Wednesday 26 July 2023

Oppenheimer - The scoop and digest

Christopher Nolan's latest epic is based on Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's 2005 biography American Prometheus.

Cillian Murphy - J. Robert Oppenheimer
Emily Blunt - Katherine 'Kitty' Oppenheimer
Matt Damon - Leslie Groves
Robert Downey Jr. - Lewis Strauss
Florence Pugh - Jean Tatlock
Benny Safdie - Edward Teller
Tom Conti - Albert Einstein

Summary

Theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer played a pivotal role in developing the first atomic bomb (dubbed the Manhattan Project) during World War II.

Life story is chronicled in a nonlinear timeline.

Destroyer of worlds

First off, Cillian Murphy gives a brilliant performance and deserves an Oscar.

Ensemble cast shines, and Downey Jr. enjoys his best post-MCU role yet.

Cinematography by regular collaborator Hoyte Van Hoytema is very impressive.

Rather than CG, spectacular Trinity test was achieved by a combination of practical effects, miniatures and digital compositing.

To explain stylistic decision.

Colour sections depict Oppenheimer's perspective and b&w parts are from Strauss's POV, fission and fusion respectively.

While good, not without faults.

As with Tenet, loud music can drown out and/or muffle dialogue.

Three hours is too long and what ultimately becomes a political thriller, felt more like a documentary.

However, closing sequence of Oppenheimer envisaging the world being destroyed by nuclear weapons hits with an emotional sledgehammer.

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