Oppenheimer Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs

Although Nolan's work often contains an impressive cast, nothing can compare to Oppenheimer's ensemble. Once the credits roll, viewers will struggle to think of a single movie with a more diverse array of A-listers.

The main players are Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr. Because that's already a pretty impressive troupe, it's easy to forget Oppenheimer also includes Florence Pugh, Casey Affleck, Kenneth Branagh, Josh Hartnett, and over a dozen more big names.

Surprisingly, the decorated cast is never distracting. Because there are a lot of players in this complex narrative, it could've been difficult to keep track of everyone if the characters were portrayed by unknowns. But because viewers should recognise the faces of the story's heavy-hitters, it's much easier to follow the plot.

Some roles are cameos, but that doesn't mean they're wasted. In Rami Malek's singular speech, he reminds everyone why he's an Academy Award winner. Gary Oldman's Harry S. Truman only appears for two minutes, but delivers one of the most powerful performances in the whole movie.

Even though an all-star ensemble can be gimmicky, it's reassuring to see Nolan utilise his performers so efficiently.