Non-spoiler review

Christopher Nolan ranks among  my top 10 favorite all-time directors(I need to make this list), so it goes without saying I’m always anxiously anticipating a new film of his that releases. 

Oppenheimer wasn’t my first idea for a film that he would end up making, wasn’t even a last idea for that matter. As it stood, I didn’t know much going in about the “man behind the bomb”. This was an interesting subject nonetheless, if not a tad unexciting however. 

This is a film that focuses on people, lots of people, like 50 side characters. Obviously the main focus is on our central character, J. Robert Oppenheimer,  played by the always captivating and interesting Cillian Murphy(The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Anthropoid, Peaky Blinders, “Scarecrow” in Nolan’s Batman Begins).

All the actors deliver some stellar performances. It’s just that given this is a very “talky” movie and the scenes feel rushed where one scene begins in a particular setting and a few seconds later, after some lines of dialogue between characters, we are taken directly to another scene that takes place somewhere completely different and even sometimes in a different time period(Nolan just can’t get away from messing with his infamous time jumps) with several flash-forwards and flashbacks and present day scenes that are all expertly edited I may add. I cannot imagine what the editor had to endure for this film, but they should be nominated for an award as it feels seamless, albeit somewhat jarring at the same time.

With all of the witty dialogue and quick edits back and forth for 3 hrs straight, it was a bit difficult to follow. There were scenes where by the time my brain would catch up to what was being said, it would be on to the following scene. Maybe that’s my ADD, I don’t know.  There were also points where relationships would begin in one scene, and a few minutes later we were already seeing problems in the relationship that must have been months if not a year or two later in time. There didn’t seem like there was enough time(and this film is already 3 hours long) for some scenes to play out and to get to know certain characters, as I already mentioned, there are like 50 side characters. I feel it just tries to stuff so much in there in a relatively short period of time that it feels like we’re rushing from scene to scene so that it covers everything Nolan (who also wrote the script adapted from the novel) could fit in this film version. This would've made an excellent limited series where it had more time to flesh out these characters and plot lines, but you’d also lose the films momentum so, I suppose this is the best version?

Aside from my issues with the film, there is a lot to appreciate and enjoy. I haven’t seen such dry material feel exciting in a film before like this. It is also interesting, don’t get me wrong, and really causes you to reflect on the human tragedy of it all. Along with the intense score at times it really pushes the film along by driving the emotion in each scene it is used. 

Watching this on an IMAX screen and with the incredible theater sound system really enhanced the experience. Nolan filmed the entirety of this film in an IMAX format  which is stated as notably rare by todays standards. There were a few scenes where sound literally vibrated my seat and just added to my immersion in the film. Another that stood out would have to be the test bombing scene where the explosion cloud filled the giant screen from top to bottom. 

This is one of those films that you will be able to re-watch multiple times and notice things you missed with prior viewings— Typically dialogue moments. 

With Barbie competing for the box office sales directly with this film, I hope many will see this first and foremost in theaters and highly recommend watching on an IMAX screen as it was intended by Christopher Nolan himself. 

*My favorite scene involved a short speech Oppenheimer gives to a packed audience after the bomb is dropped and how that scene plays out, its use of sound, and the absence of it, along with certain visuals to convey the sheer human tragedy of it all through Oppenheimer’s eyes. So unique. Utterly cinema gold! 

*Fun fact Christopher Nolan revealed that there are no CGI shots in the film.