By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
The greatest filmmaker of this generation has outdone himself and delivered a resonating epic that blows all expectations out of the water. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” gives audiences a riveting and terrifying look at a piece of American history that changed the world forever.
The film is based on the novel, “American Prometheus,” and tells the true story of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), an American theoretical physicist whose work leads to the development of the most destructive weapon in human history, the atomic bomb. At the onset of World War II, Brigadier General Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) was tasked with recruiting and overseeing the Manhattan Project. This leads him to Oppenheimer, whose achievements in quantum mechanics and nuclear physics made him an obvious choice to be the project’s director despite his suspected past connections with the Communist party. The race is on for Oppenheimer to successfully create the nuclear bomb before the Nazis, who were thought to have a significant lead over the Americans.
Audiences are then taken on a journey into the aftermath of the Manhattan Project’s success, showing the trials and tribulations Oppenheimer faced, especially as the Cold War began and his prior political involvement is brought into the public eye. Along the way, viewers are given insight into the people who had the most impact on Oppenheimer’s life, both positive and negative, like his wife Kitty (Emily Blunt), his mistress Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh), and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.).
Despite an illustrious career, “Oppenheimer” is Christopher Nolan’s opus, which should finally earn the five-time Oscar nominee his first win, even though he should have won for “Inception,” “Memento,” and “Interstellar” at the very least. To say he brings innovation to filmmaking would be a severe understatement. His dedication to filming this entire movie with IMAX cameras led to the invention of black and white IMAX. This was a very impactful element to the film so Nolan could not only differentiate between different time periods but also different points of view that really hammer home the judgment being levied in the aftermath of World War II and the commencement of the Cold War.
This is the first biopic Christopher Nolan has created in his career, and only his second film based on historical fact, the first being “Dunkirk.” He crafts a thought-provoking story with such commitment to historically documented fact, beautifully capturing the political climate of the various time periods and how an American patriot was transitioned to a villain and back to a hero. His attention to detail is unparalleled down to the specific time the bomb detonates during the famed Trinity test in the film.
While the story is one of the strongest depicted in a film so far this century, from a technical standpoint, “Oppenheimer” is one the most perfect films you’ll ever see. From cinematography to sound effects to the editing room, this is a work of art where no corners were cut. Nolan somehow captures the sheer explosive power of the atom bomb without using any CGI. On top of Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, this brilliant film will also likely be nominated and win for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, and Best Score come Oscar time. It may even break the record of 11 Oscars won, currently held by “Ben-Hur,” “Titanic,” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
With most of the accolades going to Christopher Nolan, deservedly so, let’s not forget about the acting, because it perfectly supplemented his efforts. Cillian Murphy has worked with Nolan on 5 of his prior films, but never as the leading man until “Oppenheimer.” He was brilliant in this title role as the gaunt, genius scientist, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion to help end the war. Murphy superbly conveys the introspective conflict boiling beneath the surface as he realizes the death, destruction, and future implications his creation will bring to the world. An Oscar nomination is all but guaranteed, and he’ll be an early favorite to win.
The supporting cast was equally up to the task, especially Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt. Robert Downey Jr. was magnificent as the self-centered, vindictive academic with more political aspirations than scientific ones. This will likely result in his third Oscar nomination. Emily Blunt provides an emotionally stirring performance as the troubled, alcoholic wife of a genius who remains stoically supportive throughout despite not receiving the same support in return. Her line delivery, especially towards the end of the film sends resounding shockwaves that create memorable moments and will likely garner her first Oscar nomination. Other notable performances not to be overlooked include ones by Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Jason Clarke, and Matt Damon.
You may think it a bit premature to crown the best film of the year, but that’s exactly what “Oppenheimer” is. In fact, it’s one of the best, most flawless films of the 21st century that will have audiences thinking and discussing long after they leave the theater with current events such as they are. If you have the opportunity, try seeing this the way the director intends it to be seen, in IMAX 70mm.
This movie earns
