Oppenheimer
2023 ‧ Thriller/Thriller ‧ 3 hours
I had stopped watching the movies and series for the time being. But when I saw Oppenheimer’s movie is now available to watch, I couldn't resist my temptation.
Two reasons; One is Christopher Nolan and the other is the soundtrack.
After it was released in the theater, the reviews were mixed, and most people complained about the 3 hours, I discarded all that and tried to avoid all spoilers.
To me, if it’s from my favorite creators I always expect lengthy pieces. One other is Avatar: The Way of Water.
Especially if it’s drama. I have seen the Godfather trilogy countless times by now, I never get bored watching this classic!
I watched the movie twice1 now and then watched the documentaries Oppenheimer: The Real Story and To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb (2023) to understand the plot better. The movie is based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, written for the screen and directed by Christopher Nolan.
Oppenheimer is a complicated character to understand. This we will get from the opening scene itself. From there the story travels in a non-linear manner with black/white and color mode but it is not in a complicated form to understand.
I watched it on the best screen available2. It is really meant to be watched on big screens. The clarity is phenomenal3!
I still don't have words to describe this experience. If you don't like a little bit of drama, then this movie might be boring for you. But try to watch that blasting scene (from 01:43:07) at least.
The director
Nolan said in his interview about his movies “Don't try to understand it, just feel it”.
This movie is also like that, he didn't use many complicated theorems and physics-related concepts. There are only a few things here and there and whenever the characters mention something we get a glimpse of that visual and it is a great deal for many I believe. People might feel lost when they don’t get who is whom and what is this term etc. He subtly conveyed all that.
I learned a few tricks from this movie and I need to use it somewhere.
The soundtrack
Whoever working with Nolan is known to provide great music. I didn't know the artist “Ludwig Goransson” but he is one of my favorites now.
The violin did a great job of expressing the intensity of the scene. During the blasting scene even that subtle music followed by the great silence! I really need to use it somewhere, the entire soundtrack is really a piece of art!
The cast
Cillian Murphy lived as Oppenheimer I think. All those mannerisms really feel like the complicated person in the mid-20th century. I don't have words or comparisons. He’s the best fit for this character - ever!
Robert Downey Jr.’s performance 👌 He once again proved that he doesn't need an Ironman suit to perform his skill. Watch “The Judge” also.
Emily Blunt played well I think. Her character was a complicated one - my understanding from the documentaries about Oppenheimer. Especially the last interrogation scene!
Now comes my favorite actor Matt Damon, he was nothing like Groves I have seen in the documentaries, he portrayed his own version of the US Army Chief, I think. I like all his scenes especially the intro of him. That stubborn character!
The actor (Tom Conti) who acted as Albert Einstein did a great job. I don't know if it’s just his acting or appearance, he really is Einstein. I mean now when I hear“Einstein” this face comes to my mind, and I kind of forgot that image of the famous tongue expression.
My favorite scenes are Oppenheimer with Einstein in the initial stage and the ending scene.
Trivia: Gary Oldman (James Gordon from the Batman trilogy) acted as Truman.
All others acted well, I’m not naming everyone, but I’m sure they will stick in your mind for a few days. Good job for everyone collectively.
Missed Michael Caine.
We get to know a little bit of Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg and a few other great minds of that time including the father of the H-bomb, Edward Teller.
One more thing to note is that near-zero CGI is used in this movie. I watched a lot of making videos and Nolan talking about IMAX films.
Find uninterrupted 3 hours and go watch it!
Then if you like it watch the documentaries too - it will help you to understand the plot and not judge this person in terms of Aug 6 and 9 only. That was a different period and different situations.
But my perspective might change if I was in any way related to the victims as we all are humans and we have emotions and feelings.
The above video credits to the owner.
There is evidence that the decision undoubtedly weighed heavy on Oppenheimer. Bird interviewed Anne Wilson Marks, Oppenheimer’s secretary. She recalled that one day, in the intervening three weeks between the Trinity test and the use of the bomb on Japan, Oppenheimer was muttering under his breath as they walked to work: “Those poor little people, those poor little people.”
From: https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/oppenheimer-real-history-life-atomic-bomb-downfall/
This movie helped me to see through multiple perspectives and spectrums. I used several scenes to convey my thoughts about AGI in detail in this blog.
I had this thought that I needed to watch it again and again.
At home.
I never used this word till now I believe!