The word I used, "intense," is exactly what the film is, from beginning to end. It was a shade under 3 hours. There's nothing to spoil really, so here are my thoughts.
Nolan's use of color and black and white to denote time period is brilliant. This isn't just a bio pic. It's a thriller and mystery film wrapped in a historical veil of truth. There are so many aspects to comprehend. There's the political arena, the mental stability (or instability) of Robert Oppenheimer and his genius. There's his very complicated personal life which plays a key role in shaping the things he does. There is just so much to unpack. Use of sound is also absolutely stunning. Not just explosion, but cries heard, noises, it was a complete immersion into the film.
I only just started reading the biography of Oppenheimer that Nolan used as his base to craft the script. I obviously knew about the Manhattan Project, and who Oppenheimer was and his role. What I didn't know was just how conflicted he was about what he did after he did it. What I have read so far (a couple chapters in) depicts a man of privilege. I didn't necessary get that from the film. The incident with the apple (I'll be vague) sets up the whole film in my mind. In actuality, that whole scene sums up the whole film.
If you like Nolan's filmmaking, you'll love Oppenheimer. It is intense, makes you pay attention, has all the elements that make him the premier (in my mind) filmmaker of this century. But this isn't for the casual "let's go see a biopic on the atomic bomb guy" crowd. This movie makes you think, not just about history, but about the human race, and how many faces one must wear to get through life and the pressures those deemed historic figures indeed face.
Biopic, mystery, thriller, history, mental health, and humanity are all examined with Nolan's Oppenheimer, and you leave the theater exhausted from the sheer scope.
I got four hours sleep. Should have done the 5 p.m. show instead of the 9 p.m. one.
Topic: OPPENHEIMER - New Trailer Out Now! (Read 2479 times)
