Oppenheimer was a beautiful film, though nothing less could be expected from Nolan. The cast was incredible, a star studded lineup who all played their roles incredibly. I feel we could've gotten more of David Dastmalchian, but I would say that even if the entire 3 hours was just footage of him. The movie did make me realize that in my head Einstein, along with other greats like Newton and Edison, exist to me in a much more historical context than was reality. I had no idea Einstein was so recently around, that he was alive and kicking at the time of the war. In my head he existed hundreds of years ago, generations before my time.
This is a VERY intense movie. Really great movie with a crazy great casting. Ludwig Göransson overdid himself again. As usual from one of the all-time greatest Directors. I believe it's also the first time Nolan has done montages like this. Inception is all I can think of that could come close to this.
Like an atomic bomb: huge impact and perfect execution.
In his first biopic, Christopher Nolan delivers one hell of a payload. It's flawlessly directed, well acted (I'd love to be Cillian Murphy's tailor come ward season), incredibly cast (RDJ, Emily Blunt, Safdie, Matt Damon, Benny Safdie excel in the supporting roles), brilliantly written (the juggling of story arc, character arc, conflict, insight, knowledge was impressive) and beautifully filmed.
Incredible cinematic experience.
The tragedy is that when studios drop the bomb that reduces movies to computer data and raze theaters so that viewers seek shelter in their home cinemas, landmark experiences like Oppenheimer will be lost forever and there will be nothing left behind in the mushroom cloud of technology except for the crater of things that once existed.
counting down the days for this legendary movie that we're about to be blessed with
The world forever changes.
Cinematography wise, Amazing. So immersive. Nolan knocked it out of the park as usual. So story wise, there were some moments where my heart thumping, smart dialogue etc.
But it felt more like a documentary than a biopic. I would've love to know more about Oppenheimer as a person rather than seeing a sequence of events that unfolded. He's such a complex character put into a unique situation, I really wish Nolan dived more into that part. Also, there's always so much happening, you can't miss a single dialogue or you'll be like: 'wait wth is happening who's that guy again now". You will know when you see it.
What truly sets Oppenheimer apart is its exploration of profound moral questions. The film delves into the ethics of scientific discovery, the consequences of playing with unimaginable power, and the weight of decisions that can shape the course of history. It leaves the audience pondering the moral ambiguities surrounding Oppenheimer's work and its lasting impact on humanity.
In conclusion, Oppenheimer is a tour de force in film-making. It combines exceptional storytelling, outstanding performances, and thought-provoking themes that resonate long after the credits roll. If you're a fan of historical dramas or simply appreciate outstanding cinema, this movie is an absolute must-see. It deserves every accolade and stands as one of the finest films of our time.
Definitely worth a watch, but make sure you brush up on your WW2 history knowledge or else you might not get the full context.
"I believe we did".
Ok Mr. Nolan, you've given me the chills.
Pros
+Acting all around. I am not a huge fan of Cillian Murphy but he delivered big time, Downey Jr of course did his thing, Damon was great, Safdie was the surprise hit imo, Florence didn't even have much screen time and she made a big impression, Blunt was good (her character is a terrible bitch but she filled the role well). And these are only a fraction of the main cast, but then every other scene has a major actor filling in a minor role, with of course Gary Oldman's Truman being the most notable.
+Sound design was phenomenal with the train going off it's tracks as both a fitting metaphor and a believable match for so many different scenes/sounds
+cinematography was excellent, the way it tied the sound with the events being a highlight as well as the visions where the moral self analysis of Oppenheimer was substituting reality with his mental state (the naked section of the interrogation, skin peeling off a cheering crowd, the missiles flying past his car). The visuals at the beginning are also wonderful, the moving electrons Oppenheimer visualizes to make his theories make sense were gorgeous. Lighting was great as well
+This movie nailed the tension maybe better than any other movie I've seen. This was something that made me concerned before watching because 3+ hours seems too long to maintain tension while also creating interesting events surrounding a science project in the desert but the early life, days as a professor, start of the Manhattan project, and the finale all bleed into each other incredibly well while mostly using metaphor and recurring themes to convey how Oppenheimer views his responsibilities, how others react to them out of his control, etc. in a way that makes a movie about the creation of a bomb complex but entirely worth every scene it contains. The bomb is NOT the only thing this movie is talking about and in my opinion that makes this so much more profound. Everything being interrupted by the "trials" of Oppenheimer and Strauss breaking down the complex questions for both the characters speaking and for the audience, both allowing anyone to be able to understand a very complex series of events but also using that time not to explain but to expand the characters and force them to address their actions which is the core of what this movie is about.
+It was never preachy, which is extremely hard for a movie about a highly political series of events. They address very interesting involvements Oppenheimer has with the Communist party but are sure to accurately portray them as more tangential than defining his beliefs and to address his continued work on a weapon he knew could destroy the world and the pride he takes in that work while also making it clear he is not a chud robot trying to blow up every enemy the US has. They had an excellent metaphor near the start where he explains how light is both a wave and a particle and it is contradictory but it still is the truth. People change their minds, you can associate with those without believing the same things as them, your work is not an encapsulation of your entire being, etc.
