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Manohla Dargis’s notebooks are full of unreadable words and sentences.
Ms. Dargis, DailyExpertNews’ chief film critic, takes note of memorable scenes while watching movies she plans to review. In the darkness of a movie theater, her notes are rarely coherent, she admits, and distractions are inevitable.
“Sometimes when I’m watching a movie, my pen floats on my shirt and I screw up,” she said. “This is one of the great tragedies of being a movie critic.”
This week, Ms. Dargis discussed two highly-discussed movies that are new to theaters, ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ – dubbed the Internet’s ‘Barbenheimer’ movie event of the year.
This much-anticipated movie pairing comes at an awkward time for the American film industry, as 160,000 actors represented by SAG-AFTRA went on strike last week. They joined the thousands of television and film screenwriters already on the picket line on issues such as pay and the use of artificial intelligence in creative capacities. The strikes have largely halted production in Hollywood.
In an interview, Ms. Dargis shared her thoughts on the industry’s recovery from the pandemic and what the strikes may portend for the near future of film. This interview has been edited.
How do you start covering two of the year’s most highly anticipated movies?
I’ve been with DailyExpertNews for about 20 years, so I’ve experienced similar moments where two huge movies open up about each other. For example, film studios release their large, so-called prestige films around Christmas.
I try to avoid reading about the movies before I write about them, but I do background research. I just want to have my own experience with a movie and know that a review is made up of my mind.
How do you decide which films to write about?
I try to strike a balance that works for readers and what they expect from a movie critic. I must also be interested in the movie. I reviewed a series of films last week, such as the new “Mission Impossible,” a major studio film, and “Earth Mama,” a smaller independent film.
That week represents my ideal mix in some ways, where I really cover the field. I think if you only deal with the spectacle blockbusters, you are really missing out on the splendor of cinema.
Can you walk me through your review process?
I try to see movies about a week before their release date. I go to screenings; some are called all media screenings, where hundreds of people sit in a large room in a commercial movie theater or movie studio. There are also smaller private screen rooms scattered around Los Angeles where I live. I like to watch movies with other people. There’s something really special about the kind of energy you get from being with others, especially if you’re watching a comedy or horror movie and there’s an audience dynamic.
I always take a notepad and pen with me and write in the dark. Writing helps me remember things later because while watching a movie I try to take in as much as I can.
You wrote about it in January your optimism about women in film in the midst of a series of films centered on female characters. Are there any other trends you’re seeing in film right now?
I said I was reviewing a movie called “Earth Mama” by a woman named Savanah Leaf; it is her first feature film. I think it’s exciting that she’s one of many black female filmmakers. We’re nowhere near where we need to be, but there’s a diversity of women making movies.
Has there ever been a moment like this in the movie industry?
One of the funny things about the American film industry is that it has flung from crisis to crisis over time. Part of my optimism and hope is based on the idea that the industry has managed to survive the transition to movies with sound, for example. Then came the TV and everyone thought this was the end. And then the internet happened.
The American film industry is built on crises. At this point, the streaming bubble is over. We don’t know what happens next. That’s my biggest concern.
Which movie did you see first, ‘Barbie’ or ‘Oppenheimer?’
I first saw “Barbie”; I saw them a few days apart so I could be in the right headspace. “Barbie” is nice, but it didn’t stick with me. It wasn’t something where I came home and said to my husband, “I just need to talk about ‘Barbie’ and his deep impression on me,” because it didn’t have that. I liked it and then I had to figure out how to write about it.
Do you need a movie palate cleanser after a heavy movie like “Oppenheimer”? How do you get down?
Immediately after a movie, I often don’t want to talk to anyone about it. Except maybe my husband. If you leave a film that really touches you, you are still in the bubble of the film for a while. That can sometimes be a joyful experience. I remember seeing a movie “Fast and Furious” and really enjoyed it. But I also remember driving home a little too fast that night.
A film like “Oppenheimer” – a smart, thoughtful film about profound issues with great philosophical significance – is damn special. While I was shocked by the movie, I was happy to say that the movie made me think about life. I am grateful for that experience.
