Beloved film maker Nolan has delivered once again, turning what could have been a heady historical biopic into an explosive (pun intended) exploration of the intersections of geopolitical power and personal passions, and the complicated nature of our responsibilities to ourselves, our nations, our lovers, and our world. He layers his stories on top of each other so that they compliment each other quite effectively, interconnecting so that one does not exist without the others, just as our real lives do. While I felt his third act did get too much into the weeds and begin to drag, the film, while long, generally rolls along with an urgency and energy that makes it a fascinating watch.
Nolan likes to explore issues of time and while Oppenheimer may be one of his more linear narratives, he still plays with timelines by using multiple framing sequences to set up and then drive home the main story which takes the title character from his scientific and professional infancy to his eventual canonization. Much of the film's structure reminded me of Stone's JFK, through filming different perspectives and points in history in different ways, and filling his story with an expansive cast (cameos galore!) to give impact to some brief yet important characters. Visually Oppenheimer is gripping. The first part barrels through with barely a chance for us to breathe as Nolan gives us so much information but does so in a way that is accessible.
At the centre of this film is a truly career defining performance by Murphy who plays the titular scientist both as complicated and as a character. He creates a unique individual who is not martyr nor hero nor evil but resoundingly human despite all of his remarkable distinctiveness. Nolan does seem fascinated with the man who may have "become the destroyer of worlds" in all his glory and humanity. Murphy gives such life that this version of the man and is just amazing to watch all the way through.
The second part of the film truly weighs on the audience as the bomb itself if born and the multiplicity of emotions that come with that are rendered so powerfully and effectively. I truly appreciated just how nuanced and sensitive Nolan's depiction of the development of the bomb and the reaction of those involved was. None of it felt heavy handed. Throughout Nolan remembers he is making a movie, and the film is stunning to watch in each frame. Famously made with only "practical" effects the power here is unmistakeable. Oppenheimer is for the big screen for sure.
But if I am being honest, the final part of the film became a bit of a slog. Nolan gets very interested in some interpersonal relationships and political machinations which are not as successfully rendered on screen and could have been handled more succinctly. When he finally ends the film he delivers with an emotional bomb which leaves you shaken for sure. But he loses us a bit on the journey, but only a bit, before pulling it all back together. I do worry this will effect the rewatchability of this film. But it shouldn't scare you away from experiencing this as big as you can and with a crowd.
If there was any other criticism I might have it's in Nolan's handling of Oppenheimer's romantic relationships. The film does little to build his connections to the women in his life, often having dialogue tell us rather than having the film show us. I rarely felt convinced of either of his two main loves the film presents us with and we never really get into the head of Pugh's character who's arc seems put there to give Murphy something to react to. Blunt's character is crafted as a complete character but the film does little to make us feel the actual relationship. The film does much better building the nuances and dynamics of Oppenheimer's friendships with male colleagues than it does in handling his romantic ones.
Overall, Oppenheimer is another triumph for Nolan... and his cast and crew. A film like this should not be as engaging and gripping as it is which is such a testament to film makers involved.
Oppenheimer
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, Benny Safdie, Matthew Modine, Gustaf Skarsgård, David Dastmalchian, Jack Quaid, Dane DeHaan, Alden Ehrenreich, Jason Clark, James D'Arcy, Tony Goldwin, Alex Wolff, Scott Grimes, Tom Conti, Matthias Schweighöfer, Gary Oldman
Writer/Director: Christopher Nolan
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