Uncategorized
https://blackgirlnerds.com/review-in-barbie-everything-is-beautiful-and-everything-hurts/
Barbie’s journey is one from a beautiful, pink-palace existence to one that’s deeper, more meaningful, and more painful. Riding along with her, we have many opportunities to see ourselves reflected in her convertible’s rearview mirror.
Mattel’s Barbie is a burgeoning IP universe kicked off by what the toymaker hopes will be a summer blockbuster. Prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the film has enjoyed a marketing junket that included stunning red carpet premiere appearances, and headshots of featured players like Issa Rae (this Barbie is President), Dua Lipa (this Barbie is a mermaid), and America Ferrera (she’s a human).
The point of Barbie (the doll) is that she’s a tool of the imagination for anybody who wants to play with her. The point of Barbie (the movie) is that this blank-blonde canvas of our imaginations cannot be sure who she is or what it all means without our projections onto her.
Faced with cellulite and her high-heel shaped feet falling flat, Barbie discovers that even a doll can have an existential crisis. Ken, perennial passenger in Barbie’s behind-the-wheel existence, discovers the same. The hero’s journey is hers, but the backseat boyfriend is along for the ride. What follows is a fascinating and surprisingly weird exploration of identity within the framework of corporate ownership.
Like the doll who forms the film’s basis, Barbie has to wrestle with three separate political and aesthetic waves of feminism, dealing directly (sometimes right on screen) with the acceptance and rejection of her impossible image by the girls and women whose dreaming and storytelling tool she is meant to be. Throughout the film, doll who comes to the real world is confronted with worship, expectant awe, derision, and even dismissal by the girls she expects to receive her with love.
In the film, Barbie is not a singular individual, but an array of beautiful women fractured into different jobs and identities. This scatter of echoes notably includes Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie, the one whose hair has been chopped, face tattooed, and whose legs are always in the splits position, and transgender actress Hari Nef (this Barbie is a doctor) who both allow for direct and indirect conversations about gender in the context of what it means to be Barbie. It is Weird Barbie who gives main character Barbie the choice that kicks off the path of the film. Barbie must choose which path to follow which path to follow: pink satin heels or rose-gold-buckled Birkenstocks. Because a shoe is never just a shoe. Barbie has to choose whether it’s better to seek what is real or live forever in what is fake, plastic, and beautiful.
Who among us wouldn’t struggle with that choice?
Barbie’s struggles take her to the Real World, leading to confrontations with the law and the misogyny of our world. This allows Ken to recontextualize himself in a context where he comes first, and to decide what that means for him. Gosling’s performance in all this deepens him from happy-go-lucky hopeful to something more, echoing Robbie’s ability to go so deep into bimbo drag that she can make any role take on pathos and warmth. They both move from silly icons to lived-in characters who have changed over the course of the film.
President Barbie Issa Rae, in an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show, opened up about how it felt to play the iconic character and what informed her performance. “I played with Barbies, but I never imagined I would play Barbie, much less be in a Barbie movie.”
Actor and producer Rae described the process of creating President Barbie’s character, encouraged by Gerwig in early meetings. “My mom said, ‘Listen, you’re going to have Black Barbies in the house. You need to have that balance.’ Mind you — I was not allowed to watch PG-13 movies and all those kinds of things until I was the right age. If something was adult on TV, I couldn’t watch it. I couldn’t watch 90210, but she got me the 90210 Barbies. I made up the characters myself, and I tapped into that when making my character for the film.” Rae’s character in the film shows this connectedness to the material; both remote and imemdiate, both her own and influenced by the aspirational nature of being Barbie to a whole new generation.
Actress Alexandra Shipp (this Barbie is a celebrated author) echoed Rae in a red-carpet interview: “Greta makes a safe set. To work with a director like that is just a dream come true.” Shipp’s dreaminess comes across in all her scenes, where she acts out an imaginative kid’s idea of what it might be like to be a writer, but also very beautiful and never burdened by the demands of publishing. Her performance in this film is a hidden gem, making more out of a small part.
The Barbie dream comes true thanks in large part to heroic work by the visual appearance of the film. Production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer capture the indelible mark of the iconic toy line, rendering the environment colorful in a way that is only ever created for children, opting for physical objects over special effects. In some scenes, flat stick-on decals form the ranks of prodcuts on shelves. In others, the viewer becomes aware that the water in Barbie’s shower is pretend, and the doll does not eat or drink. The cinematography gives us both the outside view of a person playing with dolls, but also the inside perspective of the dolls themselves. We are all Barbie; we are all Barbie’s dreamer.
The dream continues in the film’s soundtrack, teased in the trailers but rolling out as undeniable as summer itself in a series of needle-drops as well as one actual musical number by a man who needs to soulfully sing his side of things. This includes original work from Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, HAIM, and BIllie Eilish, to name a few, as well as a song from Barbie herself, Dua Lipa.
