Movie Breakdown: Oppenheimer

Pre-Screening Stance:

I don’t think Christopher Nolan has a made a bad film yet, so of course I’m more than ready to see what he’s done with Oppenheimer.

Post-Screening Ramble:

I’ll need to see it a second time to fully confirm this for myself, but at least for now, I think Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s best film. It’s not exactly what I would call an easy watch – it’s a solid three hours, it throws a ton of information at you, and there’s what I would describe as an underlying sense of doom and anxiety that drives it – but the movie is a rather compelling affair. As for the story, don’t go into it thinking it’s just about the creation of the atomic bomb. That’s covered – to a certain degree – but the film is very much a biopic, so expect a dive into J. Robert Oppenheimer. You’ll see his early days as a student, his relationships, the way he built and ran Los Alamos, and what happened to him after the war. And where Oppenheimer is likely Nolan’s finest effort, it definitely contains a career-defining turn from Cillian Murphy, who stuns with a cold but oddly charming performance that pulls you in and never lets go. Expect to see his name everywhere come awards season. And possibly Matt Damon as well – his portrayal of Leslie Groves is particularly charismatic.

Ultimately, Oppenheimer isn’t what I would call a summer blockbuster and it remains weird to me that it isn’t out in the fall or winter, but with that being said, I do think you should seek it out on the biggest screen you can find. It may be a biopic, but Nolan imbues it with a certain visceral flair that should be experienced in a setting where it can fully engross you. The film hits theaters this Friday, July 21.

One Last Thought:

If you’re looking to engage in the famed BARBENHEIMER double feature, don’t do it the way the name implies. You should absolutely watch Oppenheimer first and then use Barbie as a palate cleanser. The OPPENHEIMIE, if you will.