There is little doubt that the so-called “Barbenheimer” will go down in history as the most celebrated film event of 2023, where the high expectations and the unstoppable party on social networks led to two diametrically opposed films released on the same day becoming resounding box office hits. . On the other hand, this very broad popularity was accompanied by very favorable reviews, which makes both—regardless of their summer release so far from the awards season—obvious contenders for the 2024 Oscar. However, who would certainly not be in favor of Barbie or Oppenheimer deserve the awards for the best of film art is the fifty-year-old director Kelly Reichardt.
In a recent interview with the Finnish news portal Helsingin Sanomatthe director responsible for First Cow (2019) and Wendy & Lucy (2008) spoke from his trench as an independent filmmaker when he stated that “Barbenheimer” was simply a multimillion-dollar business that the big studios knew how to sell as high art.
«[Ambas películas] “They are part of a huge marketing machine, but they are sold as art, which is simply celebrated,” said Kelly Reichardt. “As a filmmaker, I wonder what effect this will have on people’s expectations of future films.”
The previous statement arose at a moment in the interview in which the American director referred to the fact that apparently no one criticizes the fact that film mega-productions monopolize the conversation and the billboards, while small and alternative projects—of a truly artistic nature—struggle to achieve a couple of exhibition halls, eager to gain an audience in the commercial circuit and thus obtain income. Reichardt herself, despite headlining contending films at prestigious festivals such as Cannes and Venice, has never generated revenues of more than $2 million from her feature films. And in general, she perceives that art cinema is in a perpetual crisis.
«Movies are expensive. Even a low budget is a lot of money for someone. And no matter how tight the belt is, the distributor still has to spend money to let everyone know that the film exists,” he added.
You might also be interested in: Barbie: When and where to see the IMAX re-release in theaters in Mexico?
Barbie, by Greta Gerwig, is currently the highest-grossing film of the current year, having accumulated $1,417 million at the global box office as of the third week of September. In the third position of 2023 releases with the best profits, appears Oppenheimerby Christopher Nolan. The biopic around the father of the atomic bomb, $912 million has been raised globally.
Antonio G. Spindola I have very bad memory. Out of solidarity with my memories, I choose to get lost too. Preferably, in a movie theater.