+Set/costume design was great, I'm not going to pretend like the 1930s/40s are the hardest era to replicate but they did their job
+Dialogue was above average but there were a number of weird bits
Neutral
*Kind of mis-portrayed Truman considering he literally almost ended his presidency to stop MacArthur from glassing China/Korea with nukes but the scene was fucking hilarious so it gets a pass lol
*You could put this in the negative section but it's more of an interpretation I have than necessarily a fault in the movie itself. The conversations this story had where phenomenal and they way they drove home the themes about the consequences of our actions is done in an exceptional way however one thing that rubbed me personally the wrong way was the entire time Oppenheimer (and his cunt wife) are continually placing the entire blame on him but that kind of goes against the story because he is just the catalyst and there are so many competing/cooperating forces that are determining the creation, use, and further development of the bomb. It feels like the last scene with Einstein is starting to get to this solution with all of these people praising him/Einstein to attempt to forgive themselves but the very end is just Wide eyed Cillian Murphy being like "Nah bro I set off a chain reaction that's going to destroy the world" so it works against itself. No of course you can interpret this multiple ways and maybe I'm reading this scene against its intention but it does really come off that way to me and with the friend I saw it with
*Midwit Nolan fans are going to bitch about this movie not being eventful because they can't appreciate an actually good film
Cons
-Smooth brains will think it's too long (this is not an actual criticism)
-Smooth brains also will not like that they don't show the use of the bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (This is also not an actual criticism)
-The big twist in the trials is extremely predictable and almost everyone could see it coming from a mile away (The good thing is that it isn't really a major linchpin, at least in terms of you needing to be surprised for it to affect the viewing experience
-I think there is a fair argument against the use of black and white in the Strauss hearings. Yes, it kind of makes it look like a 1950s news story but it goes against the traditional psychology of film that says "Black and White=Older, Color=Newer" Since it is some of the last stuff to happen chronologically in the story
Watched this on the first day while out on the road and it was the best choice ever. I see a couple of Oscars coming in for Cillian (Best Actor), Nolan (Best Director+Original Screenplay) and hopefully even RDJ (Best Supporting Actor). The movie is well shot, the acting and the cinematography is beautiful. The pace of the movie feels a bit fast (less time to focus on the emotions and more story telling).
A near perfect movie. A perfect 10 none the less IMO because this movie will keep you excited throughout. If I were to be harsh, I'd go down to a 9 on my scale. Damn, this is a good movie. Can't wait to go see it at an IMAX, if I can get a ticket :P
A 3-hour masterpiece someday it'll become a classic movie
Unfortunately, the movie did not live up to my expectations. I was expecting a completely different movie. I didn't read the reviews, I just noticed the screaming headlines that appeared on internet portals. I was hoping the movie would be more about the science part of making the bomb. It turned out that over 50% of the movie deals with political issues and the international situation: communists, etc. Of course, the acting, cinematography and music are at the highest level. However, it looks like a political historical movie. I was hoping for more...
Oppenheimer is not a movie, it's a film, it's a masterclass achievement in the history of cinema, a ridiculous achievement in filmmaking and a spectacular experience that should be studied. It's a cinematic detonator, exploding with tension and brilliance. I can't sweat it enough to recommend how good of a movie Oppenheimer is, but it doesn't always cater to the mass.
Can't wait anymore. My blood is already pumped up
The Zone of Interest is a grown up story about war. This is a sophomoric history lesson and an incomplete one at that. And folks should know that there were people in New Mexico who were displaced and not compensated and others who were irradiated and not compensated either. Nolan's way of doing history does not entertain me nor does it satisfy my curiosity.
Absolutely loved it so very much
"Oppenheimer", a cinematic masterpiece, shows Christopher Nolan at his best. This film is more than just entertainment - it weaves deep dialogue with historical background knowledge and groundbreaking production. Nolan confronts us with the most fatal stage of human creativity: the potentially devastating weapon. Here cinema becomes a platform for reflection on betrayal, death, time and progress.
The intellectual challenge of the profound dialogues in "Oppenheimer" stands out from superficial action scenes and makes it possible to understand the historical epoch in a new way. This dense storytelling is reminiscent of Nolan's previous works and combines the themes of betrayal, death, time, love, thirst for knowledge and progress into a cumulative whole. The heart-penetrating scenes of the atomic bomb tests and the dropping on Hiroshima are highlights of cinematic art.
This "hard fare" includes education and reflection. Nolan manages to engage the audience and make them think about historical context and the consequences of decisions. "Oppenheimer" breathes new life into cinema and shows that it can be more than just entertainment. Amid superficial content, the film is a reminder that cinema can be a platform for deep themes and intellectual stimulation.
In an age distracted by fast-paced content, "Oppenheimer" is a gem. The film imparts historical knowledge and encourages intellectual debate. This masterpiece manages to captivate the audience with detailed staging and deep dialogues. It is a film for those who are interested and those who want to become one, an outstanding balance between aesthetic pleasure and an existential challenge.
one of the most heavy and intense film I've ever seen
I’m out of words ….. Christopher Nolan has once again outdone himself this is something else … everyone from the actors to the amazing score from ludwig göransson and all of the team working on this movie thank you for this piece of art !!!
I have a feeling on the second watch I will like this even more. The acting was incredible. The score also really stood out. I love that a movie mostly about talking can feel this fast-paced and thrilling. Nolan once again proves why he’s one of the best.
8.5/10
To be upfront, I didn’t understand a lot of the dialogue in this movie. I think that’s partly because my listening comprehension isn’t the best, but others also said they had some issues so I think the sound mixing might also be partly at fault there. However, I still had no issue following the narrative, understanding the characters, and so on. I think the movie is just really well structured, helping me follow along even though we have multiple plot threads in different points of time. And well, sometimes the little physics knowledge I have helped me, for example when Strauss and Oppenheimer referenced Einstein’s “god doesn’t roll dice” quote, I immediately understood what they talked about. But I think as it is the movie is just well constructed.