Like Barbie’s legacy, the film is not perfect but it is a lot of fun if you bring your imagination to it. Like Barbie, many viewers will find themselves flat-footed and confused, but they will still utterly in love with an idea who is fake and plastic and wonderful and can never die.
Barbie opens in theaters on July 21, 2023.
Barbie’s journey is one from a beautiful, pink-palace existence to one that’s deeper, more meaningful, and more painful. Riding along with her, we have many opportunities to see ourselves reflected in her convertible’s rearview mirror.
Mattel’s Barbie is a burgeoning IP universe kicked off by what the toymaker hopes will be a summer blockbuster. Prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the film has enjoyed a marketing junket that included stunning red carpet premiere appearances, and headshots of featured players like Issa Rae (this Barbie is President), Dua Lipa (this Barbie is a mermaid), and America Ferrera (she’s a human).
The point of Barbie (the doll) is that she’s a tool of the imagination for anybody who wants to play with her. The point of Barbie (the movie) is that this blank-blonde canvas of our imaginations cannot be sure who she is or what it all means without our projections onto her.
Faced with cellulite and her high-heel shaped feet falling flat, Barbie discovers that even a doll can have an existential crisis. Ken, perennial passenger in Barbie’s behind-the-wheel existence, discovers the same. The hero’s journey is hers, but the backseat boyfriend is along for the ride. What follows is a fascinating and surprisingly weird exploration of identity within the framework of corporate ownership.
Like the doll who forms the film’s basis, Barbie has to wrestle with three separate political and aesthetic waves of feminism, dealing directly (sometimes right on screen) with the acceptance and rejection of her impossible image by the girls and women whose dreaming and storytelling tool she is meant to be. Throughout the film, doll who comes to the real world is confronted with worship, expectant awe, derision, and even dismissal by the girls she expects to receive her with love.
In the film, Barbie is not a singular individual, but an array of beautiful women fractured into different jobs and identities. This scatter of echoes notably includes Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie, the one whose hair has been chopped, face tattooed, and whose legs are always in the splits position, and transgender actress Hari Nef (this Barbie is a doctor) who both allow for direct and indirect conversations about gender in the context of what it means to be Barbie. It is Weird Barbie who gives main character Barbie the choice that kicks off the path of the film. Barbie must choose which path to follow which path to follow: pink satin heels or rose-gold-buckled Birkenstocks. Because a shoe is never just a shoe. Barbie has to choose whether it’s better to seek what is real or live forever in what is fake, plastic, and beautiful.
Who among us wouldn’t struggle with that choice?
Barbie’s struggles take her to the Real World, leading to confrontations with the law and the misogyny of our world. This allows Ken to recontextualize himself in a context where he comes first, and to decide what that means for him. Gosling’s performance in all this deepens him from happy-go-lucky hopeful to something more, echoing Robbie’s ability to go so deep into bimbo drag that she can make any role take on pathos and warmth. They both move from silly icons to lived-in characters who have changed over the course of the film.
President Barbie Issa Rae, in an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show, opened up about how it felt to play the iconic character and what informed her performance. “I played with Barbies, but I never imagined I would play Barbie, much less be in a Barbie movie.”
Actor and producer Rae described the process of creating President Barbie’s character, encouraged by Gerwig in early meetings. “My mom said, ‘Listen, you’re going to have Black Barbies in the house. You need to have that balance.’ Mind you — I was not allowed to watch PG-13 movies and all those kinds of things until I was the right age. If something was adult on TV, I couldn’t watch it. I couldn’t watch 90210, but she got me the 90210 Barbies. I made up the characters myself, and I tapped into that when making my character for the film.” Rae’s character in the film shows this connectedness to the material; both remote and imemdiate, both her own and influenced by the aspirational nature of being Barbie to a whole new generation.
Actress Alexandra Shipp (this Barbie is a celebrated author) echoed Rae in a red-carpet interview: “Greta makes a safe set. To work with a director like that is just a dream come true.” Shipp’s dreaminess comes across in all her scenes, where she acts out an imaginative kid’s idea of what it might be like to be a writer, but also very beautiful and never burdened by the demands of publishing. Her performance in this film is a hidden gem, making more out of a small part.
The Barbie dream comes true thanks in large part to heroic work by the visual appearance of the film. Production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer capture the indelible mark of the iconic toy line, rendering the environment colorful in a way that is only ever created for children, opting for physical objects over special effects. In some scenes, flat stick-on decals form the ranks of prodcuts on shelves. In others, the viewer becomes aware that the water in Barbie’s shower is pretend, and the doll does not eat or drink. The cinematography gives us both the outside view of a person playing with dolls, but also the inside perspective of the dolls themselves. We are all Barbie; we are all Barbie’s dreamer.
