After being appointed lead on the Manhattan project during World War II, theoretical physicist Robert J. Oppenheimer went on to develop the atomic bomb, effectively ending the war and changing the world forever in the process.
Who better to tell such a weighty tale than celebrated filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who delivers this astoundingly detailed exploration of Oppenheimer’s life.
With Peaky Blinders Cillian Murphy in the title role, the cast is an eye-popping who’s-who of Hollywood A-listers. Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr, and Emily Blunt all take on prominent roles, while support comes from the likes of Alden Ehrenreich, Jason Clarke, Rami Malek, Josh Hartnett and Kenneth Branagh to name just a few.
The subject matter may not be obvious blockbuster material, but Nolan masterfully uses his traditional non-linear approach to hook the viewer. The bulk of Oppenheimers story unfolds in colour and jumps back and forth between his early days teaching physics at Berkley, to his recruitment by the military and the eventual development of the bomb. Nolan also incorporates a secondary black & white timeline where Downey Jr’s Levi Strauss of the Atomic Energy Commission has to defend his handling of Oppenheimer to a senate hearing.
While the majority of the film is dialogue, it’s not all just exposition. Nolan keeps the narrative flowing in such a propulsive way that it becomes a thoroughly captivating experience. Murphy’s lead performance is electric and very likely to be in awards contention next year. He transforms from a brash young scientist with big ideas in the beginning, to a gaunt shadow of his former self, haunted and conflicted by what he has created. Downey Jnr also shines as Strauss. His wily politician is softly spoken and cunning, completely at odds with his usually cocksure screen persona.
Nolan has always been a master at world building and with Oppenheimer he succeeds once again, creating the densely populated town of Los Alamos and fully immersing the viewer in their arms race against the Nazi’s. Cinematographer Hoyt Van Hoytema excels in portraying the tension as the nerve wracking Trinity test approaches, whilst the sound design and score from Ludwig Göransson drives the story.
The fact it’s 3 hour runtime flys by, is a testament to how completely absorbing a film this is.
Huge in scale, Oppenheimer is a brilliantly acted deep dive into one of history’s most interesting characters and a triumph of modern filmmaking.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paul Steward
@grittster
24/07/23