Travel back in time for this piece of historical fiction of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb, and then travel forward in time for a documentary look at fashion icon Barbie, her biggest reinvention and an examination of over 60 years of women through pop culture. Film critic Linda Cook reviews ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Tiny Shoulders, Rethinking Barbie.’

You can catch all of Linda’s movie reviews here.

‘OPPENHEIMER’

“Oppenheimer” is utter perfection. It’s a timeless movie for the ages, with a lengthy running time that’s worth every scene for its history, character development, direction and a memorable score.

Director/co-screenwriter Christopher Nolan’s genius – also obvious in the likes of “Dunkirk,” “Inception” and “The Dark Knight,” is evident in every frame of this biopic/history of the atomic bomb.

The screenplay is based on the book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin.

Cillian Murphy, well known for “Peaky Blinders,” may very well earn the Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the physicist who changed the outcome of World War II and, indeed, global politics.

The audience sees Oppenheimer as a brilliant student of the world around him – art, languages, politics and science all intrigue the young man. He understands, when German scientists split the atom in 1938, that this achievement could be used in weaponry.

Oppenheimer’s politics and his connections to the American Communist Party are called into question by Maj. Gen. Leslie Groves (Matt Damon,) leader of The Manhattan Project, the United States’ name for the development of the atomic bomb.

The rest, as they say, really is history, with an all-star cast including Robert Downey Jr., Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, and Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer’s wife and Florence Pugh as his mistress.

Ludwig Goransson’s driven score – one of the year’s finest – gives the movie its pulse, its tension, and its tempo.

I still can’t believe this film is three hours long. I didn’t feel it. I never felt the time drag and every sequence is engaging.

This is a masterpiece. See it on the big screen, where it deserves to be watched.

Rated: R for foul language, nudity, disturbing images and sexual situations.

4 stars

Running time: Three hours.

Only in theaters.

Watch the trailer here.

‘TINY SHOULDERS’

Oh, Hulu, how smart are you?

People who never played with a doll in their lives have made the “Barbie” movie a current box office hit.

Now is the perfect time to present the 2018 documentary “Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie” for those who just can’t enough of Barbie. And that, apparently, is millions of people.

This is a serious documentary for so many reasons. My favorite segments include Ruth Handler, who appears in a fictionalized version in the new blockbuster “Barbie” movie.

The real Handler (now deceased) appears here to discuss how she brought the idea of a fashion doll to the United States from Germany, where the “Bild Lilli” doll was launched in 1955. It was based on a magazine cartoon character who was a shrewd kind of gold-digger.

In Germany, the doll was sold mostly to men in tobacco shops and bars.

Handler, one of the founders of Mattel, brought home a few of the dolls from Europe. And the first Barbie – Handler’s daughter was named Barbara – debuted in 1959. You’ll see how the doll first was manufactured and introduced.

After some years, Barbie became controversial. Does she really represent women? Does she inspire inferiority complexes in little girls? We watch the development of Barbie updates, and how they were received.

I was pre-kindergarten age when I had my first Barbie, and I saw her as a career woman. Other girls don’t have the same fond memories I do.

The film gives the audience a lot of food for thought. Much like the “Barbie” feature film, it’s interesting whether you are a “Barbie” fan. Regardless of your politics, it’s fascinating to see how the iconic toy took its place in the world.

Barbie  often is referred to as the world’s most recognizable toy. When you see this movie, you’ll understand just how ubiquitous, and complex, “Barbie” really is.

3 stars

Streaming on Hulu.

Unrated.

Running time: One hour and 31 minutes.

Watch the trailer here.