Nolan is good with the tension and at building immersion and Oppenheimer is no different here. The movie really pulls you in with its fast pacing and the tension is built so damn well. The three hours honestly flew by and I never felt bored, it was consistently exciting to watch. The music is also incredible, aiding to the immersion along with Nolan’s direction. And while the sound design is not that good at making you understand the dialogue, there are scenes which literally burn into your mind. It’s been a while since a movie felt so cinematic and real.
Of course, the actual narrative is also interesting. Oppenheimer’s story turned out to be much more interesting than expected, and gave a lot of insight into America back then and Oppenheimer’s guilt and his emotional struggles. As it turned out the discussion and consequences of the atomic bomb were a much stronger focus than the bomb itself, which fits the overall framing of this movie as a biopic very well. Overall I have no particular issue with this movie - I think it’s very good. And I will rewatch with subs once it hits digital.
10/10
Amazing, amazing, amazing. The story, the acting, the camera, the music everything was INSANE. Words cannot describe how good this movie is. Christoper Nolan did it again, unbelievable. Cillian was amazing, just like the rest of the cast. The silences where so good, the music is really good. Just amazing.
Oppenheimer, the 2023 epic biographical thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan, is a masterful and captivating portrayal of the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of history's most complex and influential figures. Cillian Murphy delivers an extraordinary performance as the titular character, flawlessly embodying the brilliance, turmoil, and moral dilemmas faced by the renowned theoretical physicist.
Nolan's direction expertly navigates the intricate web of historical events, scientific discoveries, and personal struggles that defined Oppenheimer's journey. The film delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the inner conflicts of a man torn between his passion for scientific advancement and the ethical implications of his work, particularly in the creation of the first nuclear weapons during World War II. This moral dilemma is brilliantly depicted through the character dynamics, especially between Murphy's Oppenheimer and Matt Damon's portrayal of General Leslie Groves, who served as Oppenheimer's military handler.
Emily Blunt's portrayal of Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer adds a touching and emotionally charged dimension to the story, offering a glimpse into the personal life of the physicist and the impact of his choices on his family. Additionally, Robert Downey Jr. shines as Lewis Strauss, portraying the tensions within the United States Atomic Energy Commission during this pivotal period in history.
The film's attention to detail in recreating historical settings and events is commendable, immersing the audience in the wartime atmosphere and the high-stakes world of scientific innovation. The supporting cast, featuring talented actors like Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Tom Conti, and Kenneth Branagh, contribute to the film's depth and authenticity.
Oppenheimer is not just a biopic; it's an exploration of the human spirit, ethics, and the consequences of scientific breakthroughs. Nolan's signature style, combined with the stellar performances of the cast, successfully engages the audience on both an intellectual and emotional level. It's a thought-provoking and hauntingly beautiful cinematic experience that leaves a lasting impact, urging us to ponder the implications of human ingenuity and the responsibility that comes with wielding such power.
Cinema in its purest and most powerful form, exceptional on every level: from a great script, diverse cast, mesmerizing acting, fast-pace editing, to an especially outstanding score. It's incredible how a 3 hour movie can be that kinetic. Nolan is clearly much better at non-fiction than whatever the hell TeNeT was. Movie of the year.
Not sure what he was meant to be speaking in Leiden, but it sure wasn't Dutch.
Well, that was a lot. The cast is impressive and everyone is great but the pacing is punishing but I think on purpose. The romance setups early in the film are so funny and they have a moment where JFK’s name is dropped like it is setting up a shared universe film.
still in shock, this is historic
The movie was amazing to watch even though there were some inconsistances, my favourite actress Florence pugh also showed out lol, Overall 9 stars.
So you are telling me Oppenheimer was warned several times of what he was building and he did not stop until he realised it was too late to apologise and revert on what he had caused/created. Even he regretted his own invention on the bombings of Japan moments after creation. He could have stopped all this non-sense and maybe today we wouldnt have Atomic bombs nor Hydrogen bombs that would menace the humanity.
Furthermore, he was warned that he had near 0 chances of destroying the whole world and he kept doing it risking everyones life because of his selfishness and ambition. He was truly a MONSTER. One of the WORST inventions ever
It started slow, but once you get into it, it slowly builds to a great movie
Other than the bomb, doesn't let any moment breathe.
Would be 10/10 if Jack Parsons were in it:person_shrugging_tone3:
https://boxd.it/5HH7aP
It's a Nolan movie and quite a fun topic
Good biographical story.
Great acting
Biographical stories are typically not for me.
Characters 8/10
Story 7/10
Pacing 5/10
Visuals 8/10
Rewatchability Factor 1/10
Enjoyment or Emotional Value 4/10
Average Score 5.5/10
I don't think it's Nolan's best film, as some have suggested, but weirdly enough - being an R-rated three-hour film, part black-and-white courtroom-style drama, part dialog-heavy biopic - it may be one of his more accessible stories. It's not a high-concept, mind-bending sci-fi film that outgrows a lot of people's patience, it's not a comic-book film which for a lot of people is still a silly and uninteresting genre. It's not even so much about the atomic bomb and the war itself, which again may put some people off. It's about a real person who was instrumental in the making of a game-changing weapon, and how he had to deal with the fallout of this invention amidst a battle for narrative and control. It's a very grounded and personal story that seems easier to relate to than many of Nolan's previous works. There still is his obligatory non-linear way of telling the story, but it's more streamlined here than even in Dunkirk.
