'Oppenheimer' | Will Christopher Nolan Cross $1 Billion?

Added: Aug 11, 2023

The hosts begin by celebrating the achievement of "Barbie" crossing the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office. They express their excitement for the film's success and discuss its impact on the industry. They also mention that "Barbie" is likely to cross $500 million domestically, making it one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Next, they introduce their special guest, director Andre Øvredal, who directed "The Last Voyage of the Demeter". They discuss the legacy of horror director William Friedkin, who recently passed away, and how his film "The Exorcist" influenced the horror genre. They then delve into the decision-making process behind portraying Dracula in Øvredal's film. They talk about the balance between making Dracula more human-like or more monstrous and how they ultimately decided to go with a more monstrous portrayal. The hosts also discuss the physical performance of actor Javier Botet, who plays Dracula in the film. They talk about the conversations they had with Botet about the character and how he brought the physicality of Dracula to life. They also mention the potential for a sequel or prequel to the film and how it would differ from the original story. The conversation then shifts to the influence of Ridley Scott's film "Alien" on Øvredal's work. They discuss the importance of character development and the use of practical makeup in creating a realistic and immersive horror film. They also talk about the decision to limit the appearance of Dracula in the film and the impact of lighting on the overall aesthetic. Towards the end of the interview, the hosts ask Øvredal about his future projects and whether he has been approached to direct any established franchises. Øvredal mentions that he is open to different opportunities and hopes that people will enjoy his film and recognize his talent as a filmmaker. After the interview, the hosts briefly discuss their thoughts on Øvredal's film and express their enthusiasm for its originality and brutality. They praise the practical makeup and lighting in the film and mention their surprise at how much they enjoyed it. The podcast then concludes with a discussion about the success of "Barbie" and its significance in the current cinematic landscape. They highlight the fact that it is only the second film this year to cross the billion-dollar mark and discuss the changing dynamics of the box office. They also mention the potential for Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" to cross $1 billion and speculate on its chances given the current state of the industry. The hosts acknowledge the impressive performance of "Barbie" at the box office, which has surpassed expectations and proven that original films can still attract audiences. They express frustration with Hollywood's tendency to learn the wrong lessons from successful films, such as greenlighting multiple movies in the same weekend or combining unrelated films. Instead, they argue that the success of "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" should be attributed to giving talented filmmakers creative freedom and allowing them to tell their stories without interference. They then delve into the remarkable box office performance of "Oppenheimer", which has already crossed the $500 million mark worldwide. They highlight the film's unconventional qualities, such as its three-hour runtime, R-rating, and historical subject matter, which make it an unlikely summer blockbuster. Despite these challenges, "Oppenheimer" has surpassed the box office numbers of other highly anticipated films, including "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One", "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny". The hosts marvel at the film's success and question whether any other filmmaker in their generation, aside from James Cameron, has the ability to generate such box office numbers. The hosts also discuss the possibility of Christopher Nolan making Universal his home studio, given the success of "Oppenheimer". They speculate that Universal would be willing to meet Nolan's demands and provide him with the resources and creative freedom he desires. They also mention the unique efforts made by Universal to support the film, such as hiring professional projectionists for the 70mm screenings. Overall, they believe that Universal would be foolish not to keep Nolan on board. In conclusion, the hosts celebrate the success of "Oppenheimer" and its ability to defy expectations at the box office. They emphasize the importance of giving talented filmmakers creative freedom and allowing them to tell their stories without interference. They also express hope that Hollywood will learn the right lessons from the success of films like "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" and continue to support original and visionary filmmakers.