Christopher Nolan is a master of the big-screen spectacle, and his latest film, Oppenheimer is no exception. The film tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb.
It is a complex film that requires attention to almost every dialogue. But yes, if you pay heed to the movie without being distracted, Nolan will reward your thought processes with non-linear form of storytelling.
The film is visually stunning, with some of the most exquisite visuals ever witnessed. The authentic cinematic shots of Nolan are hard to miss, with some impressive shots bearing the mark of Nolan’s exceptional cinematography.
Moreover, the filler shots that last for few seconds reminds you of the older Christopher Nolan movies like Interstellar. Not to forget, the transition from colour to black & white within the film is so seamless which naturally takes you back to the older days.
The performances of the star cast are also top-notch. Cillian Murphy has given a triumphant performance showing Oppenheimer as serious, yet funny, witty and gritty well-learned polyglot with a taste for reading Sanskrit.
The personality of Oppenheimer’s wife was played by Emily Blunt. She was blunt when the situation demanded it and sharp when she was supposed to be. Matt Damon fit into the role of Gen. Leslie Groves so well that his mannerisms exuded that of a top military officer who wanted nothing but to win the war.
Although Rami Malek had a small role in the movie, he stood out with his vibrant facial expressions with exceptional confidence. Tom Conti’s role in playing Albert Einstein deserves a honourable mention.
Robert Downey Jr. on the other hand, played his character as though he was still under the influence of his role in Iron Man. In the first half of the movie, he delivered dialogues in an unnaturally quick manner as he was seen doing in the Marvel franchise. However, he perfectly got into the role of Lewis Strauss in the second half.
But what really sets Oppenheimer apart is its exploration of the moral and ethical implications of the atomic bomb. Nolan doesn’t shy away from the film’s dark subject matter, and he forces us to confront the difficult questions that Oppenheimer himself grappled with.
The film is a powerful reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons, and it raises important questions about the role of science through Oppenheimer’s inner battles. At this point, I am tempted to point out his external battles too but that could account to spoilers.
Overall, Oppenheimer is a challenging film, but it is also a rewarding one. It is a film that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it. Nolan has once again delivered a masterpiece, and Oppenheimer is sure to be one of the most talked-about films of the year, the decade and the century.
‘Oppenheimer’ didn’t just live up to Nolan’s standards, the movie outdid those standards. Considering his movies like The Prestige, Inception, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar, Dunkirk and Tenet doing justice to movie direction and storytelling, Oppenheimer becomes another feather in the cap for Christopher Nolan.