“You don't get to commit sin, and then ask all of us to feel sorry for you when there are consequences.”

Master-fucking-piece.

For my money’s worth, this is Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus, bar none. I’m the king of recency bias, but I feel very firmly in my heart that this is Nolan’s best movie, and one of the best films I’ve ever seen. Giddy smile from the sheer craft, sweaty palms from the insane thrill. My 85% occupied crowd at the afternoon IMAX screening was fairly subdued when the film was over, that I literally had to be the one to start clapping and I yelled, “woooooo!” and that seemed to give everyone in the crowd permission to cheer. We just watched greatness!

“Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. For this he was chained to a rock and tortured for eternity.”

Oppenheimer is a feat for several reasons. It’s the complete synthesis of Nolan’s filmmaking and storytelling ideas that he’s played with in all of his preceding works — the non-linear structure, the practical effects, the use of time & rhythm. It’s all led to this, and he perfected it. I don’t use that word lightly.

I haven’t read American Prometheus, but I’m sure that’s climbing up all these bestseller lists and being checked out at libraries all over the world. I just checked my county library app and it’s fully checked out or reserved at all county libraries. Makes sense. 

Nolan’s script adaptation is delicious; the dialogue so piercing, the structure so riveting. There’s this endless ticking, whether or not you hear it, that J. Robert Oppenheimer’s internal struggle feels like Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart.

Cillian Murphy: a revelation. It’s not a showy performance, but I’ll be damned, it’s marvelous. The quiet gravitas of his performance, just impeccable. His gaunt appearance, the physicality of it all… it’s just so admirable. This is a wonderful ensemble cast but he gets a standing ovation from me. 

Ludwig Göransson’s score was a character in and of itself. Oscar nomination is the minimum, and while the year has much more music to be heard, I already see a world where this man is holding another Oscar for Original Score. Truly helped transcend this film to another plane.

I literally cannot wait to see this again. Already reserved another IMAX ticket for next week. This is monumental storytelling and filmmaking right here. I’d even see it a third time in IMAX, but I don’t think I’ll have the bandwidth during this initial run. Pity I won’t have the chance to see it in 70mm, but hoping one day they bring it back; I’d love to see it in IMAX 70mm at some point!

EDIT 8/29/23: I did.