Oppenheimer does a fantastic job trying to chronicle the Manhattan Project during WWII. More importantly, it depicts the impact that the atomic bomb had on both science and politics. When you think about it, Nolan spent billions of dollars recreating how the US spent billions of dollars to bring in a team of the best Scientists in order to change modern warfare during this time in history.
Was Nolan successful? It depends on the angle you look at it. I felt truly immersed in the perspective of Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) through his subjective lens. No surprise Nolan’s use of cinematography appropriately alluded to the internal moral battle Oppenheimer faced while trying to make history. Whether it was the use of pop up visuals throughout the film , or even the epic silence of the explosion during the Trinity test, the build up was everything I imagined. And what a crime it would be to not applaud the genius that is Ludwig Goransson. Lastly, I’m not gonna beat a dead horse and keep raving about Nolan refusing to use CGI, silence is the best form of flattery.
So was there any downside to the film? Of course a film with a plot this heavy is bound to have challenges in capturing every perspective. Was making the movie 3 hours worth it? As much as I appreciated the movie, it was certainly a bit draining due to the pace. With so many visuals and historical facts I felt there was a slight miss in diving into character emotion. Yes, it’s understood the scenes in colors depicts Oppenheimers subjective feelings and the black and white scenes focus on the objective events. However, I think Nolan could have tapped into emotions of other characters.
While we can appreciate the mastery of Nolan, let’s not forget the cast that carried the film across the line with the biggest goddamn bow on top. Whether you’re a fan of the lead cast including Cillian Murphy, RDJ, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, and Emily Blunt. Or anticipated Hartnett’s return to the big screen and Malek’s case saving performance, I was truly blown away by the acting. I even became giddy seeing some underrated stars such as Goldwyn, Clarke, and Oldman making an appearance. There is no doubt Robert Downey Jr will be a front runner in the Oscar race for best supporting actor. I can’t rave enough about Cillian Murphy’s outstanding performance. While it was reserved, he portrayed the essence of Oppenheimer to a tee. I’m not sure how this man maintained such control in the film while still exuding vulnerability.
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