BONUS POST! Extra Read/Watch/Listen Recs after seeing Oppenheimer and Barbie
A bonus edition of You Should Check Out with extra recommendations on the two biggest movies of 2023
👋 Hello and welcome to this very special extra addition of You Should Check Out - Barbenheimer addition. The two biggest blockbusters of not just the summer but the year landed in theatres last weekend. Combined, both movies racked in $235.5 million in ticket sales - the fourth biggest-selling box office opening in history. In a streaming-centered world, theatres worldwide struggling to stay open after the pandemic, and even the biggest cinema chain in the U.K. filing for administration in 2023, it has been refreshing to see so much joy and buzz around cinema again. Some moviegoers have even been so keen to see both that they’ve done the movies back to back in one day.
I saw Oppenheimer first with my husband and before heading into the screen made sure I had done a pre-movie toilet trip and had acquired enough snacks to make sure I didn’t have to pop out and miss anything given the movie is on for a whopping three whole hours. Those three hours went by in a flash. I have always maintained that the best film I’ve ever seen at a cinema was The Dark Knight Rises (also directed by Nolan) and well, I think Oppenheimer now takes that title. I was mesmerised from start to finish. I knew nothing about Oppenheimer before the film. Science is also a weak subject of mine. I’m more of a creative, arty person and I did ponder if not grasping much terminology would hinder my experience but it absolutely didn’t. It is a heavy film that is filled with beautiful cinematography with a stellar cast. When I got home, it led me down a giant history rabbit hole. It made me think so much and even as I’m typing this, I am still processing some of my thoughts and feelings on Oppenheimer. But, it was phenomenal and I highly recommend it.
I saw Barbie on an outing with my best friend. We’ve both needed to lean on each other lately to get through some challenges we’ve had in our lives and so a trip to watch Barbie felt like the overdue fun we needed. It was actually a heartwarming feeling seeing a sea of women and kids of all ages dressed in pink. It felt more than going to see a movie. It was something that united everyone who all dressed up for the occasion. I feel like I went in knowing what to expect from Barbie. I expected it to be super colourful, glamorous and fun. It was but sooo much more. It was centered around the societal expectations of women and the patriarchy. I perhaps expected more bubblegum style fun but Greta Gerwig made a movie that encapsulated womanhood. I don’t think this is a kids' movie - there was even a little girl in the screening up the back row swinging off the staircase railing clearly bored and I get that. Most of the movies' meaning would go over their heads. But, is it ever too early to learn about the challenges they will grow to face? I also do think it will be divisive too. I enjoyed it. I would recommend it. But, I think the worldwide, insanely aggressive marketing has made me feel relieved I’ve seen it. If I was a Barbie, I would be the ‘fatigued from Barbie’ doll.
For me, I think these are both such important movies in two different very ways Oppenheimer is enjoyed more and it isn’t a shock as it is more my cup of tea. So, I wanted to follow up with some more recommendations following on from the movies for you to perhaps read, watch and enjoy. So, let’s go!
Oppenheimer Reading
📖 Nolan took his inspiration for the movie from the book American Prometheus : The Triumph And Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin. This is a whopping 770 pages and I am currently making my way through it on my kindle. This book is jammed packed with research from FBI files to accounts from friends, family, colleagues and those involved in the race to create the bomb.
📖 I have also downloaded and am 24% through Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse. This is a fictional book based on the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima that is based on historical records. It doesn’t just talk about the bombing itself but the aftermath this has had on the Japanese people for generations afterwards. I am a huge fan of Japanese literature and the writing style flows beautifully. I am making it a priority to finish the book this coming week.
📖 And a book I do eventually want to read is The Wives of Los Alamos by TaraShea Nesbit. This book is fictional and based on the women who relocated to the town specifically set up for the families of those working on the Manhattan Project.
Oppenheimer Internet Reading
🖇️ I loved this piece by Vanity Fair on Jean Tatlock, an American Physiatrist played by Florence Pugh in the movie. I was intrigued by her character and portrayal in the movie. This article gave more insight into the woman Tatlock, her academic background and of course, the relationship with the man at the centre of it all. A truly eloquent, well put together piece that I thoroughly recommend reading.
🖇️ This short article on Wired packs a punch explaining the infamous Oppenheimer ‘destroyer of worlds’ quote that is very complex.
🖇️ And an article on what Oppenheimer co-authored before the bomb.
Oppenheimer Watching
🎥 There is a Youtube Documentary by BBC History on The Trials of J Oppenheimer the day after my cinema trip and enjoyed this one.
🎥 And another documentary by the BBC called Hiroshima that focuses on the devastating aftermath of the bomb.
Oppenheimer Podcasts
🎧 The first thing I did going down my rabbit hole was start the The Bomb Season One. Really enjoying this even if some of it was covered in the movie.
🎧 And this interview on Happy Sad Confused with Cillian Murphy talking about his role and also his relationship with Nolan. Phenomenal listen!!
Barbie Reading
📖 A book I read many moons ago was Wordslut by Amanda Montell. It is all about deconstructing the words aimed at women that have been used over the years to diminish the female sex and retain power. V v interesting.
📖 A feminist book I always recommend is Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay. It is an essay collection where Gay explores the female ideology and what happens when you go against it? It is raw, well written and at times humorous too with a powerful message.
📖 A book that sounds like a twist on Barbieland is City Of Likes by Jenny Mollen. This plot sounds similar, I also love a wellness trope in a book. Like I’ve said, I’m pretty Barbie’d out at this point but I have added this to my TBR.
Barbie Internet Reading
🖇️ Devoured this piece by The New York Times titled Barbie Has Never Been a Great Symbol, but She’s an Excellent Mirror.
🖇️ This wonderful review by Haaniyah Angus here on Substack that I throughly recommend reading
Barbie Watching
🎥 My first thought when going to see Barbie was how much I used to love the movie Life Size back in the day. Another movie about a doll.
🎥 And I would also recommend The Princess Diaries movies, Enchanted and The Stepford Wives.
Barbie Listening
🎧 An exciting podcast I have only listened to one episode of that I will finish probably by the time this goes out is LA Made: The Barbie Tapes. Season two is all about the backstory to the Barbie doll from everything from how she was created, Mattel and where she sits with society today. It is only a three part series and the first episode was so juicy. I cant wait for the rest.
🎧 This episode by The Daily asking Can Barbie Be Rebranded As A Feminist Icon? was the first episode I listened to after seeing the movie and I think this probed the idea of the symbol of Barbie in excellent detail.
And breathe!!! That was so much to pull together but I wanted to mark this quite rare blockbuster event and share what I loved about each, what I’ve read/watch/listened to since and hopefully put together this piece so you can enjoy more content if those cinema trips just scratched the surface.
As always, thank you so much for reading! I hope you find something you enjoy from this. Right now, You Should Check Out is free and I want to make this remain as much as possible. But doing this is hard work and if you would like to contribute towards the work I do here on Substack, then you can pledge an amount and I would greatly appreciate that. Some have already and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to you for valuing my writing and everything I put together. I am extremely grateful and that acknowledgement means the world to me. Also, I’d love to know below have you seen both? What did you prefer? Or is only one on your must watch list? Leave a comment below.
See you next Thursday!
