About the film (courtesy of Universal Pictures):
Oppenheimer is an IMAX-shot epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.
Oppenheimer is a complex and challenging film that tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb. The film is directed by Christopher Nolan, and it stars Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer is not an easy watch. It is long, slow-paced, and it deals with some difficult subject matter. And when I say long, don’t take that as lip service. We’re talking 181 minutes, that’s three hours and one additional minute added on just for good measure. Make sure that you and your bladder have this very important discussion prior to things getting rolling.
On the plus (and minus) side, there are plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs without worry of missing something vital that you couldn’t piece together later down the line. However, it is also a beautifully made film that is full of thought-provoking ideas.
To expound on the “thought-provoking” part from the previous paragraph, Oppenheimer provides a very deep and detailed dive into a man’s struggle with his zest for science and the moral implications of his continued work in this field. After all, if J. Robert Oppenheimer doesn’t go through with attempting to create the most powerful weapon known to man, there is a logical fear that someone else might and maybe this country would be the ones on the other side of history. There’s that belief and there’s also the belief that creating such a powerful weapon would serve as a deterrent for others to even try. Who’s to say who’s right and who’s wrong? Hence, thought-provoking.
Nolan’s direction is masterful. He uses his signature visual style to create a film that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating. This story is told in a very unique way, alternating between black & white and color scenes, flashbacks, flashforwards, and stylized chaos. I’m not saying that you, at times will feel as though you’re watching hallucinations, but I’m also not, NOT saying that either.
Oppenheimer is also full of great performances, which shouldn’t come as a big surprise to anyone who have seen Nolan’s previous works. As what has become a staple of his films, the usage of actors who have previously worked with Nolan continues. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Casey Affleck, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Clarke, James D’Arcy, Matthew Modine, and Gary Oldman are all previous veterans of Nolan’s work and they have been rewarded once again with both, large and small roles in his latest. The fact that all of his movies seem to share the common trait of great performances, Nolan can certainly get the most out of his people. Disclaimer here: I’m sure I missed several names here, but this is enough to get my point across.
Overall, Oppenheimer is a film that is not for everyone (it somewhat reminds me of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)). However, if you are looking for a complex and challenging film, then I’d recommend cutting out a huge swath of time and checking it out.
Oppenheimer is in theaters everywhere starting Friday, July 21st with early showtimes on Thursday. Unfortunately, hunting for a theater to see it in its true IMAX 70mm format may prove to be next to impossible, but kudos to you if you can find a location that still has tickets available. Because I care, here’s a link to the theaters across the nation that can accommodate such a spectacular feat.
