Oppenheimer (2023) Review

A haunting explornation into J. Robert Oppenheimer the American scientist and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

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A character study like no other told in a magnificent manner with the story moving between different time periods. From when he was only 22 years old and studying in England, struggling with feeling homesick and not coping well with the demands of it all. Moving to Germany to complete his PhD and then returning to the US hoping to expand on the quantum physics research at at the University of California. This also leads him to know and be involved with people in the Communist Party.

All of his background and the people he met and interacted with along the way would go on to play bigger parts in the decisions in his life and different aspects that could be held against him. This was something that actually makes you think about how you treat people and how by being associated with different people could have a massive impact on your life.

When Oppenheimer is recruited by US Army General Leslie Groves to lead the Manhattan Project which was to develop an atomic bomb. Putting together the team of scientists from across the country, the best minds all working together in secret not forgetting a conversation with Albert Einstein and the possibilities of what that type of bomb could trigger. You know just a chain reaction that could destroy the world.

I had no general background on Oppenheimer or the story, which I have to admit I was quite shocked about as I have always enjoyed learning about World War II, so it felt great to dive into this story and see everything unfold.

Lewis Strauss could not cope with being publicly dismissed by Oppenheimer and was convinced that he had bad mouthed him to Einstein. Which in all honesty was a bit crazy considering the level of intellect with the men all involved in this, the brightest minds that had ever graced the earth and some petty issues between them.

Christopher Nolan is a fantastic storyteller and while this film was maybe not what I was fully expecting, it was certainly another incredible addition to his outstanding filmography. This is fully Cillian Murphy’s film and he really is breathtakingly good from start to finish, you find yourself taken in with him and fully engaged. Honesty I have been a fan for a long time now and knew he was a very impressive actor but this has really moved him to another level which I didn’t even begin to realise was possible. If he is not an Oscar Winning actor next year then someone else must have pulled off one of the greatest performances of all time. Seriously, he really is incredible and if he wasn’t then the film wouldn’t work at all.

Robert Downey Jr was also fantastic in a supporting role and in hindsight he probably didn’t even have that many scenes but was certainly memorable. I really enjoyed Matt Damon’s performance as well, felt as though he was more good casting. Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh were the only female characters that had supporting roles and one scene in particular was rather haunting, although it has been banned in some countries.