Barbie Review

Barbie

Release Date: 20th July 2023 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Heyday Films

LuckyChap Entertainment

NB/GG Pictures

Mattel Films

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 114 minutes

Budget: $145,000,000

Box Office Gross: $1,445,638,421 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In the colourful and

seemingly perfect world of

Barbie Land, Barbie and Ken

have the time of their lives.

But they soon discover the

joys and dangers of living

among humans when they

get to go out into the real

world.

Cast

Margot Robbie - Barbie

Issa Rae - Barbie

Kate McKinnon - Barbie

Alexandra Shipp - Barbie

Emma Mackey - Barbie

Hari Nef - Barbie

Sharon Rooney - Barbie

Ana Cruz Kayne - Barbie

Rita Arya - Barbie

Dua Lipa - Barbie

Nicola Coughlan - Barbie

Emerald Fennell - Midge

Ryan Gosling - Ken

Simu Liu - Ken

Kingsley Ben-Adir - Ken

Ncuti Gatwa - Ken

Scott Evans - Ken

John Cena - Ken

Michael Cera - Allan

America Ferrara - Gloria

Ariana Greenblatt - Sasha

Helen Mirren - Narrator

(Voice)

Rhea Perlman - Ruth

Will Ferrell - Mattel CEO

Connor Swindells - Aaron Dinkins

Jamie Demetriou - Mattel Executive #1

Andrew Leung - Mattel Executive #2

Ray Fearon - Dan at the FBI

Erica Ford - Skipper

Hannah Khalique-Brown -

Growing Up Skipper

Mette Narrative - Barbie

Video Girl

Marisa Abela - Teen Talk Barbie

Lucy Boynton - Proust Barbie

Rob Brydon - Sugar Daddy Ken

Tom Stourton - Earring Magic Ken

Genvieve Toussiant - Young Sasha

Ann Roth - The Woman on the Bench

Annie Mumolo - Anxiety Mom

Lauren Holt - Time Mom

Ryan Piers Williams - El

Esposo De Gloria

Crew

Writer/Executive Producer/

Director - Greta Gerwig

Writer/Executive Producer -

Noah Baumbach

Executive Producers - Cate

Adams, Richard Dickson,

Toby Emmerich, Ynon Kreiz

and Courtenay Valenti

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Michael Sharp

Producers - Tom Ackerley,

Robbie Brenner, David Heyman

and Margot Robbie

Co-Producer - Christine Crais

Casting Directors - Lucy Bevan and Allison Jones

Production Designer - Sarah Greenwood

Supervising Art Director - Dean Clegg

Supervising Art Director: Los Angeles Unit -

Andrew Max Cahn

Set Decorator - Katie Spencer

Costume Designer - Jacqueline Durran

Director of Photography - Rodrigo Prieto

First Assistant Director: Second Unit,

Los Angeles - Tom Brewster

Second Unit Director: Los Angeles Unit -

George Cottle

Stunt Coordinator - Roy Taylor

Special Effects Supervisor - Mark Holt

Visual Effects Supervisor - Glen Pratt

Editor - Nick Houy

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/

Supervising Sound Editor - Ai-Ling Lee

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor -

Dan Kenyon

Sound Designers - Nia Hansen and

Tobias Poppe

Re-Recording Mixer - Kevin O'Connell

Music - Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt

Music Supervisor - George Drakoulias

Conductor/Music Arranger/Orchestrator -

Matt Dunkley

Score Recordist & Mixer - Peter Cobbin

Review

As a kid, I never liked Barbie anyway, and if I remember correctly, my sister used to have that doll when she was young. However, I did see a few direct-to-video animated features and a parodic version in the Toy Story series. Recently, I watched the movie and sat stunned by the closure. At first, I wasn't thrilled about seeing it, but I never thought it'd be completely different. I would have wanted to see Oppenheimer instead of BARBIE but chose not to.

BARBIE is a fun, sparkling movie with an original concept and self-aware humour. You'd be surprised how it is a comedy for teens and adults, not for young children, as some might suggest it would be. Writer/director Greta Gerwig understands what was wrong with the Barbie franchise and spoofs the titular brand by turning it into a candy-coated satire full of feminism. Though the film can get a little preachy in its anti-patriarchy message, it has a witty script that has heart and pokes fun at the brand itself for its consumerism, gender stereotypes, attempts at reinvention, etc. But BARBIE wouldn't be complete with a star-studded cast.

Margot Robbie is an excellent choice to play the titular doll character. She nails the comical aspects and emotional beats in her role and humanises her, giving an extraordinary performance. She pairs well with Gosling, who does the same for Ken, and his perpetual confusion is instantly relatable. The extensive supporting cast is well-chosen, with Will Ferrell playing a CEO, similar to his previous role in The Lego Movie, Michael Cera as the forgotten and discontinued Allan and America Ferrara as a truthful mum, Gloria. The set design and costumes are gorgeous, especially in pastel pink, which creates a unique and colourful look at Barbie Land. The soundtrack is excellent, with artists like Dua Lupa, Nicki Minaj and Billie Eilish.

Overall, this film is enjoyable and worth watching. It's packed with hilarity, gives you a good laugh and makes you wonder if you want to live in a dream house (or, in this case, a dollhouse) with Ken and Barbie. Those familiar with Barbie shall experience the movie and be tickled pink (no pun intended).

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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In Memory of William Friedkin (1935-2023)

William Friedkin (1935-2023)

Oscar-winning director William Friedkin, who was best known for directing famous movies like "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist", had passed away. He was 87 years old. Friedkin ascended to A-status in the seventies as part of a new generation of dynamic, risk-taking filmmakers alongside Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola and Hal Ashby during the "New Hollywood" movement. Throughout his career, he drew praise for bringing a gritty, haunting, more independent style of filmmaking to blockbuster films, helping films such as "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist" achieve both commercial and enduring critical success.

He was born in Chicago in 1935. At age 18, he began his directional career with live shows and documentaries, including "The People vs. Paul Crump", which caught the attention of other filmmakers and other agents, and this helped him land a job working on "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" in one of its final episodes in 1965. That same year, he landed his big break in directing his first movie, "Good Times", with Sonny and Cher starring in the lead roles. He did "The Birthday Party", "The Night They Raided Minsky's", and the adaptation of "The Boys in the Band".

It was then in 1971 that Friedkin made his breakthrough with the now-classic neo-noir crime thriller "The French Connection", widely regarded as one of the most influential films ever. The film won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. His next big hit arrived two years after "The French Connection" was the occult horror film "The Exorcist". The film forever changed the genre and was nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. But "The Exorcist" would be his last major success at the box office.

Friedkin would not direct another film again until he made "Sorcerer" in 1977. It was way over budget and disappointing due to being mostly overshadowed by the success of "Star Wars", although it has since won acclaim. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Friedkin continued to direct more films such as "Cruising", "Deal of the Century", "Rampage", "Guardian", "Jade", and "To Live and Die in L.A.", the latter of which remains a favourite with critics.

His last movie, "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial", will be screened at this year's Venice Film Festival.

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