Oppenheimer (2023)

IMDb plot summary: The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

Directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon.

Oppenheimer is, of course, Christopher Nolan’s biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was fundamental in creating the atomic bomb. In traditional Nolan nonlinear fashion, we hop around between Oppenheimer's early days, his work during World War 2, a revoking of his security clearance years later based on his communist associations during the McCarthy era, and finally a hearing where one of the senators who worked with him is interrogated about their connection. People said to see this one in the theater and I really should have. The sequences involving the bombs are big and terrifying and all-encompassing in a way that I can see would be incredibly emotionally effective in a dark theater with the sound all around you on an enormous screen. Heck, it was effective enough on a tiny tablet 5 inches from my face. I also really enjoy the twist in the final quarter of the film, which I won't give away, but which was something I probably should have seen coming, and the fact that I didn't is a good indicator that I was wrapped up enough in the narrative that it distracted me and I was taken by surprise. The film does get a little bit muggy in its exploration of the ethics of creating this kind of weapon. It plays with that idea a little bit but muddles it up with questions about McCarthyism and witch hunts in a way that I think doesn't serve it well. And of course, there's the problem that we have with all movies in this genre of difficult genius, which is that Oppenheimer is a deeply unpleasant man to spend 3 1/2 hours with. So while I think the technical elements are pretty flawless and the storytelling is effective, it's not a game changer for me and I certainly don't think it's Nolan's best work. But absolutely still worth a watch.

How it entered my Flickchart:

Oppenheimer > The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Oppenheimer < The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Oppenheimer > The Tragedy of Macbeth

Oppenheimer > Memories of Murder

Oppenheimer < Happy Feet

Oppenheimer < The Faculty

Oppenheimer > Wonder Man

Oppenheimer > Friday the 13th

Oppenheimer > Men Without Women

Oppenheimer > A Nightmare on Elm Street

Oppenheimer > A Christmas Carol (1951)

Oppenheimer > Pain and Glory

Final spot: #1144 out of 3854, or 70%.