Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer (2023)

A Christopher Nolan film has always carried with it the weight and expectation of a superhero or major Sci-fi franchise. So much so his last effort, Tenet, was the first film to open in a wide release  globally mid-pandemic.

Whilst that film divided audiences on what on earth it was about this one is far easier to follow, with the subject matter being harder to digest. Based on the book ‘American Prometheus’ by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, this account of the “Father of the Atomic Bomb” is a conflicting watch.

Our hero here created a weapon of mass destruction. Hooray! Thankfully the film pivots to focus on a courtroom-drama-esque conspiracy and the gear really shifts, allowing us to root for this guilt-ridden genius.

The first 2 acts are a character study of an ambitious physician employed to beat the Nazis to the punch by developing an atomic bomb first and thus putting an end to World War 2. And though it’s very dialogue-driven it’s extremely stressful.

As J. Robert Oppenheimer, the captivating Cillian Murphy somehow manages to deliver a subtle low-key performance whilst conveying traumatic stress in the blink of his huge Cher-like eyes, or the dry lick of his Cher-like lips. A real triumph.

I often have a problem with Nolan and his female performances; great actresses somehow fail to come alive in his films. But no one can make Florence Pugh look bad and she breaks the curse masterfully doing a lot with very little. Same goes for Emily Blunt as the boozy Kitty Oppenheimer. Embodying Su-sin from The Simpsons she gives a smashing performance particularly when being interrogated.

Despite this being an enormously helpful historic account it’s a real actors’ film. Aside from the aforementioned there are brilliant stints from a lovable Matt Damon and a vile Robert Downey Jr., to name but two more. Oscar noms all round.

It was ambitious releasing such a serious Oscar play in the heat of summer but in a way it’s probably tricked a lot of boys who are expecting a blockbuster. Good for them!

8 Scholastic Thumbs Up 👍🏻