Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, this is one of the much talked about movies of the season.
Shot in IMAX format combining with 65 mm large format film photography, this also includes some portions in black and white analogue photography, for the first time ever.
This epic thriller scripted and directed by Christopher Nolan is about the extraordinary efforts of a man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.
Some portions of the film have been shot at Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton University where Oppenheimer and Einstein worked together after World War II
The man is Oppenheimer, hailed as the Father of the atomic bomb whose invention of the atomic bomb opened up a race amidst world’s super powers which would cause damage and destruction. The screenplay is narrated from his viewpoint.
Ace director Christopher Nolan's films such as Interstellar (2014), Inception (2010), Dunkirk (2017), Tenet (2020), Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) & The Dark Knight Rises (2012) have earned more than $5 billion at the global box office and have been awarded 11 Oscars and 36 nominations, including two Best Picture nominations.
Review:
The movie is 182 minutes long, in almost a docu drama kind of filming. The film takes you through the mind, thoughts and clips of life of Oppenheimer, till the bomb is successfully made and then explores the aftermath of the invention and the effects it had on his life and those of others around him.
The human drama surrounding his rise and success is at the crux of the film and how small incidents, can have big repurcussions is beautifully portrayed via the screenplay which moves in a non -linear fashion.
Cillaian Murphy as Oppenheimer is brilliant and his face lingers in the mind long after you leave the theatre. The close ups aplenty bring him to life further, reaching right into his mind and thoughts, so effectively has he lived the role.
Robert Downey Jr as Strauss is superb, every nuance underplayed but his emotions and angst just reaches out and pulls you in, especially in the final scenes.
Matt Damon brings his dynamism and vitality to the character he potrays while Emily Blunt is just marvellously effortless in her role.
The entire cast is a delight to watch, with real characters coming to life as we take a walk into history.
Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and the Special Effects Supervisors, Scott Fisher and Andrew Jackson have delivered an incredible experience, along with music by
Ludwig Göransson, with the bomb scenes especially, leaving an indelible mark.
Nolan delivers yet another magnum opus, in a quiet style, but with everything just simmering under the surface, till it reaches climax and how. The walk down the corridors of politics, science, history seen through the eyes of people as they live through it, is impactful.
CREDITS:
Cast –Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt as his wife Kitty, Matt Demon and Robert Downey Jr., Rami Malek & Kennewth Branagh
Cinematography- Hoyte van Hoytema
Music- Ludwig Göransson
Special Effects Supervisor –Scott Fisher & Andrew Jackson
Costume Design- Ellen Mirojnick
Release by Universal Pictures
