Oppenheimer (2023)

Oppenheimer is a captivating drama helmed by acclaimed director Christopher Nolan and showcasing Cillian Murphy in the role of Oppenheimer as the renowned physicist overseeing the Manhattan Project—an undercover initiative during World War II to develop the atomic bomb. This thought-provoking film delves into Oppenheimer’s dilemmas, ethical conflicts, and personal battles while shedding light on the political backdrop against which their groundbreaking work unfolded.

Nolan’s mastery of storytelling shines through in this gem, skilfully intertwining timelines, flashbacks and perspectives to present a multifaceted portrayal of Oppenheimer—a brilliant mind with his fair share of imperfections. Murphy delivers an enthralling performance as the scientist haunted by his past, tormented by his circumstances, and uncertain about what lies ahead. With subtlety and intensity, Murphy brings forth Oppenheimer’s struggles—his passion, ambition, guilt, fear, and doubt—all laid bare for viewers to ponder.

The film boasts an excellent supporting cast: Matt Damon embodies General Leslie Groves—the leader overseeing the project—with finesse. Florence Pugh portrays Jean Tatlock—Oppenheimer’s lover with Communist sympathies—in a compelling manner that adds complexity to their relationship. Kenneth Branagh beautifully captures Niels Bohr’s essence—a mentor and friend to Oppenheimer. Emily Blunt embodies Kitty Oppenheimer, Robert Oppenheimer’s wife. Robert Downey Jr—portraying Lewis Strauss, the villain who tried to frame Oppenheimer as a communist. The list goes on. The actors bring a sense of depth and authenticity to their roles, making the characters truly memorable and believable.

This film goes beyond being a character study; it also enters thriller territory. It showcases the challenges, obstacles, and dangers that the project faced, ranging from espionage to sabotage to almost insurmountable challenges. As the film progresses towards the moment of New Mexico’s atomic test known as Trinity, the director skilfully builds up suspense and tension. Oppenheimer also explores the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings shedding light on their consequences for Oppenheimer and the world.

Visually speaking, this film is stunning. Nolan creates realistic and immersive scenes. The brilliant cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema captures the contrast between barren desert landscapes and claustrophobic laboratory settings with finesse. The score composed by Chris Fogel adds a haunting touch that enhances the film’s overall mood and emotional impact. The soundtrack is the usual loud one characteristic of Nolan’s movies, and it’s occasionally difficult to hear what is said. But, overall, the movie’s sound and music intensifies the experience. Colour is cleverly used to represent different perspectives. According to Christopher Nolan, black and white are used for the perspective of Lewis Strauss; colour is used for Robert Oppenheimer’s perspective. This approach helps us, as viewers, to keep track of the complex interplay between the two characters.

I’ll mention a couple of drawbacks. Its length (three hours) may test some viewers’ patience due to its occasionally slow-paced nature. The film assumes familiarity with physics and history and might isolate some viewers, but my advice is to sit back and allow the movie, as a whole, to wash over you; understanding the details of physics is not necessary to appreciate the story. The film doesn’t extensively explore the ramifications of the bomb and provide the perspectives of its victims, which could leave some audience members disappointed or offended. There is some treatment of this, but it is fleeting compared to the rest of the material in the movie. Given that the story is a biography of Oppenheimer, this was probably appropriate, but viewers can decide about this.

Oppenheimer is a movie that offers a captivating glimpse into one of the most influential and controversial individuals of the 20th century. It showcases Nolan’s skills and Murphy’s impressive acting abilities. It’s engaging, complex, and powerful.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your local movie guide for show times.)