Three things are true. Everyone has an opinion on “Barbie,” you’re in a fantastic position if everyone is talking about your film (hello, Oscars), and old, cantankerous DGAF filmmakers make for excellent copy. Like Paul Schrader, who has been in the headlines lately for his controversial opinions on Jonathan Glazer’s acclaimed “Zone of Interest” (which he called “great-ish,” but typically has some unkind things to say about it), horror filmmaker John Carpenter always speaks his mind because he’s just old and doesn’t give a f*ck (and to be fair, it’s been about three decades since Carpenter was like this at least).
READ MORE: Scott Derrickson Says Barbie Is “Extraordinary, Brilliant” & Should Probably Win Oscar’s Best Picture
In an LA Times article about his new show “Suburban Screams,” Carpenter was asked about what films he has watched and brought up the omnipresent “Barbie” directed by Greta Gerwig, which, again, everyone seems to have to weigh in on and have a take. The no-holds-barred filmmakers take? He didn’t get it; he doesn’t even believe he saw it, he loves Margot Robbie, and there’s also something about patriarchy in there that he doesn’t quite understand either.
“I don’t go out. I haven’t been to a movie in a while, but I see them at my house. I’ll see it there. I watched ‘Barbie.’ I can’t believe I watched ‘Barbie’” he said (lol). “It’s just not my generation. I had nothing to do with Barbie dolls. I didn’t know who Allan was. I mean, I can sum it up. She says, “I don’t have a vagina,” and then at the end, “I’m going to go to a gynecologist!” That’s the movie to me. I mean, there’s a patriarchy business in there, but I missed that whole thing. Right over my head. But I think she’s fabulous, Margot Robbie.”
One could try and surmise what Carpenter means by the vagina to gynecological analogy—though really, it’s intentional and about identity and self-actualization, from plastic and fake to real—but it almost sounds as though Carpenter doesn’t understand what the movie is really about.
Honestly, though, “Barbie” is about identity and who we really are. Look at ideas like “I’m Kenough” and “I’m Just Ken,” those are Ken’s ideas of inadequacy because when Barbie leaves him, he doesn’t know who he is and has to reach for affirmations to keep him afloat (which is part of why he doubles-down on being a jackass in the third act). Barbie’s identity is similar in that she doesn’t know who she is or what she wants first; she has to fit a mold of plastic femaledom—one built by patriarchy—break free and then fully discover who she is.
Now, if you didn’t like “Barbie,” OK, fair enough—and I’m somewhere in the middle, to be honest— but if you don’t think Barbie is about something (sorry, Mr. Carpenter), you’re not paying attention to the basics and maybe don’t even understand the fundamentals of human beings!
Peacock’s “Suburban Scream” premieres Friday, October 13, and “Barbie” is basically available where movies are made for rental these days.