Having said that, I found the first half of the film fairly hard to get into. It moves so fast, skipping all kinds of beats - especially in the student years - the and hardly ever slows down despite not a lot happening on screen plot-wise. It's absolutely doing the groundwork for the second half and maneuvering characters and story elements into position, but instead of a natural part of the story, much of it felt like a recap montage edited to get viewers caught up in a heavily cut-down version of the story in order to not have to spend any more of the already considerable running time to go through everything thoroughly. I felt like yelling "Chris! BREATHE!" at the screen more times than I cared to count, as many scenes seemed like they should have gotten more time and buildup to really communicate their weight, but felt rushed through and quickly moved on from. For parts of this half, the race against the enemies to create the weapon before they do and the horror of what might happen if they get there first could have provided a good reason for this restlessness, but this was reduced to a few brief mentions and not nearly explored as much as it could and probably should have been.
The second half, however, redeemed almost all of that. The Trinity test scene, which really kicks off this second half, is absolutely phenomenal and effortlessly goes from extreme suspense to just pure awe. It feels like both the acting and the creativity in using image and sound in interesting ways are shifting into a higher gear at that point - not that any of it was anywhere near bad in the beginning, but it's the second half where the standout scenes happen for all of them. The victory speech and Kitty's interview are some that spring to mind. And as the trajectory and focus of the movie become clearer, the pace seems to find its stride as well.
While I ultimately thought the portrait of Oppie's personal life wasn't as focused as it should have been, and the story behind the hearings got a little too convoluted, I found the visuals and sound design to be very impressive and I loved the score, even if it can sound like Tenet leftovers here and there. There's even some good humor to be found despite the subject matter, and while just about everyone and their mother being part of the cast may sound distracting, the performances are great across the board and apart from maybe one exception it all came together nicely and seamlessly.
I'm sure the first half will work much better on repeat viewings, but maybe the pacing would have worked out better if Nolan had chosen a Chernobyl-style miniseries format and strong-armed Universal to release it theatrically. As it stands, I think it's a very good film with a lot of excellence in it that's somewhat hampered by an unusually rocky first half. It's not Nolan's best overall film, but it still might contain some of his best work and deserves to be seen with the best picture and sound setup possible.
Level "Interesting" • 7 :heart: • Entertaining and Good.
This was a fantastic film. The acting was tremendous, and the pacing of the film was quite good for such a movie. I was really impressed w/ the overall production, and I learned quite a bit about the entire process of the atomic bomb coming to be. I will say that I was somewhat surprised that there wasn't any real focus on the long-term effects of dropping the bombs, however.
Acting 10/10
Pacing 4/10 (montage)
Why did we need 60 mins for the villain arc, it added nothing. It was just Hollywoods obsession with needing a villain.
Was it good? Yes.
Was it overrated and majority of people being twats who don't mention both good and bad after watching? Also yes.
.
It's way too long..
You really have to justify yourself to be a 3 hour movie..
There was way too much fat on this film to justify itself..
Did I say this film is too long??
It would have been a better film if it was shorter, like this review..
The movie was great, but I wish it was a bit shorter. The directing was exceptional, and Cillian Murphy's acting was on point. But I think they could have focused more on the devastating effects on the civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
As a biopic, I found this quite engaging, if a bit overlong. As a Christopher Nolan film, it felt very safe, but gorgeously done. Perhaps the hype set the bar too high? That being said, this film is chock full of standout performances by a cast of amazing individuals. Murphy turned in a fully realized effort as the titular character, and he was surrounded by performers knocking it out of the park. I had hoped for a bit more moral wrestling with what they created, but the scenes where it was permeating the goings on did hit. This is obviously worth the time you'll invest to watch it, but it was not quite the masterpiece it may have been talked up to be.
Nolan does a even more serious movie about politics and wins the Oscar he should have won decades ago
A great watch with fabulous performances and great photography, but also with many issues...
In many scenes it felt like watching the academy awards speeches: after a short while the, mostly very interesting, dialogue was getting drowned out from the music, why make it so annoyingly loud? When watching Oppenheimer giving a lecture in what supposed to be Dutch, I almost laughed out loud... I'm Belgian myself, why not bother to teach the main character of a movie with such high production value at least a few understandable sentences in Dutch? These details kinda got the movie down for me. Almost as much as hearing Tom Hanks speaking with a Dutch accent in 'Elvis'.... Certainly not best movie at the Oscars material in my very modest opinion....
Nolan certainly outdid himself in this one! More pedantic and self-important than ever! There is something ironic in that Oppenheimer's wife character critiqued him saying something along the lines of him thinking so great of himself... and that that would definitely apply to Nolan. Just because the movie had great acting and a difficult story to be adapted, it doesn't make it any good; quite the contrary, the higher you are, the harder the fall. The editing to make it "artistic" is just disorienting enough to trick you into thinking it's oh so smart and complex and profound. Not to forget the cheesy lines some characters, Einstein specially, were spitting like it was fountains of wisdom coming straight from the most generic Marvel movie. This is the worst garbage of intellectual wannabe film ever: it's like Ricky and Morty for people that think they are actually smarter than Ricky and Morty fans. Apologetic Hollywood trash that OF COURSE copped 7 Academy Awards. Make the bomb, drop the bomb, make the movie, make money with the movie, award the movie... all in a day's work of American imperialism.
