Reviews Film / Oppenheimer

A taut and engaging biographical drama

Oppenheimer is, quite bluntly, not a movie for everyone — there are no major action sequences or eye-popping visual effects to appease the masses, no joke-quipping sidekicks or goofy animals critters to placate the kids, no gushy romantic subplot or sentimental nostalgia to give viewers the warm fuzzies as they munch their popcorn and slurp their sodas.

What we have here instead is a three-hour-long look at J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb and the man who forever changed global warfare. While this sounds like a dry historical piece for wayward documentary fans, Oppenheimer is anything but — I was delightfully engaged and riveted by the movie, watching Oppenheimer constantly torn between his desire to defeat the Nazis, his thirst to push the boundaries of physics, his personal left-wing sympathies and naive idealism, and his resignation that his work will most likely make the world a more dangerous place. Throw in his womanizing tendencies, his obliviousness to the political gamesmanship whirling around him, and the machinations of others around him, and Oppenheimer ends up as a captivating character study as we watch this man being tossed about by his inner and outer demons.

The thing that makes Oppenheimer such a captivating film is that it is all deceptively easy to follow. While Christopher Nolan infuses Oppenheimer with extensive use of flashbacks and call-backs, they don't interfere with the story flow at all — just keep your eye on the man himself and watch the chaos swirl around him. Similarly, despite the heady subject matter, there's no need to have a deep background in science or history to enjoy the movie, as relevant issues are effortlessly introduced and smoothly explained without ham-handed exposition. Similarly, the All-Star Cast doesn't overwhelm the film, which allows each character to be distinctive in their own way, and judicious cinematography and direction draw the eye without overwhelming the viewer. The end result is a brisk three-hour Biopic that keeps your interest throughout and is richly rewarding as a result.

Again, Oppenheimer is not a movie for everyone — if you're looking for simple entertainment or a casual distraction, you'll have to look elsewhere. What we have here instead is a memorable visit into the life and tribulations of a man at the center of one of history's most important milestones.