Academy voters love history and biopics and serious subjects.
This goes without saying.
But they also, especially in recent years, embrace originality (see “Parasite” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once”).
Hence this summer, on back-to-back weekends, the members lined up around the block at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills to see Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” at the weekly Academy screening, which is rarely full.
Both houses were packed and enthusiastic, reflecting the culture at large’s excited return to moviegoing to catch both films.
So far “Barbie” (Metascore: 80) has grossed $829 million worldwide (with $1 billion in sight), while “Oppenheimer” (Metascore: 88) currently tallies $440 million for a less overtly accessible film.Thus while “Oppenheimer” looks and feels like an Oscar contender — and it is — the more commercial and femme-targeted “Barbie” should not be counted out, even if it made more money at the box office.
Both…
Read full article