World War II was one of the most devastating periods in human history. As war broke out in Europe, America watched with a fearful eye but when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, America officially joined the war.
Throughout the war, there was a looming concern that Germany would develop an atomic bomb which prompted the US to launch a project known as the Manhattan Project to develop it first. The project was led by a talented physicist named J. Robert Oppenheimer. Three years after the project began, the team was ready to test their atomic bomb which was successful. Less than a month later, the US dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bringing World War II to an end.
Oppenheimer earned the name “the father of the atomic bomb” after successfully developing an atomic bomb and helping to end World War II. Despite this, Oppenheimer faced a number of challenges in his personal and work life which led to his downfall. The man’s life story has become a legend and numerous works have been centered around it including Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2006 biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer which inspired the 2023 Oppenheimer movie.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer gives viewers a glimpse into the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer who is portrayed by the talented Peaky Blinders actor, Cillian Murphy. The three-hour, R-rated movie begins with a dramatic flashback of a fiery explosion then cuts to Oppenheimer suddenly opening his eyes and listening as someone from the security council questions him. Oppenheimer tells them how he felt homesick and anxious while studying in Cambridge. He has another flashback where he wakes up in a panic and rushes through the crowded school hall to meet two professors in class.
After the war, he arrived at a prestigious Institute for Advanced Study to continue his work. However, it’s clear that the Atomic Energy Commissioner, Lewis Strauss, isn’t very fond of him. Shortly after his arrival, Oppenheimer met the renowned physicist, Albert Einstein and they had a brief talk.
Lewis Strauss plays a major role in his downfall. He secretly arranged a private hearing with a Personnel Security Board in 1954 concerning Oppenheimer’s Q clearance and Oppenheimer was questioned about his past communist ties. The committee tried to blame him for an information leak in the Manhattan Project and they revoked Oppenheimer’s clearance which damaged his public image and influence on nuclear policy.
The movie focuses on the trial with a series of flashbacks to demonstrate Oppenheimer’s narration. Dramatic scenes are accompanied by equally dramatic music which heightens the intensity of the movie. There are even romantic scenes during some of the flashbacks which take the audience aback as they feel spooky and gloomy than romantic. Nonetheless, the flashbacks paint a vivid picture of Oppenheimer’s eventful life. Due to the endlessly clipped scenes, the storyline is confusing at first as everything is fast-paced and random. You’ll be able to catch up within a few minutes, though, and it’s up from there.
Christopher Nolan knows how to deliver an unforgettable movie. His inventive storytelling which was delivered flawlessly by Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon and others was one of the major contributors to Oppenheimer’s success. Coupled with the movie’s release with another film at the same time leading to a social media frenzy, it was bound to be a box office success.
Grossing over $180 million, Oppenheimer has become the highest-grossing biopic after overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody and the second-highest R-rated film of all time behind Joker.
Even if you’re not a fan of biopics, this movie is a must-watch for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s a movie about the man who invented the atomic bomb which was a major event in human history. Additionally, it may be a biopic but it feels like a blockbuster. Most importantly. It’s a Christopher Nolan movie and he never disappoints.