Being fans of the cinematic world presented by Christopher Nolan time and again, P and I couldn’t wait to watch ‘Oppenheimer’. Starring Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, and Rami Malek in prominent roles, ‘Oppenheimer’ is a biopic on the ‘Father Of The Atomic Bomb’, J Robert Oppenheimer.
So without further ado, I’ll cut right to the chase and share my ‘Oppenheimer’ review. Read on!
Oppenheimer Review: A Peek Into The Universe Of A Scientific Genius, Too Brilliant For His Good
Christopher Nolan’s inherent credibility ensures intrigue and interest in any project he undertakes. The same phenomenon is evident in ‘Oppenheimer’ as well. With Cillian Murphy, Nolan’s cherished muse, taking the lead in this biopic as J. Robert Oppenheimer, audiences are promised a profound glimpse into the physicist’s inner sanctum. From the outset, Nolan clarifies that the film delves into the eccentric yet brilliant mind of this American physicist, unveiling his musings on a range of subjects. This encompasses his affiliation with the Communist Party, his stance on weapons of mass destruction, and his struggles with the aftermath of the atomic bombings in Japan during World War II. Also, Nolan unequivocally establishes that the film is not a class in Atomic Fission, Fusion or other Scientific Mumbo Jumbo.
We find ourselves immersed in three intertwined worlds of Oppenheimer, each depicting his passion, persistence, and all-consuming love for science. Confident in his brilliance, he fearlessly leaves his mark among fellow scientists. In one timeline, Cillian authentically brings to life Oppenheimer’s growth as a young, nonchalant, yet ardent physicist. In another parallel, Oppie, as affectionately called by his friends, is entrusted to lead the ambitious yet ominous Manhattan Project, under the watchful eye of the stern yet persuasive General Leslie Groves, portrayed by Matt Damon. Meanwhile, in the third strand, we witness how the ‘Father of the Atomic Bomb’ faces a setup to undermine his credibility and US security clearance, all due to his advocacy against the use of weapons of mass destruction and his scathing remarks toward Lewis Strauss, the Atomic Energy Commission chair, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.
Murphy portrays Oppie’s initial naivete about wanting to build the world’s first atomic bomb before the Nazis or the Soviets with remarkable precision. He authentically and convincingly embodies those moments when he works with his team of brilliant scientists in the newly established town of Los Alamos, situated in the middle of nowhere. One finds themselves almost instinctively rooting for his success, while also grappling with the profound awareness of the destructive repercussions associated with possessing nuclear weapons.
This very dilemma that accompanies Oppenheimer’s race against the world to create the A-bomb resurfaces later when he quotes the Bhagavad Gita, saying, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds…” As he contemplates this moral quandary, he is confronted with a deadline imposed by General Leslie to determine the successful completion of the Manhattan Project. The gravity of the situation becomes even more pronounced after a haunting meeting between Oppie, General Grover, and US Officials, where they deliberate on the Japanese cities to target in case Japan does not surrender following the US’s A-Bomb threat.
In between all this, Oppenheimer gets certain hints that humans weren’t going to stop at just creating one atomic bomb but he keeps those thoughts to himself, not acknowledging them until much later. He keeps telling his fellow scientists that whatever happens after they build the bomb is not up to them. It’s almost as if Nolan wants us to feel the same dilemma and pressure that Oppie was feeling back in the day. And, for the most part, we do go through the same feelings as our protagonist.
Once the bomb is nearly ready, only the dreaded ‘Trinity Test,’ named by Oppenheimer, remains. The date is set, and all preparations are in control, except for the outcome and, of course, the unpredictable weather. Up to this point, Nolan brilliantly builds up to the actual moment of detonation, skillfully utilizing Cillian’s talents and an anxiety-inducing background score. As history records, the detonation is successful, but the way Nolan creates the suspense leading up to it exemplifies his brilliance as a storyteller.
The actual impact of the bomb is profoundly felt in theatres, fulfilling the promises made by Nolan during the promotions of ‘Oppenheimer.’ What follows is a riveting performance by Cillian Murphy as he finally confronts the magnitude of the destructive power he has unleashed upon a competitive human race. While his colleagues celebrate the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the end of World War II, Cillian’s smile conceals a deep sense of guilt. As he musters the courage to deliver a victory speech for his fellow scientists, the raw emotion of his guilt becomes evident. Cillian Murphy portrays the burden he will carry for the rest of his life, not just as the father of the A-bomb but also as the creator of a weapon capable of wiping out humanity.
Experience Christopher Nolan's Opening Look at his new film, #Oppenheimer. pic.twitter.com/8E0KVB0R65
— Oppenheimer (@OppenheimerFilm) July 13, 2023
However, the real strength of his performance lies in the third parallel world depicted in the film, where Nolan portrays Oppenheimer facing a kangaroo trial aimed at discrediting him and stripping him of his security clearance. Murphy executes these scenes with poignant restraint, capturing the pain and turmoil within Oppenheimer.
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Other than Murphy, Robert Downey Jr delivers a career-defining performance as Lewis Strauss. He perfectly portrays Strauss’s admiration for Oppenheimer when he invites him to head the AEC. We see them share a decent camaraderie together until Oppie insults him publicly and everything changes. Strauss then is on a sole mission to discredit Oppenheimer in every way possible, an emotion which Downey Jr perfectly portrays towards the end of the film.
Go behind the scenes with Oscar and Grammy-winning composer Ludwig Göransson, who scored #Oppenheimer. Experience the movie in theaters Friday. pic.twitter.com/IEpPcGI6nC
— Oppenheimer (@OppenheimerFilm) July 18, 2023
Other memorable performances in the film include those delivered by Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh. Pugh, in a small but very impactful act, becomes an important part of Oppenheimer’s world and brings out an emotional side to him. Emily as Kitty is the supportive, forgiving and understanding wife who only wants Oppie to succeed and later, take a stand and fight for his credibility. During the Kangaroo trials, her exchange with Robert Robb, the prosecutor up against Oppie will evoke a sly smile from you. Rami Malek, who we see in all three parallel worlds, has the most surprising but extremely impactful cameo. His performance in the last portion is applaud-worthy.
All in all, Nolan masterfully delivers a brilliant masterpiece in ‘Oppenheimer,’ a tale that was relevant in its time and will continue to hold relevance for generations to come. He refrains from imposing his opinion of Oppenheimer onto the audience, instead presenting facts about his world. The film prompts viewers to ponder whether Oppenheimer was a brilliant scientist or the creator of a weapon with the power to destroy humanity. Nolan leaves it to the audience to judge Oppenheimer based on their own moral compass, mirroring the approach of the genius physicist himself.
Prinkled’s Parting Thoughts:
Justifying Christopher Nolan’s work in one write-up is impossible. The man’s vision is brilliant and it gets proved again with Oppenheimer. Hence, we’d recommend you watch and judge Oppenheimer all by yourself.
Same day review 😍
Oh yes! You should watch the film soon too! It is brilliant!