Director Christopher Nolan’s summer blockbuster “Oppenheimer” might live up to its hype and gain the title of magnum opus with respect to his career and for other viewers it might be less than.

A somewhat staid performance by Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer sees him at films opening not being able to sleep.  His mind pondering physics illustrated by somewhat psychedelic images representing his ever thinking brain.  The camera often catching Murphy with varying degrees of far away gazes.  Sometimes worried sometimes deep in thought with the occasional “a-ha” expression.

Director Nolan has crafted an in depth look into this man’s life with a virtual cast of who’s who rounding up the characters that influenced his career.  This will include sage wisdom from Albert Einstein (Tom Conti).  The in’s and out’s leading up to the money shot in the film, the testing of the atom bomb at the Los Alamos, New Mexico desert.

The private security hearing utilized to corrupt Oppenheimer and his reputation and still his mind remained focused on what he helped create.  In that respect “Oppenheimer” the film is damn scary.  We live in an age that has witnessed proliferation of nuclear weapons capable of destroying many corners of our planet if not in its entirety.

The marketing department at Universal embarked on an in depth campaign to create a must-see event in theaters.  Playing it in IMAX and 70MM in select locations.  With a three hour running time some exhibitors would have to pass on a first run.  A single, twin or triplex would get hammered by the terms and the inability to turn the house over.  Megaplex theaters were chosen based on their ability to exhibit the film as Director Nolan intended.  It did not go over without some hiccups.  

It’s still an interesting film and it will be equally interesting to see how it fairs at the academy awards just don’t expect anything as graphic as “Threads” or as gut wrenching as “Testament”.