Directed by: Christopher Nolan
IMDb link: Oppenheimer (2023)
In this Oppenheimer review, I explore the life of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in creating the atomic bomb. The movie shows the heavy consequences he faced once he got the tag of ‘Father of the Atomic Bomb.’ This three-hour-long movie comes after the failure of Tenet (which I could not force myself to like, even as a Christopher Nolan lover). What makes this new movie a great watch is Nolan’s brilliant storytelling.
Two Timelines, One Great Story
It is not as confusing as most of Nolan’s films, yet it is not a normal, direct true story either. Nolan uses two different timelines. One is in color, showing the past and present. The other is in black and white, showing the future. The way he mixes these timelines makes the story so much more engaging. He is truly a genius at this by now.
At heart, the movie is all about how you view Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy). Do you see him as a hero, a villain, or someone in the middle? The film never takes sides. Oppenheimer himself comes across as a person who never wanted to build a bomb that would destroy cities. Yet, he did build it, and he never openly spoke against it. This was possibly because of all the security clearance issues and loyalty questions he faced later in his life.
The Chilling Trinity Test
The entire Trinity test sequence is chilling to watch. It shows how they took a massive risk, even when there was an ‘almost zero’ chance of accidentally destroying the entire world.
I also love the speech scene where Nolan contrasts Oppenheimer’s victory words with the terrible sounds of dying people. It perfectly shows his deep internal conflict. Throughout the film, different characters keep asking if the bomb was really necessary. The answer always changes depending on who is talking.
A Cast Full of Stars
Even without music composer Hans Zimmer for the second time in a row, the background score and sound design were exactly as good as you would expect from a Nolan movie.
The movie also uses famous actors for even the smallest roles. It was very impressive to see Gary Oldman, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Casey Affleck, Matthew Modine, Dane DeHaan, and Benny Safdie pop up. However, I was surprised that Michael Caine did not make an appearance this time around!
Kitty Oppenheimer (Emily Blunt) and Lewis Strauss (Jason Clarke) were the only characters I found less likable. Kitty was often cold, though she gets an amazing scene to shine as a witness in the boardroom. Lewis Strauss was hard to like because it felt unjust for him to accuse Oppenheimer without a fair debate.
It is great to see Robert Downey Jr. in an excellent supporting role, shining brightly outside of the Marvel universe. Matt Damon is also very fun in his role as General Leslie Groves.
Cillian Murphy’s Big Moment
In the end, this is Cillian Murphy’s movie. After many smaller roles in Nolan’s films, he finally gets his first lead role and delivers magnificently. I have seen him in 28 Days Later and A Quiet Place Part II. I still need to watch Peaky Blinders, but I have always found him fascinating in whatever little I have seen of him. I am not surprised to see him nail this character and eventually win the Oscar for it, too.
Oppenheimer Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, Oppenheimer might feel lengthy because it is a very serious film. It is almost a character study of a man who forever changed the world and how it works today. Yet, in the hands of Nolan, it is a great watch with a very strong ending.
My Rating: 7.5/10
In case you missed out, do check my breakdown of Cillian Murphy’s scene from 28 Days Later