Slow movie with US propaganda.
Uneven movie. Stellar performance by Robert Downey Junior.
This anxiety felt since the bomb test scene is breathtaking. The cast is great and so is the cinematography. Chris Nolan did it again, hope he ever will
Don't know if I would have loved this film had I not read the book on which it's based. It really was a strange mess of short clips that are supposed to take the viewer from place and time. It was difficult for my over-stimulated mind to bounce around like that. But once I settled in, it was a great ride. And the Oscar goes to Cillian Murphy...
So you don't even get to watch a video on your phone that you choose that is not good
It’s like Zelig, but with physicists and not as funny.
A haunting exploration of the genius and moral burden behind the atomic bomb, fueled by Cillian Murphy's captivating performance and Nolan's signature grandiosity.
Right after watching, “Oppenheimer” leaves you the lasting impression of having just watched a perfectly crafted film. However, I still find it hard to connect to the material on a personal level. Nolan gives it all, but his tropes look as elegant as they feel mechanical, capable of achieving their effect only superficially. The film leaves you amazed by its achievements as a piece of cinema, but struggles to have an impact on an emotional, human level. Nevertheless, "Oppenheimer" remains a meticulously crafted film, so rich in characters and events that it never feels dragged out despite its three-hour runtime. The first half felt even too fast-paced, frenetically bombarding the audience with so many names, notions, and fanservice for science history nerds that it disorients. Luckily enough, the pacing slows down in the second half, allowing the audience to breathe and connect the dots in preparation for the crescendo in tension accompanying the last beats. Ultimately, despite failing to get a moving insight into Oppenheimer’s inner world, I find it impossible not to be fascinated by the intricate framework built around the character.
It was really good. Despite the long run time, it kept you engaged the whole time. It makes me want to check out the book the movie was based on, which sounds like they did a pretty faithful representation of the book.
Yep, a quality film.
'Oppenheimer' lived up to the billing to me. Not that that was ever really in any doubt, with Christopher Nolan at the helm and Cillian Murphy in lead alongside all the acclaim that I have seen this receive since its 2023 release. The near 3hr run time is no problem whatsoever, despite more talk than anything else the film simply doesn't hold any slow/uninteresting moments - 'tis all fascinating.
Ever since I found out about his casting I knew Murphy would deliver a sensational performance and that's exactly what he produces here, which is not even a tiny bit surprising - anyone who has seen television's 'Peaky Blinders', for one, would know that. Loved every single second of him onscreen.
As for the rest of the cast, where do you start?! Emily Blunt is impressive, again not a shock as I'm a fan of her from other things - shoutout 'The Adjustment Bureau'. Matt Damon stars alongside Blunt in that aforementioned great flick, he himself is very good in this. Robert Downey Jr. shows quality too. All others have much less screentime but do a fair bit with it, for example Jason Clarke and Florence Pugh.
It was impossible not to be fully engrossed in this, at least for me. It is not my favourite Nolan movie, 'Inception' and 'Interstellar' surpass but to be honest it's the definition of splitting hairs as his films are of such a high standard. For example, 'Dunkirk' and 'Tenet' move me less but are still ones I rate highly.
Final words on this: Watch it if you get the opportunity. One of the big 'uns!
Whilst rather long this is a superb movie. It certainly gives great insight into the life of Oppenheimer and the world of nuclear development and destruction. Murphy and Downey Jr deserve their Oscar Nominations, I hope they win in their categories. :thumbsup_tone1: Stunning film, should win best Film at the Oscars. The comment at the end of the Movie by Oppenheimer to Einstein " we have destroyed the world" sums it all up.
Christopher Nolan is an expert in his field of creating masterpieces. This is an exceptional piece of film with equal parts beauty and horror. It is not a film for an everyday "sit down with your mates" but instead an education in history delivered in a package that only Nolan can drop. Stunning and hard hitting with a stellar cast and sublime acting.
Well that was 1000x better than Barbie....
Nolan deserve all the recognition that he are receiving by this master piece, a genius. Oppenheimer don't have mistakes.
I love it because of the genuis in it. From the acting and designs to the soundtrack and cinematography. The only reason I'm not giving it a 10 is because the 2 hour version would be better.
The tension to satisfaction this gave is one of the bests iv ever experienced. I could talk about this movie all day.
movie wasn't pink enough :(
Amazing movie. It’s long, but it doesn’t drag at all. Which is surprising, because it’s mostly men talking about one of the complicated/boring subjects in the world. The fact that it’s as good as it is, is proof that the story, performances and music are top notch.
oppenheimer's life and involvement with the manhattan project are too interesting for this movie to be so boring.
cillian murphy and robert downey jr. have both shown amazing performances in this movie, no surprise there. the videography is great and edited to mute any bright colors. it helps carry the undercurrent of despondency through the film in a visual way and that added a lot of impact to the dialogue and acting in general.
i admire nolan's attempts to tackle a movie written in first person. his choice to show the subjective in color and objective in greyscale was genius and i think this is probably one of his better movies.
however, the complete lack of continuity is very frustrating. i like how one of the reviewers put it: "it makes the common biopic mistake of treating its subject matter like a Wikipedia entry." i couldn't have said it better. this movie feels messy and all over the place. it's incredibly slow-paced while also being choppy and inconsistent. it's hard to pin down oppenheimer's emotions and convictions when the film feels like a mashed up series of webisodes.
