When Christopher Nolan decided to make “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig signed on to direct “Barbie,” it’s unlikely that either filmmaker expected to go head to head. But here we are, in the summer of “Barbenheimer,” as two very different movies go head to head this weekend.
While “Barbie” clearly has the commercial edge, the conversation around the new releases doesn’t stop there. Both movies are substantial works designed to deliver meaningful ideas about modern times, with auteur directors operating at the height of their powers. And both movies could keep their momentum going all the way through the fall and beyond. That’s right: Barbenheimer is coming for Oscar season.
On this week’s episode of Screen Talk, Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson discuss their experiences watching both movies over the past week as well as the challenges they face with mass audiences. They also look at the broader implications of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes as they pertain to the fall festival season with TIFF and Venice announcements right around the corner.
Watch the full episode above or listen to it below.
Screen Talk is produced by Azwan Badruzaman and available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify, and hosted by Megaphone. Browse previous episodes here, subscribe here, and be sure to let us know if you’d like to hear the hosts address specific issues in upcoming editions of Screen Talk.
