“I'm just Ken!” sang the vivid Ryan Gosling in the Barbie movie in a refrain that went viral. And in the next verse: “It doesn't seem to matter what I do, I'm always number two.” Or: “It doesn't seem to matter what I do, I'm always number two.” But in the real world , as happens in the film after the protagonists leave the matriarchal world of Barbieland, it is exactly the opposite. While the actor's undeniable talent was indeed recognized by the Academy with an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, this was not the case for his acclaimed colleague Margot Robbie. And neither does the director of the summer's cult film, Greta Gerwig. A sexist decision? According to much of the public, yes.
An absence that causes discussions
In fact, Robbie and Gerwig are up for the Best Production and Best Non-Original Screenplay awards (which Gerwig will ultimately share with her husband and colleague Noah Baumbach). However, her name is missing from the main categories everyone expected her to win: Best Actress and Best Director. The election caused such a stir that even Gosling himself felt compelled to weigh in, telling CNN: “I am extremely honored to be nominated by my peers alongside such extraordinary artists in a year with so many great films.” And “I never thought I would say this, but I also feel incredibly honored and proud to have played a plastic doll named Ken.”
“There is no Ken without Barbie”
“But,” he emphasizes, “there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no film about Barbie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two main people responsible for this historic and world-famous film.” Without their talent, their courage and their genius No credit is possible for anyone who worked on the film. Gosling concludes: “To say I'm disappointed they weren't nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.” Against all odds, they brought us nothing more than a couple of soulless, scantily clad and blissfully horseless Dolls made us laugh, broke our hearts, advanced culture and made history. Their work should be recognized alongside that of other very deserving candidates.”
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