my largest complaint about this movie, though, is that it's boring as heck. there's no action, there's no drama, and there's very little emotion. cillian murphy did a standup job of trying to inject as much emotion as he could, but this is really christopher nolan's failure as a screenwriter. if he wanted to write a documentary, he should have just written a documentary.
a large part of this movie deals with oppenheimer's conflicting feelings around the project and use of the bomb, but it's shown in a very subtle way. there are so many moments where he's questioned about his opinions and concerns on the bomb. he's displayed as weak, a traitor, and someone attempting to prevent the progression of building a hydrogen bomb for selfish reasons. through all of this, not once did slotin come up. he's not even in the movie and i can't figure out why.
slotin was a physicist who worked with oppenheimer on the manhattan project. he was the person who built the trinity device for the test explosion (the big tower with the bomb on top of it.) his contributions to the project were crucial to its success, so he was by no means a minor or unimportant person. he died just months before the testing of the bomb from radiation sickness after an experiment went wrong and he was exposed to lethal doses of radiation. it took nearly a month for him to die in a hospital at los alamos.
maybe this is a bit ranty of me, but i don't understand why nolan would choose not to include the gruesome death of a colleague in this movie. i'm sure this strongly influenced oppenheimer's opinions on the project, and it certainly impacted the entire town. seeing the effects of radiation poisoning and how awful of a death it can be is an important factor when deciding if you wanna inflict that suffering on hundreds of thousands of people.
the film is from oppenheimer's pov, and he wasn't present at the accident, but a funeral was held in los alamos and oppenheimer gave speeches about slotin after the fact. there were many times oppenheimer's hesitation about the bomb was interpreted as disloyalty. he was accused of being a soviet spy and of being sympathetic to the japanese during the war. slotin's death was a pivotal moment in the quest to build the bomb and it's dumbfounding to me that this was excluded from the movie despite the emphasis on how oppenheimer's opinions evolved while working on the project.
there were so many other ways to display how and why his opinions changed, but all that's shown is 2-3 seconds of cillian's face while viewing photos from the aftermath. nolan was attempting to be subjective with this film but instead he made oppenheimer seem stale and emotionless.
all that being said, i did still enjoy the film. it was worth going to see, it was worth buying, and i'll probably watch it again. it was good, but it wasn't as great as i had hoped it would be.
i just had high expectations and nolan let me down.
Like Barbie, this movie has been written about a ton already. I think it’s genuinely impressive that a talkey movie, half in black and white, that works as a biopic and a condemnation of the American government, could become so popular. And that’s due to Nolan’s excellent directing, which finally feels purposeful instead of just self-imitation. I’ve often criticized how he tries to play with narrative structures and chronology just for the sake of doing so, but here everything is done intentionally. The spliced narrative puts Nolan into the room, giving the camera an actual perspective on the events taking place. And yes, the technicals are just as high quality as you would expect, from the stunning cinematography to the booming sound.
First I was bored by science, politics and lack of humor. Later I got involved and the final lines blew my mind. It did totally worth the three hours of my pre-holiday evening.
The music all the way through this film ruined it. Far too loud and not needed.
I think it's not the usual biopic that me or people expect, but still a good one. Btw, RDJ finally gave something else different from Tony Stark lol.
There are two things stand out about this movie. First, I can't imagine any other actor other than Cillian Murphy pulling this off. He is just so.... believable. He completely blended into the role, and I have to imagine that if he did not nail the role then this would have been a lesser movie. The second thing is the direction. This is a story that had to have been hard to tell because it is a rather talkie-like drama. Nolan's storytelling walked a very fine line, and the result was something truly special. It was easily in my top five of the year.
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I liked the movie when I saw it in the cinema. But now watching it at home, being more familiar with the names and timelines, with the possibility to rewind; I have to say it's a masterpiece. There's not one minute that could be cut, for those that complain about the length.
This movie makes you feel like you were part of the Manhattan project. Imo as an Indian the controversies don't bother me at all. It might seem random and it very well might be... but honestly... eh. Made in a very compelling way.
Pretty good... but not fantastic. Felt like a lot was just brushed over, which it quite a feat considering its 3 hours long!!
I really appreciated it switching to black and white for the flashback/different timeline - more movies should do this.
Overall I liked it, but still feel a lot was missing (I have no idea what, because I'm not that interested in finding out more). One thing that was referenced but glazed over was the German scientists' involvement.. as in it was downplayed. Pretty sure I've read in the book Operation Paperclip that they were heavily involved during and/or after Oppenheimer.
7.5/10
Me when Matt Damon testifies at the end:
""Awww! They're buddies now!""ù
Casting-wise it is pretty much flawless and every single one delivers stellar performances and Nolans script derived from American Prometheus is spectacular.
However the cinematography is absolutely appalling and I have a hard time believing that an non stroke impaired Van Hoytema followed up Interstellar and Tenet with this absolute mess.
It is constantly switching between different aspect ratios and black and white vs colour all within the same timeframe.
It illustrates nothing. It accomplishes nothing. Just... why?
The sound levels switches seamlessly between barely audible dialogue to EARSPLITTING BOMBASTIC MUSIC enough to actually simulate an atom bomb going of in your eardrums every fifteen minutes worthy of a horror B-movie aiming for a jump scare.
As much as it pains me as a fellow Swede composer Ludwig Göransson completely missed the ball on this with a musical score so out of place it's like he wrote it for a completely different movie than the one I just watched.
As these factors where so extremely palpable throughout the entire film it turns what could have been a great film into a good one simply because Nolan's at his lowest is still ridiculously high.
