Blockbuster or Bust: Oppenheimer

“If you’re looking for a sophisticated film to fling you into an extistential crisis: congratulations, you’ve found it.” 

Oppenheimer (2023) is a title none of us will ever forget. As one of the most highly-anticipated cinematic moments of the summer, I took the three-hour plunge into the deep, dark gloom of our own making with Christopher Nolan. And let me tell you, if you’re looking for a sophisticated film to fling you into an existential crisis: congratulations, you’ve found it. This is not a movie you stream in the background while you’re folding your laundry. It’s a screeching, blaring cry for help that’s been echoing throughout the world for nearly 40 years, artistically rendered in 70mm. It’s haunting, it’s heavy, it’s crucial, but, I daresay, it’s not for everyone.

Story

From the first minute to the last, you better be paying attention. The movie is incredibly dense with information. The ability to create something steeped in historical context and rich with such nuanced detail that is still digestible for audiences is a major feat. Every scene is packed with critical information, but know that the film’s structure is not chronological. If you don’t distinguish the separate timelines from the get-go, I must warn you that you will be terribly confused moving forward. The story is told from two timelines — one in black and white and another in color. The kicker is the change in perspective, because it’s not a simple matter of past and present. The colorful timeline details the events of the bomb’s invention and the hearings that follow in the title character’s perspective, while the alternative events signal a switch into the perspective of AEC Chairman Lewis Strauss. Nolan plays with these two lenses to offer a wider image of a character that simply can’t be encapsulated in a single frame. The pacing is masterful for a 3-hour commitment, and the level of suspense, curiosity, self-destruction and utter devastation delivered by a series of genius characters is enough to leave any viewer speechless. Although I could’ve done without some gratuitous nudity, I can’t argue with the bigger picture here.

Characters

I could run through the list on this one, but, truly, this film places its eyes on one person. The rueful, charming, deceitful, and arguably slightly sinister genius, J. Robert Oppenheimer. From the moment he disposes of that now infamous green apple, it’s clear that the man we’re dealing with is morally gray at best. Doomed to act on pride and grow manic with regret later. As we all know, Oppenheimer serves as our Prometheus – seeking intellectual glory at the cost of perhaps humanity itself one day. What he lacks in romantic ethics he makes up for in undeniable genius. And we can’t help but sit idly by, riddled with the burden of dramatic irony as he sets the world ablaze.   

Historical Accuracy

Mind you, I am no scholar on the matter, but according to my research, Oppenheimer was steeped in more historical fact than fiction. However, the production took liberties to fill in the cracks, naturally left in the wake of a man who was not alive to weigh in on the telling of his own story. There are small inaccuracies in characters shown and the actual people present for specific events. Instances in Oppenheimer’s imagination are certainly dramatized representations, but nevertheless, critical to understanding the title character’s psyche in my opinion. There are tons of articles comparing and contrasting the events surrounding the atomic bomb versus the film’s representation of the subject matter if you’re looking to do a greater venn diagram than the one I am capable of drawing.

Is it Worth the Watch?

Yes, but know that this film is not for the faint of heart. In terms of entertainment value, I’d actually give it a low score. Watching Oppenheimer was like reading a book for school — it’s deeply important, but your brain will be at work from the first minute to the third hour. Not only that, but the subject matter is incredibly heavy. It’s a horror story of true events that will likely leave you to contemplate if the countdown to the explosion ever really hit zero. But it is also a reminder of the duty we have to prevent destruction and the power of storytelling to inspire us to change the real-life narrative.