The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Director Christopher Nolan is back with this epic biographical thriller about the man behind the atom bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer. There has been plenty of internet hype surrounding the release of this movie and as a massive fan of Christopher Nolan myself, I too had much anticipation for it. For starters, this is one of Nolan’s most ambitious and ponderous films yet. It’s long, densely packed with serious conversations, and touches on numerous aspects of Oppenheimer’s personal life as well as those he closely worked with on the Manhattan Project. Cillian Murphy is utterly outstanding as J. Robert Oppenheimer, effortlessly portraying a complex man with many different layers to his character. Oppenheimer oftentimes has to ponder the moral consequences of his involvement in the creation of the atom bomb and Murphy does a terrific job at displaying a sense of devastation for the countless deaths for which he feels responsible.
When it comes to the supporting cast, there’s a wide variety of A-list actors, with some getting more screen time/story significance than others. Among the standouts are Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss and Matt Damon as Leslie Groves, who both have important relationships with Oppenheimer that develop over the course of the film. Whether it’s Strauss’s battle with Oppenheimer over security clearance or Groves’s debates with Oppenheimer over matters of national security, these dynamics are by far the film’s most noteworthy. Whoever plays Albert Einstein was perfectly cast and every single scene involving him and Oppenheimer’s scientific/philosophical discussions are magical. The narrative itself jumps around a lot, as there’s an ongoing interrogation portion in which Oppenheimer is being questioned about his loyalty to US interests and if he had anything to do with the communist party. During some of these sequences, Nolan does a certain thing with the sound and lighting that masterfully conveys the heaviness and weight of these moments.
The cinematography and sound mixing in and of themselves are a stunning achievement. No green screen or ugly looking CGI are needed nor used to present the real locations, gobsmacking visuals, and yes, explosiveness on display. The bomb testing sequence is something of a revelation, both in regards visual power and breathtaking sound design. It’s one of those things that actually takes your breath away because it’s real and it FEELS real. Props to Nolan for that. This is not however a perfect film, as its narrative structure and focus becomes too messy and muddled at times. It feels as if there are two amazing movies buried within Oppenheimer. One that deals with the making of the bomb and another that covers the aftermath and consequences of Hiroshima/Nagasaki. The pieces of the puzzle themselves are interesting and well executed, but the way it’s put together doesn’t always gel like it normally does in a Nolan flick.
There’s so much packed into the three hour runtime that it would’ve helped to split it into two films, allowing for a more streamlined and tightly paced viewing experience. Oppenheimer’s relationship with his wife Kitty played by Emily Blunt as well as his mistress Jean Tatlock played by Florence Pugh needed further exploration and fleshing out. All of that aside, the movie is a technical marvel, it lets you as the viewer ponder big moral questions, sports Oscar worthy performances from Murphy/Downey Jr. and has some truly thought provoking themes that parallels today’s world in the context of advanced weaponry development. I will have to see Oppenheimer again before I can give my grade of the film, but upon deeper reflection, my sentiments towards it now are more positive than when the movie initially concluded. Overall, although Nolan’s ambition often exceeds his grasp, Oppenheimer is undoubtedly a good historical biography about one of the most misunderstood people in history and his role in creating the biggest weapon of mass destruction known to man. Only a rewatch can determine my fully realized thoughts. See it in 70 mm IMAX if possible.
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