'Oppenheimer' Review: An Explosive, Riveting Historical Drama
Director Christopher Nolan brings yet another massive movie event to the silver screen with ‘oppenheimer’, an emotionally explosive and visually daZzling historical drama.
The film tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), the pioneer behind the creation of the atomic bomb, through various periods in his life as he makes scientific breakthroughs with his team and grapples with the consequences of his role in the creation of such a violent, destructive weapon.
Audiences may know Oppenheimer as the creator of the atomic bomb, but they most likely don’t know much about the man himself. Fortunately, Christopher Nolan is far more interested in the latter as he fleshes out the scientist tremendously well in this character study. Choosing Murphy to play the titular man was an inspired decision, the talented actor delivering one of the finest performances of his career. His performance is subtle, nuanced, and introspective, allowing the audience to piece together what he’s thinking and feeling with his mannerisms and facial expressions. It’s not a showy or over-the-top performance in any facet, which works incredibly well. Simply put, there isn’t a second where Murphy isn’t captivating or believable as Oppenheimer.
Nolan has assembled a truly remarkable cast here, including the likes of Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Jason Clarke, Kenneth Branagh, Florence Pugh and Josh Hartnett to name just a few. Fortunately, this stacked cast isn’t wasted or underutilized, each performer given their moment to shine and seize the screen. Downey Jr is especially good here, shedding his Iron Man suit and persona to remind audiences of the talent he possesses as an actor. His performance is one of the best of his career, charming and terrifying in equal measure.
Nolan is no stranger to making films that are epic in scope, Oppenheimer being no exception. This is a film that should be seen and heard on the largest screen possible, the sound design and cinematography truly breathtaking and immersive. The bomb sequence in particular is masterfully executed, the kind of set piece only Nolan could pull off so effortlessly. Complementing his direction is a stellar score from Ludwig Goransson, who previously worked on Nolan’s last effort Tenet. The combination of the visuals, sound, and score make for a perfect marriage that is going to be hard to top in 2023.
Though the film is dialogue heavy, the script from Nolan is sharp, balanced, and extremely accessible. The dialogue crackles and the exchanges between the central characters are some of Nolan’s finest work as a writer. There never feels like there is any fat to trim here despite the film being three hours, every scene feeling crucial and necessary in order to tell this fascinating story. The film vacillates between different periods in Oppenheimer’s life, some shot in black and white, but the non-linear storytelling never feels disorienting or disconcerting. Unlike Tenet, this is a story that is far more accessible and cohesive, the non-linear structure propelling the emotional punch of the story rather than muting it.
However, the film’s power lies in its exploration of its titular character. Not only is the brilliance of the man showcased throughout, but the fragility of Oppenheimer is also exposed. As the film delves into the aftermath of his creation, the scientist’s moral and ethical concerns come to light, torn between the benefits and horrors of what he’s crafted with his team. This inner turmoil is demonstrated visually multiple times in a truly unique fashion, letting the viewer in rather than keeping them at a distance.
The only issue holding the film back is its sound mix, a frequent issue associated with Nolan’s films. The filmmaker often opts to lean more heavily on the score and sound design, which drowns out a good portion of the dialogue. While the issue isn’t as distracting as it was in his previous work, there are still numerous scenes where its difficult to discern what characters are saying because the score and sound are far too overpowering. Considering the film is dialogue heavy, this is notable issue.
Oppenheimer is an excellent piece of filmmaking from Nolan, a director that continues to prove why his films, regardless of the subject matter, have the widespread appeal and hype they do. This is a well-crafted, written, directed, and performed story that will not only entertain, but inform as well. Oppenheimer may have created the atomic bomb, but his personal story was far more intense and fiery.