Written for the Screen & Directed By Christopher Nolan; Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh.
Based on Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin’s 2005 biography titled American Prometheus, this movie tells the true story of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy). For those unfamiliar, he was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project and thereby ushering in the Atomic Age. Oppenheimer comes to us from acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who joined forces with Universal Pictures for the first time to make it. He was previously based at Warner Brothers for nearly 20 years, but left due to his frustrations with them deciding to give their 2021 slate simultaneous releases in theaters and on HBO Max without letting their talent know beforehand.
This is not only the most character driven film Christopher Nolan has made in a while, but also probably his most ambitious to date. He really puts you in the head of J. Robert Oppenheimer. We the audience experience everything in this movie from his perspective. Ludwig Göransson’s musical score perfectly complements all the thoughts going on in Oppenheimer’s mind. Despite being three hours long, Jennifer Lame’s excellent editing keeps the whole thing moving at such a great pace. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography consists of countless stunning images. What's all the more impressive is that there's not a single shot consisting of digital effects at all. Everything's so practical, that I was left wondering "How the hell did they do that?!" throughout.
As J. Robert Openheimer himself, Cillian Murphy gives such a haunting performance. He perfectly portrays him as a flawed man with big ambitions. Robert Downey, Jr. probably gives some of the most compelling work of his career as businessman, philanthropist, and naval officer Lewis Strauss. Emily Blunt may not have as much to do, but she is emotionally effective and very strong as Oppenheimer’s wife, Kitty. Other highlights of the cast include Kenneth Branagh as Danish physicist Niels Bohr, Matt Damon as Lieutenant General Leslie Groves, Rami Malek as physicist David Hill, and Florence Pugh as Oppenheimer’s former lover Jean Tatlock.
In fact, a lot more recognizable actors than that appear throughout the movie in bit parts. I can tell they all really wanted to be a part of such a bold project like this from such a visionary director like Nolan. As someone who previously wasn’t too familiar with the true story this is based on, I was on the edge of my seat when the atomic bomb was about to go off. Although from beginning to end, the narrative itself becomes more engrossing as it goes on. You just don’t see R rated three-hour biographical epics shot on IMAX film like this anymore. Props to Universal for letting Nolan make this near-masterpiece the way he intended to.
Rating: 4.5/5
Based on Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin’s 2005 biography titled American Prometheus, this movie tells the true story of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy). For those unfamiliar, he was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project and thereby ushering in the Atomic Age. Oppenheimer comes to us from acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who joined forces with Universal Pictures for the first time to make it. He was previously based at Warner Brothers for nearly 20 years, but left due to his frustrations with them deciding to give their 2021 slate simultaneous releases in theaters and on HBO Max without letting their talent know beforehand.
This is not only the most character driven film Christopher Nolan has made in a while, but also probably his most ambitious to date. He really puts you in the head of J. Robert Oppenheimer. We the audience experience everything in this movie from his perspective. Ludwig Göransson’s musical score perfectly complements all the thoughts going on in Oppenheimer’s mind. Despite being three hours long, Jennifer Lame’s excellent editing keeps the whole thing moving at such a great pace. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography consists of countless stunning images. What's all the more impressive is that there's not a single shot consisting of digital effects at all. Everything's so practical, that I was left wondering "How the hell did they do that?!" throughout.
As J. Robert Openheimer himself, Cillian Murphy gives such a haunting performance. He perfectly portrays him as a flawed man with big ambitions. Robert Downey, Jr. probably gives some of the most compelling work of his career as businessman, philanthropist, and naval officer Lewis Strauss. Emily Blunt may not have as much to do, but she is emotionally effective and very strong as Oppenheimer’s wife, Kitty. Other highlights of the cast include Kenneth Branagh as Danish physicist Niels Bohr, Matt Damon as Lieutenant General Leslie Groves, Rami Malek as physicist David Hill, and Florence Pugh as Oppenheimer’s former lover Jean Tatlock.
In fact, a lot more recognizable actors than that appear throughout the movie in bit parts. I can tell they all really wanted to be a part of such a bold project like this from such a visionary director like Nolan. As someone who previously wasn’t too familiar with the true story this is based on, I was on the edge of my seat when the atomic bomb was about to go off. Although from beginning to end, the narrative itself becomes more engrossing as it goes on. You just don’t see R rated three-hour biographical epics shot on IMAX film like this anymore. Props to Universal for letting Nolan make this near-masterpiece the way he intended to.
Rating: 4.5/5