Oppenheimer, a historical figure of immense significance, has long awaited his cinematic portrayal, and it has finally materialized. This remarkable film boasts outstanding performances from its cast, complemented by a compelling narrative.
While the movie approaches perfection in many aspects, its extended duration and occasional complexity may pose challenges for some viewers. Regrettably, the film falls short of perfection in my eyes, partly because my wife did not resonate with it. In my opinion, a movie about Oppenheimer should strive to captivate every mind, transcending the boundaries of historical or scientific interests.
For a film to truly be considered a masterpiece, it should aim to imprint the concept of a nuclear bomb on the minds of all its viewers, fostering a positive impact. I derive joy from the greatness of this movie, yet there's a tinge of sadness as I feel it didn't fully realize its potential to reach and resonate with a broader audience, making a lasting impression about the gravity of the subject matter.
This is a good story about Oppenheimer and everything surrounding his work. The acting is pretty excellent but the movie isn't particularly captivating. I was into it for the first hour of the three and then found myself distracted by nearly anything else to have this on in the background.
absolute masterpiece.
this movie is not a biography of j Robert Oppenheimer.
it's not about making bombs.
its a very balanced story.Will involve you in that days.
it's not all about can you read the story,it's about can you hear the story more.
Solid movie, more vfx might have added to a few scenes.
It's a movie of life.
gave it an 8 but I'm not sure I would want to ever watch it again
The movie is a little too hectic, switching from one scene to another. Playing in 3 different times at once. You have to really focus to know what's going on, definetely not a movie to chill out. The movie should've been a little slower and some "unnecessary", less important details cut down.
I fully agree with what Jordy said in his comment: "There’s a strong ‘and then this happened, and then this happened’ feel to it, which definitely keeps up the pace, but it refuses to stop and let an emotion or idea simmer for a while."
The film would have had greater impact and been a 8.5 if they cut at 2h:09m. The remaining 51 minutes is extraneous and feels like bonus content that wasn’t cut.
I do not think i could have watch it this on theatre, the years have passed on me were i could sit for 3+ hours on the chair to watch a movie, even one that suppose to be a masterpiece.
Was it a masterpiece ? no, a solid 8 for me. Nolan have yet to to be able for me to pass Interstellar.
It was very difficult to follow the pace and the cinematography, the constant change of scenes the sciense and the facts that were giving all the time in extra speed was hard to keep up. Yes i should paid more attention on the school or maybe read a bit more about the story before seeing the movie i think that would have helped a lot.
Cillian was really good (every performance was good actually)
Nolan's penchant for non-linear storytelling somewhat ruined this movie for me.
Don't get me wrong, it is just about short of a masterpiece. Character driven, and oh boy, are there some colorful characters in it. From Oppenheimer himself, Groves, Strauss, Tatlock (Pugh, of whom I'm not a massive fan, shone in her dialogue driven scenes, the "other" ones feeling superfluous), to any number of scientists, soldiers and politicians. It's a massive cast of people you'll recognize, most of whom have small roles but all of whom add that something special to the overall project. Hell, one could tell this whole story from the perspective of any of those characters and it would still be an experience to behold, especially with Nolan at the helm. Cinematography doesn't warrant mention, it's exactly what you'd expect. The movie has it all.
While I love Nolan's approach to telling stories, non-linear wasn't the way to go with Oppenheimer. The movie is still amazing, but it would have been better with a simple linear narrative following Oppenheimer from a young student going from school to school while he compiles his knowledge of physics, his tinkering with communism, his life defining inclusion in the Manhattan Project and the subsequent deconstruction of his persona by politicians playing a game on a completely different field from him. It would have worked just fine.
Whoever said movies are dead need only look at movies like this to realize there are still people out there capable of telling a compelling character drive story without anyone having to wear spandex and land in a way that damages the knees.
Nolan at his best.
Can anyone craft a tale like him? A masterful storyteller.
Before watching it,I feared that Nolan wouldn’t be able to give his best this time.But you know what,Nolan never disappoints...
This time, he rocked with the solid appearance of the modern Prometheus and provided a cinematic experience like never before.I didn’t think that a biopic can be so intriguing and engaging to keep me seated the whole time.The music was just damn perfect with such wonderfully crafted screenplay and cinematography. And what to say about acting.!Nolan always takes the best as his cast and makes them exceed their own acting range..This man is just above appraisal. And Cilian Murphy acted as Oppenheimer like he lived the life of that legend...Love to the whole crew and cast for such a wonderful ride through a legend's life....
Jason Clarke's most villainous role since Terminator Genisys.
Playing with the timeline is a signature of Nolan, but this one so far, was my favourite type of it. A biography is boring in nature, unless it's told in a certain way. I admit it's confusing at first, but for that very confusion you'll be thinking about the movie afterwards.
Captivating story, albeit the last act was a rad underwhelming
This flick about the bloke who invented the big bangs is a real ripper! Ol' J. Robert Oppenheimer was a proper smart fella who cooked up the atom bomb during World War Two. This blue between the Yanks and the Japs was a real rumble, I tell ya.
The film shows how Oppenheimer and his mob of eggheads cracked the code on splittin' atoms using some bonzer physics. There's a truckload of science chatter that'll make your head spin, but it's choice seeing them blow things up in the name of science!
