Summary
- Werner Herzog’s candid critique of
Barbie
as “sheer hell” sparks debate, showing not all movies are universally beloved. - Barbie
‘s success despite divisiveness proves its deep satire resonates, challenging societal norms on gender and power. - Barbie
‘s lasting impact demonstrates a great movie doesn’t seek universal approval, but sparks ongoing discussions.
Werner Herzog‘s candid revelation that he “attempted” to watch Barbie and likens it to a vision of “sheer hell” has been seen as an attack on the biggest movie of 2023, especially when he reveals that he was unable to watch the rest of the movie. Known for his work on many documentaries, movies focused on ambition, conflict and personal struggles, and Star Wars series TheMandalorian, Herzog’s comments were made during an appearance on Piers Morgan: Uncensored, and were immediately jumped on by the host – who has been quite vocal of his own feelings on Barbie.
Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie, became a cultural phenomenon and a box office titan last year, grossing $1.4 billion worldwide and ending the year as the highest grossing movie. It presented a satirical take on gender dynamics, and addressed many current trending topics, including social beauty standards and self-discovery, all wrapped up in a bright pink bow. The colorful world of Barbie appears, on the surface, to be in stark contrast to Herzog’s own cinematic offerings and something he was not a fan of. While addressing whether he had seen Oppenheimer in cinemas, the director revealed that he had not, but he had seen part of Barbie. He commented:
“I have not seen Oppenheimer yet, but I will do it. Barbie, I managed to see the first half hour, and I was curious. I wanted to watch it because I was curious. And I still don’t have an answer, but I have a suspicion. Could it be that the world of Barbie is sheer hell? For a movie ticket, as an audience, you can witness sheer hell, as close as it gets.”
Morgan than barreled in over Herzog to say that he wants to save the director time and confirm the movie is “sheer hell,” although Herzog himself can be seen noting that he does plan on watching the rest of the movie before fully making a judgment.
Barbie Continues to Instigate Debate Months After Its Release
Gerwig’s Barbie has been at the center of controversy, particularly for its portrayal of a world where women hold power and men, including Ryan Gosling’s Ken, navigate their roles in this matriarchal society. Critics and audiences have been divided over the film, and there have certainly been many talk show hosts such as Morgan and Bill Maher, who have made their dislike of the movie clear for all to see. In the midst of this, there are those like Herzog, who clearly do not gel with the visual impression of the world depicted in Barbie, but who are willing to at least give it a full appraisal.
Despite the criticisms, Barbie’s commercial success and critical acclaim, along with its many awards nominations, are more than enough proof that Gerwig managed to create a movie that is superficial enough on the surface to become a target for the very kind of criticism it looks to address, but deeply satirical enough to hit the mark for those willing to dip a little further into the movie’s sub-context.
Werner Herzog Says Star Wars Presents a New Way of Understanding Our Role in the Universe
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Herzog’s recent comments, and the reaction of Morgan in light of them, continue to prove that the sign of a great movie is not necessarily one that looks to please everyone, but sets out its stall and aims to ensure that what it puts out on display is something that resonates strongly enough to invoke a reaction for several months. It is now coming up to a year since Barbie debuted in cinemas, yet opinions about the movie continue to come. In that aspect, Barbie achieved everything it set out to.
Barbie
is currently available to stream on Max.