The dream continues in the film’s soundtrack, teased in the trailers but rolling out as undeniable as summer itself in a series of needle-drops as well as one actual musical number by a man who needs to soulfully sing his side of things. This includes original work from Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, HAIM, and BIllie Eilish, to name a few, as well as a song from Barbie herself, Dua Lipa.
Like Barbie’s legacy, the film is not perfect but it is a lot of fun if you bring your imagination to it. Like Barbie, many viewers will find themselves flat-footed and confused, but they will still utterly in love with an idea who is fake and plastic and wonderful and can never die.
Barbie opens in theaters on July 21, 2023.
As descendants of enslaved Africans, the word “freedom” stirs up a lot of emotions. Our ancestors knew a life of hard work and sacrifice. Freedom to them meant dreaming of a future for themselves and their descendants where rest, joy, and pleasure was a part of their daily routines.
Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in the United States, gives us space to honor and celebrate our ancestors’ strength and contributions to our survival. Our deceased loved ones endured hardship and still imagined living in a world where pleasure was our collective reality.
The concept of freedom includes more than just the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. There’s also joy and pleasure wrapped up in being free, too. What’s the point of freedom if we ain’t enjoying ourselves, too?
This month, take the time to explore what freedom looks like for you. Imagine what freedom looks like to you outside of entrepreneurship and financial commitments. Are you taking time to celebrate yourself? Are you engaging in things that bring you happiness and pleasure? Let this month’s horoscopes be your guide to leaning into the pleasure you deserve.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Don’t you think it’s about damn time you had a little fun? You deserve it, beloved. Your dedication to your business and your community is impeccable! BUT what about your dedication to yourself? Your joy? Your rest? Do you know that you don’t always have to work to deserve some self-care? July is begging you to go out and have some fun. Spend some time with yourself that isn’t related to business needs.
Taurus (April 20-May 21)
Stop! Do NOT plan that trip. As much as you would like to be somewhere far away, you’re just avoiding the real problem. Vacation isn’t going to solve it. You have to be honest with yourself about what is making you unhappy. You have to sit down and face the truth, Taurus. Ask yourself, in what ways am I hindering my ability to grow? This could be spiritually, emotionally, or even with the decisions you are making around your business. Why are you avoiding working on yourself?
Gemini (May 21-June 21)
You’re not where you want to be. Pay attention to how you feel in the environments you are in. Do you feel supported? Do you feel like you can trust who you are around? It’s not your fear that’s making you feel that way, it’s your intuition. Listen to what it is saying. Time to move on. Don’t make things work that ain’t working.
Cancer (June 21-July 23)
If you want a soft life, you have got to take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself, Cancer, looks like knowing when to let things go. Can you actually do that? You are tired because you are wearing too many hats and in charge of too many projects. Everyone loves a supporter but not a micromanager. Which are you? Take some things off of your workload and it will still get done. You need the rest, boo. Did you hear me? You need to rest, boo.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
Some things are falling out of alignment. Are you going to let them go or hold on? Your core values no longer match the commitments you have made to others. As we grow, our needs start to change. You are longing for a community of like-minded people. You want connection, not obligation. You have permission to be this new version of yourself, and that requires letting things not for you fall away.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 23)
You need to find time to be alone.The question isn’t should you take time off, but instead how can you step away without everything falling apart when you do? Sweet Virgo, you are strategic. Don’t just make a business plan, make a very good damn plan. You need this time alone to restore and renew yourself.
Libra ( Sept. 23-Oct. 23)
Have you imagined a different reality for yourself, Libra? Maybe you’ve been feeling out of business balance lately because your needs have changed. It’s time to experiment and create new ways to support yourself. You don’t have to continue operating in ways that don’t serve you anymore.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22)
You don’t belong at that table. That table is raggedy and on its last leg. Scorpio, you are talented at telling the truth. If things are not a good fit, let people know the absolute truth. The reason you don’t belong at that table has nothing to do with your skill, experiences, and voice. You know when something isn’t genuine. Aligning yourself with that project would go against what your gut is telling you. Tell them no when they ask you to join them.
Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 22)
What you need right now, Sagittarius, is the courage to change. You need to give yourself permission to be openly curious. We learn new things about ourselves when we allow ourselves the space for exploration and curiosity. If you want to invite more joy and pleasure into your life, you need to make changes. Allow yourself to be curious.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)
Fill your schedule up with as much rest and pleasure as you can this month. There are so many opportunities and who says you can’t do all of them? Don’t worry too much about spending too much time out with friends. You’ve worked hard this year and deserve a break. Go ahead and plan a day or three away from the office to just lay in bed.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)
Stop being hesitant. If it brings you joy, you should do it. You’re in the way of what could bless you. Did you hear me? You are in the way of your blessing. Stop being hesitant to move toward what you want. Your anxiety is getting in the way. If you want to go and do a thing, go out and do a thing. Doing it is the only way to know if you’ll like it. Go do it.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 21)
Get ready for an unexpected opportunity. If you can dream it—it can be a reality. Have you ever sat down and made a vision board for yourself? This month write down your wildest dreams and hopes for yourself. It might seem unrealistic, but miracles happen all the time. Something good is going to happy for you, you just have to believe it to be true.