When Oppie realizes what he's done, he looks more crook than a bush parrot. His gizmo killed a squillion Japs and he's not apples with that. But the Yanks reckon he's fair dinkum
This flick is a corker with all the trimmings. The acting is bonza and it really gives you the drum on Oppenheimer and his doomsday machine. I give it the thumbs up - it's one for the pool room for sure! Take a squiz at Oppenheimer if you want a rip-snortin' history lesson, it's got everything including the kitchen sink.
Aesthetically beautiful movie, acting fell a little short for some characters but overall I felt the tension throughout the whole movie - not a minute wasted. Shows the mind of a young Oppenheimer who thought he was doing what's right, but still in the end contributed to an atrocity.
This movie does paint Oppenheimer in a more positive light, as it clearly pointed out the villains to be the President at the time and the ones who introduced this idea in the first place. this sentiment I agree with - but whether this is across l accurate to reality and how Oppenheimer actually felt, we'll never TRULY know.
The cinematography was so great, the parallels of the footsteps (or drumming should I say) really emphasised the sheer impact of the bomb, and THE explosion scene and the anticipation was incredibly tense.
Such a good movie.
Experiencing this in IMAX theater was just diff feeling..
wow, excellent movie :thumbsup: epict story
Great music as for a biographical documentary. In the second part, it's actually not a film about Oppenhaimer, but about Strauss. ;>
Came away mostly unimpressed with this film. Nolan spent way too much time on the uninteresting politics of the movie (boy that last hour felt like 2). The sound was horrible as well - please give us movies where we can actually hear the dialogue.
This movie requires a rewatch that it did not earn.
Watching this in the cinema after a long time it was great experience.First hour and a half was a little bit messy and fast paced but i understood and enjoyed more the movie.Gr eat casting,great visual effects,great locations,great music in the background in every scene and well scripted but i can't say it was the masterpiece that some people talk about.I enjoyed and loved more other movies from Nolan like dark knight,inception and prestige. 8.2/10
Very poorly told. I think it needed more time jumps back and forth...
Otherwise, and amazingly acted and well shot movie!
Time as an obsession, time you can't remember, time you've lost, time going backwards. Yes, we know, Nolan's cinema has always had clock hands in its compass.
But now, time is up.
Now we are inside a countdown that leads straight to an inevitable horror. So no, it's no longer time to play with the hours, to captivate the public with plot prestige and labyrinthine architectures because now Christopher Nolan has a dirty conscience to explore. A kind of interstellar journey into personal intimate black holes, into which it hurts very much to peek. And so, to accomplish this at best, he gets back to his rigorous and dry times, those of Dunkirk. Because it requires balance, feet on the ground, and dirty hands to tell about Robert Oppenheimer. And he does it with an existential drama in which human horror manifests itself in many ways, not only in the glassy gaze of the inventor of the atomic bomb.
Now personally, I think it has quite too much talking, especially for the first watch you might feel overwhelmed with information, and being 3h long at some point you might stop understanding what's going on. Especially cos after the bomb I thought it was basically over, but it's so not. Not as confusing as Tenet first watch tho, for sure. So it definitely requires more than a watch, and that means it's a good movie. The sound, wow. Acting, top notch. Cillian marry me!
Ps. If you do a Barbenheimer, I'd recommend watching this first. It would not be an easy watch after 3-4 hours of screen time.
I liked the film but the nuke scene didn't blow me away
Don’t believe the hype. Massively underwhelming film. Only because of Nolan is this worth a watch. But let’s face facts, how can a film about the invention of the Atom Bomb, — then the creators guilt and subsequent rejection from the US government — be anything more than a glorified documentary.
This is what cinema is all about
A well told story that didn't judge the characters, the politics, or the motivations. For every action, there was an equal and opposite reaction. No one in this film was morally perfect. I don't know that I liked anyone a whole lot, except for Alden Ehrenreich, who played the Senate aide of Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey, Jr.). The gratification his character appears to get from watching Strauss burn was great. Matt Damon's General Groves and Oppenheimer's relationship was satisfying. All of the acting was top notch and the dialog was tremendous.
This is not just a film for nerds. In fact, I was surprised by how little science was actually discussed. There's marbles in a bowl, for Pete's sake! Not to mention the numerous times we see scientists scribble math on a chalkboard. The score, or at least some sort of noise, plays over almost all of the dialogue, which sometimes makes it difficult to hear what's being said. However, it makes the moments of silence much more impactful when they do happen, so there's no doubt it's all very deliberate.
Nolan's direction is unique and creative and makes me want to watch the film again. Many of Robert Oppenheimer's "daydreams" are manifestations of his emotional struggles. There are a couple of moments when the camera is pulled in tighter (than usual) on Oppenheimer's face and you can see the background trembling. It's a really neat effect.
To me, the bloom had been off the rose with Nolan's most recent films, but "Oppenheimer" has helped bring back some of the freshness of his earlier works.
Shout by Rien KlapwijkVIP BlockedParent2023-07-20T20:25:27Z
This was an experience for sure. Prepare for a long sit. It's gonna take a while.
But man oh man, great movie. At least from a cinematic perspective. I really appreciate the things I saw.
Then there is the point that some others have made as well and which I noticed as well: the dialogues aren't mixed that well. I was lucky to have subtitles while watching as I am Dutch, but I usually don't use them. Now however I realised I was looking down more than I wanted to.
Another small thing I noticed being Dutch by the way; when Oppenheimer is supposedly talking Dutch, it's German instead. Kind of an important detail and I would've expected him to get that right.
Doesn't take away that I really enjoyed the movie. I am really into this historic style of filmmaking.