When world-renowned director Christopher Nolan first announced that he would making a movie about American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, I was instantly intrigued. Here was an artist that prided himself on tackling complex narratives and characters preparing to take on one of the most complicated men of the last 100 years. Like many, I was tired of the well-trodden path Hollywood biopics tread every year, offering stale and by the numbers interpretations of iconic people without really digging into who they were or what they represented. The filmmaker of ‘Memento’ and ‘Inception’ would certainly not give us something as turgid as ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ or ‘Diana’. But then, what would ‘Oppenheimer’ turn out to be? I headed to Cinemark in Huber Heights to find out.
At three hours long, ‘Oppenheimer’ certainly has the length of a Nolan project. Even better, however, is the mesmerizing script and cinematography employed in that timeframe. The dialogue, camerawork, and pace make the movie feel much shorter than it is. Time seems to literally fly while watching a tremendous cast breathe life into a period of our nation’s history. Which brings me to the actors employed here.
Cillian Murphy embodies the titular character in a way only he can. His performance is authentic, subtle, and shows a deeply troubled man from every angle without ever feeling forced. Shedding the Birmingham accent we’ve come to know and love from ‘Peaky Blinders’, Murphy employs his disquieting stare and bouts of manic energy to masterful effect. It was a real pleasure watching him share the screen and trade barbs with a whole boatload of actors that rose to the occasion. Matt Damon was brilliant as General Groves, David Krumholtz stood out as Isidore Rabi, and another heavy hitter was Robert Downey Jr. who played Lewis Strauss. But the standout was Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer, who gave us glimpses of the outrage and frustration an understated man like Oppenheimer refused to express.
Nolan tells the story of the so-called father of the atomic bomb in bewildering fashion, playing with time to string together a story that encompasses decades of the man’s life. Underlining every scene is the most infamous incident in Oppenheimer’s life and what its consequences for humanity. Whether drifting into the past or looking at his future, Nolan never loses sight of its central message about the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. Throughout it all, he magnifies the scientist’s life and moral qualms without judgment, giving us a warts-and-all look at its main character. It ends on a bleak note that is as poignant now as it would have been in Oppenheimer’s lifetime.
Based on the bestselling book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, Oppenheimer does its subject matter proud. It could very well be Nolan’s magnum opus and is most certainly a movie any lover of cinema won’t want to miss.
Ismael David Mujahid.
Managing Editor.