Women-Empowerment in Cinema: Barbie vs. Heart of Stone
You probably clicked on this thinking these two films are INCOMPARABLE.
Are they, though? Or did the male film critics get to your head?
Let’s talk about it!
If I say I liked “Heart of Stone” more than “Barbie” …
You’d say, “No way!” I mean, “Why would any woman, especially one who considers herself a feminist and a women’s rights activist, not like Barbie?”
First of all, I’m in support of Barbie and very happy about its much-needed success. It offered a unique women empowerment angle that I appreciate.
But I’m a screenwriter, and I can’t help but analyze every movie based on screenwriting. I dive deep into the why of my disappointment in my screenwriting analysis of Barbie, but before you click away, let’s finish this discussion first, shall we?
As a Hollywood-based screenwriter trained by great writers from Marvel and Warner Bros, I and many other screenwriters with analytical mindsets thought that the screenwriting of Barbie was all over the place.
Greta Gerwig herself says that she never outlines her movies and always goes with the flow, which worked out great for her, and I’m beyond happy as I’ve been a fan of her for years!
I myself am a female screenwriter writing feminist stories, and I get a lot of NO’s every single day from male executives.
Fingers crossed; Barbie will change that.
But this doesn’t change the fact that Heart of Stone, a movie considered “trash” and “cringe,” was perhaps more empowering for women than we acknowledge.
The point of Heart of Stone:
Heart of Stone had two central themes:
- Could Artificial Intelligence (AI) ultimately decide for us? Or should we take chances, follow our gut, and fight against the odds regardless of AI’s utmost accurate predictions?
- Some men tend to destroy, kill, and start violence when they get their hands on a powerful weapon like the heart (AI).
Gal Gadot’s iconic line in the movie is:
First thing you did with all that power was kill people! The problem with men like you, …, is that your power is only ever based on threats and violence.
In case you haven’t seen the movie, I removed the name of the antagonist to not spoil the twist for you.
Moreover, Gal Gadot’s character, Stone, is a powerful woman who doesn’t need a man.
At the very beginning, the film teases a potential romantic subplot, B story as Blake Snyder calls it in his screenwriting book “Save the Cat.”
Stone ends up not only alone but also independent, not relying on an AI or a man for empowerment or guidance. She exhibits exceptional strength, heightened senses, and unwavering intuition, allowing her to succeed even when the odds are all against her.
Another empowering moment is when Stone’s boss is introduced, where she asks, “How’s King of Hearts?” where you’d expect to see a man in charge, right?
Instead of the expected male authority figure, we meet King of Hearts, a strong, strict woman who runs a powerful organization with precision. Notably, she adds diversity as a woman of color to the film.
What’s up with Barbie?
Barbie had many points, yet it was overshadowed by the major flaws in the screenplay and trying to be too many things at the same time.
Let’s list the main themes regardless:
- Existential crisis
- Gender roles/The patriarchy
Regardless of the screenplay’s messiness, and the fact that basic Hollywood screenwriting rules demonstrate Ken being more of a protagonist than Barbie, the movie was a huge hit.
Let’s explore why Barbie made a billion:
- Barbie is a cherished doll played by all generations of women and girls. Regardless of who directed or acted in it, women will watch it, probably dragging their partners along.
- Greta Gerwig directed Lady Bird and Little Women. She’s a feminist icon. Attached to Barbie? That’s a massive win for the marketing team!
- Margot Robbie… You mean the talented actress we know from I, Tonya, Suicide Squad, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Bombshell, The Wolf of Wall Street… The list goes on.
- Ryan Gosling is dear and near to all women’s hearts. Let’s be honest! He’s the new Leonardo Di Caprio. — So, Ryan Gosling as Ken?! Yes, please!
- Dua Lipa — Don’t show up! Don’t come now! We will show up if she’s in a movie!
There are many other women-empowerment movies that explore similar themes so much better than Barbie, but you’ve never heard of them. Why?
- Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Issa Rae, Dua Lipa, Michael Cera, and America Ferrera were not in it.
- Greta Gerwig didn’t direct it.
- It wasn’t about a doll that literally everyone all around the world, across all generations, knows.
- They didn’t have a budget of $150 million for marketing alone. They probably didn’t even have that much budget overall.
Just saying…
Let’s quickly test our theory. Have you seen the movie Mustang, written by Alice Winocour and directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven?
I hear a lot of No's from the crowd. 📢
You know, Mustang was nominated for an Academy Award, won the Cannes Film Festival, nominated for a BAFTA, and more.
I’m hoping to open your eyes to the truth of cinema and the entertainment industry.
Reactions to Heart of Stone vs. Barbie:
Critics were quick to bash “Heart of Stone” due to its initial cringe-inducing and cheesy dialogues.
But was that the sole reason behind its ultimate flop?
While the movie followed the typical Michael Bay formula, brimming with thrilling action scenes, stunts, and explosions, its bold focus on female empowerment and the critique of male violence contributed to its failure.
Oddly enough, Michael Bay’s choices in his movies often go unquestioned. Are they perhaps owing it to the portrayal of tough male strength?
But there was another factor in the downfall of Heart of Stone— the absence of sexiness.
It defied industry norms by not objectifying women or resorting to revealing clothes to lure in the audience.
Instead, it centered around Gal Gadot’s powerful and, some might say, “masculine” character. I see it as a portrayal of feminine and intuitive strength, amplified by her physical strength and muscle memory.
On the other hand, the audience of Barbie is divided into two distinct groups.
One group primarily consisted of conservatives who weren’t receptive to the themes of women’s empowerment and the accurate portrayal of patriarchy.
The other group embraced and appreciated the film for its accurate representation and the empowering voices of women. These viewers took pride in women speaking up and felt positive about the movie.
Surprisingly, the majority of conservatives also watched the movie multiple times despite their disagreement with Barbie not ending up with Ken.
It is quite interesting how both Heart of Stone and Barbie share a common theme of female protagonists ending up alone, stronger than ever, and not reliant on a man.
They show us it’s time we explore women from a perspective that doesn’t require them to be defined by men.
Final Thoughts
I’m certain that many of you may have refrained from watching Heart of Stone due to widespread criticisms labeling it as “trash.”
We can acknowledge some bland dialogues, but do you know what most of them talk about? How jealous they are of all the “cool places” the cast and crew got to film at.
If you’re listening to these critics and the internet, you are missing out on influential women empowerment moments delivered by Gal Gadot and Alia Bhatt.
Despite a few cringe-inducing lines at the beginning and some minor cheesy moments, the film provides an enjoyable experience and certainly doesn’t deserve this much hate.
Here is the screenplay analysis of Heart of Stone:
Here is the screenplay analysis of Barbie:
Thank you so much for being here. -`♡´- If you appreciate the detailed screenwriting and business of filmmaking analysis, the best way to keep me going is right here. Regardless, I hope you continue to prioritize your mental health and do what you love.
