The Big Picture · Discussion · Interview
July 27, 2023/ 129 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean and Amanda bring in Joanna Robinson to break down 'Barbie' after its record opening weekend, then Sean gets Greta Gerwig on the phone.
3 films across 2 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
The 'Barbie' Reviewwith Joanna Robinson
Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's take on the doll and the corporation that makes her, praised as a rare studio movie that's a musical, a comedy, and a feminist argument at once. The group singles out Margot Robbie's performance, the production and costume design (Sarah Greenwood, Jacqueline Durran), America Ferrera's speech, and the Ken material as high points; the Mattel-headquarters plot mechanics as the sag.
Released the same weekend as 'Barbie'; the double feature ('Barbenheimer') anchors the opening discussion of the biggest theatrical event since 2019.
In conversation
Gerwig on directing Margot Robbie into the part, the year of prep with production designer Sarah Greenwood and costume designer Jacqueline Durran, building Barbie Land with 1959-era techniques, and the Mark Ronson/Andrew Wyatt score woven from Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish songs.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Communal-moviegoing comps Avengers: EndgameStar Wars: The Force AwakensTop Gun: MaverickTitanic
Gerwig and Baumbach's other work Lady BirdLittle WomenFrances HaNights and WeekendsWhite Noise
Cited world-building influences The Truman ShowPee-wee's Big AdventureThe Lego MovieThe Wizard of OzThe Matrix
Pop-culture references baked into 'Barbie' The Godfather2001: A Space Odyssey
Musical and visual references Gerwig cites XanaduSaturday Night FeverAnna Karenina
Margot Robbie's other roles The Suicide SquadBirds of PreyAsteroid City
Career and performance comps Heaven Can WaitDick TracyMy Cousin VinnyGone GirlFirst ReformedThe Squid and the WhaleThe NotebookWorking Girl
2023 awards-race chatter Killers of the Flower MoonMaestroThe Color PurpleSaltburnThe HoldoversPast LivesNapoleonAre You There God? It's Me, Margaret
The 2019 Best Director snub gauntlet Once Upon a Time in HollywoodMarriage StoryParasiteThe Irishman
Director-belt comps Get OutBlack Panther
Cinematography-bias chatter Empire of LightThe BatmanBlade Runner 2049
That weekend's other openers Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part OneMeg 2: The TrenchHaunted MansionTalk to Me
On the radar for 2024 TwistersChallengers
Greta's last great thing Journey to Italy
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Sex EducationSuperstoreThe O.C.The Bear
Stage/TV specials Into the Woods (1987 PBS taping)
Unreleased/announced Chronicles of Narnia (Gerwig's announced Netflix adaptation)
Ads TremfyaNOS EnergyCarvanaBoar's HeadFIFA World Cup Launch Edition (Netflix game ad)