Oppenheimer (2023)

Score: S (10/10)

Christopher Nolan seems to always be at his peak in cinematic storytelling, with Oppenheimer being no stranger to the idea. The way Nolan casts a lens over J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life gives the biopic a grand, powerful, and extravagant perspective, justifiably making “the bomb” one of the biggest moments in cinema and world history.

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Christopher Nolan manages to make the most out of a theater screen, with his most recent film following the idea to a T. It’s no secret Nolan loves using IMAX for its immersion and pioneers the technology’s capabilities. However, Nolan chose a 70mm IMAX format for this film because it allows audiences to experience everything it offers. However, with Nolan being the writer/director he is, the movie is a spectacle regardless of the screen format. It’s no secret Nolan knows how to maximize his craft, but Oppenheimer takes everything a movie is about and turns it into artwork.

There’s one reason, and for many one reason only, why the film is worth seeing in theaters: the bomb. Watching scientists create one of the most important inventions in human history is a sight to behold. J. Robert Oppenheimer is the father of the atomic bomb, an idea the film is not afraid to flesh out from the moment it begins. The man searches for this idea, with images constantly popping into his mind. It consumes and empowers him, unwilling to rest until finding his “aha” moment. It’s the part of the movie making it feel more like watching an artist than a scientist, much like the movie in its entirety. Watching Oppenheimer watch his idea take shape and go off is mesmerizing, both to him and the audience. However, another element makes the film a masterclass thematically impressive in addition to its visuals.

“We’re scientists, not monsters” is a statement I found applicable throughout Oppenheimer. The father of the atomic bomb may be a physics genius, but he also finds himself playing the hand of god. “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” is a quote recited throughout the narrative because of the power Oppenheimer has creating something which may, and to an extent likely did, destroy the world. He’s well aware of how powerful and destructive the bomb can and will be when handed over to people who don’t understand the power they have at their disposal. He’s also well aware of what might happen if the bomb fails. It’s near-unbelievable to watch people make something like “the bomb” simply for destruction and empowerment. Almost every scientist working at Los Alamos does not want to hurt innocent people any less than they don’t want the world to forget them once their project is complete. Oppenheimer stands as a shining representation of those scientists who either fell into obscurity or were cast aside and exiled by the people they worked so hard to please.

At first, I didn’t enjoy the film’s more political side to Oppenheimer’s life. However, the movie's not about the bomb. It’s about J. Robert Oppenheimer. Nolan shows two perspectives to represent the two sides of Oppenheimer’s life: a physicist and a politician. The change between color for his perspective and black & white for the general public’s perception of him, and Nolan’s work helps show that. Many of his peers and the U.S. government did not trust Oppenheimer, but that’s how much power they gave Oppenheimer to develop and build the bomb. People resented him for it and wanted to ruin his reputation. It’s a breathtaking showcase of how distrustful people were towards each other in wartime, something I didn’t expect the film to pull off as well as it does.

Oppenheimer is likely the first film I’ve seen that has a strong and definitive cast. Every actor fades away and becomes the people they’re playing, especially those more integral to the narrative. Because of Nolan’s reputation and skill set, he pulls from a range of talent across the industry, knowing it’ll work. He’s a man of the craft and never skips a beat when he goes all-in on visual and thematic storytelling. This film is no exception to the rule, offering a grand, powerful, and extravagant adventure through the life of one of the world’s greatest and most influential figures lost between the lines of war.

It’s one thing for Nolan to create a movie. It’s another for him to create art. That is what Oppenheimer does. That is why everyone, including Nolan, loves and cares about the movie so much.