Oppenheimer (2023)
An epic drama centered on a man whose work changed the course of history.
Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Plot: Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is a young scientist, plagued by inner turmoil during his time studying at Cambridge. After finding his place in the field of theoretical physics, the film follows him through his education and early career. During WWII, Army General Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) recruits Oppenheimer to lead other scientists in a top secret project to develop an atomic bomb.
Analysis: Clocking in at exactly 3 hours, the movie is lengthy, but never boring. Despite being a serious movie, there were moments with funny quips that I enjoyed and the acting is terrific. I appreciate that director Christopher Nolan used only practical effects in the film rather than crazy CGI, but I admittedly found the bomb effects to be a bit underwhelming. My other critique is that the film felt a bit choppy, jumping from scene to scene and switching back and forth between timelines.
The movie does further the concept of a “deep state” or conspiracies of power within the government. Much of the movie involves Oppenheimer’s reputation after the bomb and the scrutiny he faced from the same government that he worked for during the war. Additionally, the last third of the film was almost like a courtroom drama, centered around a Senate confirmation hearing years after WWII. While I found this part of the movie interesting, it wasn’t what I expected for the closing act of Oppenheimer.
Nolan does bring the story full circle at the end, referencing back to an earlier scene which provides context and highlights some major themes of the film: the consequences of fame and of scientific advancement. I’d definitely recommend the movie.
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