Oppenheimer Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs
Is Oppenheimer a big bang or a big bomb?
Christopher Nolan's early films, like Insomnia and Memento proved the British filmmaker was one to look out for. But with his work on The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Inception, and Interstellar, Nolan didn't just showcase his talents, but helped mould the modern age of cinema.
As such, the esteemed director's latest outing, Oppenheimer, isn't perceived as a movie, but a global event. (And not just because of the Barbenheimer phenomenon). Detailing the life of theoretical physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, (Cillian Murphy) as he oversees the creation of the first atomic bomb, Nolan promised this historic thriller was his most important feature yet.
With a tour-de-force cast, Nolan regular, Hoyte van Hoytema on cinematography, and Oscar-winning composer, Ludwig Goransson in charge of the score, it seemed like Nolan had collected all the brightest talent in Hollywood to ensure this unbelievable story was done justice.
Though Nolan's previous feature, Tenet, didn't set the world on fire, early buzz for Oppenheimer proved the film auteur is back in his element.
Before gushing over this biographical drama, let's look at a few things in the movie that didn't work.
10. DOWNS - It's Very Dialogue-Heavy
Nolan has proven time and time to have a gift for action. And because Oppenheimer centres around World War II and the creation of the world's most powerful weapon at the time, many fans expected the film to contain elements of a blockbuster.
Though Nolan himself described his latest feature as a "horror movie," Oppenheimer is better described as a historic thriller and a court-case drama. Most of the story doesn't centre around the crafting of he bomb, but explaining how it works and why it needs to be used. These sequences are often intercut with scenes of a court hearing and the titular scientist being interrogated by a special counsel.
Because of this, Oppenheimer mainly consists of talking. LOTS of talking.
To be fair, these discussing are deeply fascinating and boundlessly compelling. In the words of Matt Damon's character, they're speaking about "the most important thing to happen in the history of the world".
These scenes may be fast-paced and riveting, but there's simply too much to digest. As a result, there are times where viewers will just tune out.