Even months after the fact, these days, the standard question every filmmaker seems to get is something about “Barbie” or #Barbieheimer, or maybe it’s just Piers Morgan. Filmmaker Werner Herzog was on Piers Morgan Uncensored recently, for some reason, to discuss his life and career, but also because it’s Morgan, “woke culture” in Hollywood, Putin, Israel, Hamas, and because it’s hard-hitting journalism, hypnotizing chickens.
Morgan eventually asked if he was more of an “Oppenheimer” guy or a “Barbie” fan. Herzog explained that he had only seen the first thirty minutes of “Barbie” but offered a scathing, though arguably oblique, critique of the film, given he hadn’t finished it.
“I have not seen ‘Oppenheimer’ yet, but I will do it with ‘Barbie,’ I managed to see the first half hour. I wanted to watch it because I was curious, and I still don’t have an answer, but I have a suspicion,” Herzog said. “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.”
“I don’t know yet,” Herzog said smiling, adding, “Give me a moment to watch the whole thing.”
Of course, Morgan was really thrilled by Hergoz’s assessment of the film, obviously, “Trust me, let me spare you the horror,” Morgan laughed. “I watched the whole thing, and it is hell. I completely concur with your initial assessment after half an hour. And I would definitely recommend you don’t put yourself through the rest of it.”
Herzog didn’t have favorable things to say about intimacy coordinators, which he seemingly mocked, cancel culture, and other bait topics that Morgan threw at him, but at 81 years old, maybe Herzog needs to be mildly excused for not being with the times.
“Barbie” is up for eight Oscars this year, including Best Picture, which is why it’s probably in the crosshairs of so many filmmakers this year. Depending on how disappointed you want to be or not, you can watch the excerpt and the full interview below.