RELATED CONTENT: The Business Forecast: What Is Your Horoscope Telling You About Your Business Dealings?
It’s been a busy time for Marvel’s fan-favorite hero Ms. Marvel. Ms. Marvel joined the world of live-action in her own MCU Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel. Iman Vellani plays Ms. Marvel in the MCU. And Vellani’s Ms. Marvel is also getting ready to make her big-screen MCU debut in The Marvels, the Captain Marvel sequel coming in November. Meanwhile, in the world of Marvel Comics, Ms. Marvel recently died, sacrificing herself for the world in Amazing Spider-Man #26. This Marvel Comics death did not sit well with fans, though, and there was great protest on Ms. Marvel’s behalf. But death is often not permanent in Marvel’s comics, and Kamala Khan will be back.
In a delightful turn of events, the MCU’s Ms. Marvel Iman Vellani will actually be the one to write Kamala Khan’s return to Marvel Comics in Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant. This time Ms. Marvel will join a new team, becoming a member of the X-Men.
The MCU’s Ms. Marvel Iman Vellani Will Write a Ms. Marvel Comic for Marvel Comics
That’s a lot to unpack. First—we absolutely love that Iman Vellani will write this new Ms. Marvel comic for Marvel Comics alongside Sabir Pirzada. Vellani shared with Entertainment Weekly via Marvel’s website, “This was way scarier than joining the MCU for me… Those projects feel like they live in their own dimension, so I guess I can separate myself easier. But you can hold a comic book! I’ve never written anything before in my entire life, but I have read many comics, so I just wrote what I would want to read. I was given a very professional tool to write what is essentially my own fan fiction.”
We feel it’s likely that no one loves the character of Ms. Marvel more than Iman Vellani, so it’s safe to say she and the story are in good hands. Vellani herself is also known to be a huge Marvel fan. Pirzada shares of making the Ms. Marvel comic, “It was actually a very humbling experience to work with Iman [Vellani], because she knows her comics even better than I do, and that is saying something… She was throwing out references to specific comics that came out before either of us were born. She has a very great eye for what makes for a good sequence on the page as drawn by an artist. It was very impressive to me to see her throw out all these references to different artists that she’s been following through the years.”
Ms. Marvel Will Join the X-Men in Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant
Next up, we can’t wait to see Ms. Marvel join the X-Men. Ms. Marvel has been part of many Marvel Comics teams, like the Avengers and the Inhumans. But this marks the first-time Ms. Marvel will join up with the X-Men. We feel that will make for an excellent adventure, guarenteed. This crossover also makes us think more about what might happen in live-action. The X-Men will join the MCU sooner or later—if Wolverine’s yellow Deadpool 3 suit is any indicator. Maybe we’ll see Ms. Marvel as a member of the MCU X-Men team when it arrives; there will be Marvel Comics precedence now, after all.
Vellani shares more about this Ms. Marvel change in the Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant comics, noting. “I want to make it very, very clear that we are not reconning her Inhuman origin. That’s a part of Kamala’s identity that Marvel editorial and myself would very much like to keep and protect… Our book will absolutely reflect all those core themes of identity that the Ms. Marvel comics have consistently explored — only now there’s a whole new label that Kamala has to learn to accept. It’s going to be pretty crazy.”
More About Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant: Synopsis, Release Date, and X-Men Costume
In addition, Marvel has revealed a synopsis of Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant. It reads:
After being brought back via Krakoan Resurrection Technology, Kamala is shocked to learn she is mutant. But before she has a chance to come to terms with this revelation, the catastrophic FALL OF X will throw her world into chaos…and a secret mission on behalf of the X-Men.
Ms. Marvel will also receive a brand new X-Men costume in Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant. This suit comes from “superstar artist Jamie McKelvie, who designed Carol Danvers’ iconic Captain Marvel suit and Kamala’s original Ms. Marvel look in the comics.”
Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant will be a four-issue limited series co-written by Iman Vellani and Sabir Pirzada. The new Ms. Marvel comic will be drawn by artists Carlos Gómez and Adam Gorham. Covers will be drawn by Sara Pichelli. Ms. Marvel: New Mutant #1 will go on sale August 30.
The post The MCU’s Ms. Marvel Iman Vellani Will Write a MS. MARVEL Comic appeared first on Nerdist.