Robert E. Acuña’s review published on Letterboxd:
If you could bottle up all of Oppy's rizz, you'd be able to make your own atomic bomb. Every time he slayed, I thought Spike Lee was going to come out running, screaming into the camera, "It's gotta be the hat!!!".
What can I say, he just has that Ken-rgy.
"This is a national emergency. Even I have skeletons...and they put ME in charge." J. Robert Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan's wartime epic is quite literally history in the making.
Not only is the film having a monumental explosion at the box office thanks to the "Barbenheimer" movement, but this is the first time Nolan has decided to cut ties with Warner Bros. after the HBO Max debacle. While the catastrophic World War II film is great in its own right, it will be forever remembered for contributing to one of the most wholesome fan movements in cinema history.
All joking aside, this is one of the most tense & heartbreaking films of the year. If anyone is coming out of this film thinking it glorifies America, the bombing of Hiroshima/Nagasaki, or the man himself...they weren't watching the movie.
'Oppenheimer' is purely about flaws.
The American justice system is a joke. The government is selfish, entitled, and morally corrupt. And the scientist who spearheaded the creation of the atomic bomb...is a habitual cheater.
Pobody's nerfect.
And this isn't meant to justify the actions of anyone because that's also the point of the film.
No one is without consequence and the hell that Oppenheimer wrought can't be undone. The power of the gods...in the hands of man.
That kind of dick-swinging, power-trip, lunacy will eventually lead to the end of everything. And while it has been 78 years since the creation of the atomic bomb...that only makes the world-destroying weapon younger than 'The Wizard of Oz'. Time is ticking.
With a 3-hour runtime, Christopher Nolan paces the film excellently. And while that typically is a huge compliment, 3 hours of nerve-racking suspense is kind of exhausting. By the start of the 3rd act, I was kind of getting antsy. Thankfully the 3rd act is the best part of the entire film.
Cillian Murphy getting to lead an R-rated, 3-hour, intense, big-budget blockbuster drama is the kind of karma-rewarding success story we all live to see. Cillian is incredible as expected but it's the subtlety of his performance that's going to earn him a Best Actor nomination. For a film that is bold, big, and loud, Cillian's take on 'ol Oppy is played with a ton of quiet sincerity.
On the flip side, Robert Downey Jr. gives a loud, scene-chewing, Oscar award-winning, sheer thespian performance that is just magnetic as hell. For all the MCU heads, it's a good reminder that Downey is insanely talented. To the rest of us, it's nice to see him give it his all again.
Matt Damon, while having a small role, is MATT DAMON, and god damn is he great.
Emily Blunt, Benny Safdie, Florence Pugh, Jason Clarke, Josh Hartnett, David Dastmalchian, and Dylan Arnold act their asses off, despite starring in one of the largest Hollywood casts this side of a Wes Anderson/Great Gerwig/Tarantino/Martin Scorsese film.
The MVPs are David Krumholtz and Tom Conti.
David has always been a favorite of mine and the way Nolan gives him some of the most charming scenes is truly beautiful. It reminds me of John Candy's insanely underappreciated work in 'JFK'. Getting to see a comedic actor show off their dramatic chops is extremely satsifying.
Tom, on the other hand, his presence feels massive. I'm not exaggerating when I say this but whenever Albert Einstein shows up on screen...it feels like an Avengers-level crossover. Just hypnotizing in every way.
I've mentioned this in my reviews for many biopics this year, 'BlackBerry' and 'Flamin' Hot' included, but I believe 'Oppenheimer' commits some truly awful sins when adapting to the big screen.
Biopics are allowed to embellish facts when translating to film but when enough of the story is false...then there is no excuse for poor characterization.
Christopher Nolan doesn't understand women and it's maddening. Oppenheimer's life is plagued with a lot of romance, betrayal, and heartbreak but the way Nolan writes two of the most important women in Oppy's life continue a pattern of his poor perception of women. Nolan...buddy...the hell is wrong with you, dude? Florence Pugh's character is just done in poor taste and no amount of fact-checking will ever forgive the odd creative choices Nolan takes.
And this may be a very controversial take but I truly believe this...this film didn't need to be filmed in IMAX. I love Premium Large Format films but the way Nolan utilizes the most impressive camera in the world for 'Oppenheimer' just feels like a waste. Outside of the jaw-dropping "moment" we were all waiting for...the use of the 70mm IMAX camera is just unnecessary. Although the clarity of an IMAX camera is beautiful, Hoyte Van Hoytma's cinematography isn't as awesome as one's expecting.
What the film makes up for is its existential dread. The 3rd act is phenomenal and I feel that a majority of audience members will learn more about the damage Oppenheimer created with this film than any class in school will teach you.
'Oppenheimer' is a welcome return for Christopher Nolan after his brief, messy, but fun stumble with 'Tenet'.
Now if the film contained a glitter bomb, then it'd be a 10/10.
