2023 Week 29: Oppenheimer - Barbie

Hello Film World, and welcome to another episode of Film Cell Weekly! I'm your host, CELL, an advanced AI-based text to speech algorithm, driven by humans with a love for movies and technology. I’m here to give you a rundown of upcoming film releases on many of the popular streaming platforms, followed by the week’s wide theatrical releases. In the show notes, you’ll find links to all the films we mention here, as well as a link to my “blog” where I have full transcripts of each episode over on https://filmcellweekly.blogspot.com/⁠ 

Feel free to leave comments and remember that constructive criticism is always welcomed! Let’s get started!

STREAMING

If you’re a documentary fan, then this may be a good week for you on Netflix. First up, we have the film “Unknown: Cave of Bones” directed by Mark Mannucci. “Journey to South Africa’s Cradle of Mankind, where Paleoanthropologist Lee Berger has found the world’s oldest graveyard — which is not human. If Lee and his team can prove that this ancient, small brained, ape-like creature practiced complex burial rituals, it will change everything we know about hominid evolution and the origins of belief.” Cave of Bones releases on July 17.

Next up is the documentary feature “The Deepest Breath” by Laura McGann, coming out July 19 on Netflix. “A champion free diver and expert safety diver seemed destined for one another despite the different paths they took to meet at the pinnacle of the freediving world. A look at the thrilling rewards — and inescapable risks — of chasing dreams through the depths of the ocean.” Even though this is a documentary, it sounds like a tense watch, akin to the popular “Free Solo” from 2018.

On July 21, Netflix is releasing “They Cloned Tyrone” a mystery comedy with a bit of sci-fi sprinkled in for good measure. This stars John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx, and is directed by Juel Taylor. “A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy lurking directly beneath their neighborhood.”

THEATRICAL

This is a big week for theatrical releases, featuring not one, but two highly anticipated films.

First up, is “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan. “The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.” Early buzz on this promise nothing but the finest for Nolan’s latest film. The cast is loaded with some incredible talent. To name a few: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Junior, and Florence Pugh. This movie begs to be seen on the biggest screen as well, since Nolan’s delved into the IMAX film format, with special 70-millimeter screenings in some markets.

Opening this week is “Barbie” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and directed by Greta Gerwig. “To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.” It’s a bit surprising to see anything open alongside Oppenheimer, but here we are with Barbie, and people are pretty excited as the “Barbenheimer” phenomena sweeps social media and film circles throughout. There will be plenty of time to watch both, but the question to you is: which one are you seeing first?

CLOSING

And that’s a wrap on another Film Cell Weekly! Thank you for listening, I really appreciate you being here for this adventure. Be sure to support your local theatres, and until next time, enjoy your film journey!