make history. Then it ends up sad. So much greatness laid to waste and so much pain. Anyway, maybe Barbie is a movie about a woman doll who unknowingly had an appointment with history; I can't say because I haven't seen it.
Of course you didn't like Barbie. It's not FOR you. Women are consumers too. The funny things is - YOU need Barbie to create your content - but Barbie - and that audience - does not need you ; )
For some of us the thought of universe that only contains the Marvel or iterations of middle age stars blowing up things is as horrifying is as horrifying a movie the future one that inclues the Eight Ball. Barbie? Great. And I want more Midge not Ken. Enough with bros.
“Will this be yet another piece of evidence in Sarah Longwell’s long-running effort to paint me as indifferent to the interior lives of women? Yes. It probably will”
Yep. And she will be right about it. Just like she was right when you mocked her for believing that Tár was a straightforward manipulative villain instead of a complicated figure who we are meant to view as *both* an ambitious, inspirational genius and a troubled, manipulative liar/fraud. Also the relationship between her and her lesbian partner, Sharon, was complicated but she knew the type of person Tár was and what she was getting in to. There was a manipulative, transactional quality to it but there was real love there as well.
I haven’t seen ‘Barbie’ but I’m predisposed to thinking you missed a lot of the subtle subtext there as well because Greta Gerwig doesn’t do anything thoughtlessly or by accident:
https://youtu.be/s2rNnOGfmv0
Anyway, I’ve heard so many great things about this Oppenheimer discussion between you and Mona that being able to listen to that discussion is a large part of my motivation to go see it sooner rather than later.
Also thanks for the tip on “After Hours” - it’s been on my watch list since I saw the Ted Lasso parody.
Your conversation with Mona was good
Sonny, Sonny, Sonny, How could not not enjoy all the witty sarcasm truths in the Barbie movie? I feel for you man because you are missing out big time! Maybe you will get what it is all about years from now after you have a bit more life experience under your belt! XO From a fan