Oppenheimer & The New Age Of Cinema
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Jul. 26, 2023 • By Jason Elhilow
DescriptionA review of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, the history it explores, and how it compares to the new age cinema is seemingly entering.
MessageWe recommend watching Oppenheimer to form your own opinions about the movie.
Image
Universal Pictures/SyncopyIntroductionBoth Barbie and Oppenheimer have flooded the entertainment airwaves for months, with immense hype for them practically forcing every other film in theaters to flop as audiences wait for the landmark films of 2023. And finally, on July 21st, they released, many going for the "double feature" and watching the plastic doll flick back to back with the Christopher Nolan epic. Unfortunately for me, I've only had the absolute pleasure of viewing the latter, though damn, it was a remarkable experience.
Oppenheimer follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the lead directors of the Manhattan Project, leading to the construction of the first nukes. He was coined the "Father Of The Atomic Bomb," bringing dozens and dozens of America's top minds together in the 1940s to build the ultimate weapon, standing in a similar position to the mythical Prometheus, giving humanity a fire that very well could destroy it.
The three-hour biopic delves straight into the life of the theoretical physicist, exploring his charming and womanizing personality, almost constant psychotic breakdowns early in his life, and repeated egotistical insistence that the hydrogen bomb was impossible, full well knowing it was and knowing that it would do unspeakable things if invented. By no means is he portrayed as a good person; Oppenheimer falls closer to the tragic hero type, his major flaws and past Communist affiliations weighing down his legacy (plus the guilt of knowing what his leadership/invention led to).
As always, there is a lot to this movie, with tedious historical accuracy adding to its runtime. Never mind the real-world events surrounding it today, as the entertainment industry is going through its own form of revolution, with strikes—a significant part of Oppenheimer and his leftist connections—actively happening in Hollywood. So let's take a deep dive into Oppenheimer, how he changed the world, and how cinema itself is entering a brand new age of both innovation and fear.
The HistoryThough the life of Oppenheimer is far from basic, only one thing is needed to understand: he loved physics. The man moved from scientific concept to concept, but always remained in that general field, especially fascinated later with quantum physics, as he brought from Europe to the US. He actually got his Ph.D. in Germany back in 1927, then became a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, inspiring students with the very ideas that kept him up at night. They ranged from theories on the existence of black holes to quantum tunneling to dreams of nuclear fission and so much more, all of them assisting in his invitation to a project so secret, even past affiliations could be signs of disloyalty. And this is where the darker underbelly of Oppenheimer is shown.
For years prior to his involvement in the Manhattan Project and appointment as director of Los Alamos, Oppenheimer regularly mingled with members of the Communist Party of America, while also consistently sending money through said organization to Spain to help fend off fascism in the nation. In his eye, he was just a little bit left-leaning; but for the US government, seeing that one of their brightest minds, never mind most scientists in the nation, were fairly liberal and constantly forming unions, definitely caused concern. Though there was always the underlying idea that, if America did not work on making the atomic bomb, Germany would do it first, which would heavily change WWII's tides. So, for the years it took for the Trinity Test to happen and be a success, the government put aside its problems and brought together the greatest minds under the greatest scientific leader to create the greatest invention in human history. But great does not mean good; more accurately, the US brought them together to make the worse type of creation: a key to self-destruction.
In 1943, the "town" of Los Alamos, New Mexico, was founded, with J. Robert Oppenheimer as its mayor, sheriff, and obviously, chief of its largest industry: atomic bombs. To build the first nukes, the United States put in almost two billion dollars to construct entire secret towns and labs across the nation, all focusing on the sole goal of getting enough uranium, plutonium, and the such to build full-scale bombs. And after much turmoil, worries of Soviet spies, anxiety that they may ignite the atmosphere, and concerns that all of their work would go to waste, in 1945, the "Gadget" was finally tested at Trinity. And to say the least, it worked. A month later, "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, decimating the cities and killing likely hundreds of thousands, some instantly, some slowly. It's a tough tale to tell, a hard story to hear, but on August 6th and 9th, 1945, the two and only atomic bombs used in war were dropped by the United States of America, practically ending WWII there and then. Ever since, the world has lived in The Nuclear Age, where apocalypse is only one button press away.
The FilmOppenheimer is famed director Christopher Nolan's twelfth movie, and it is honestly by far his best, which says a ton when the competition is Interstellar, Inception, The Dark Night, and many more. He has, time and time again, delivered on creating a theatrical experience like no other, regularly partnering with IMAX and exclusively shooting with film instead of digital cameras, while also sparsely using CGI. So, when watching Oppenheimer, know that the nuclear explosion that is shown IS a real explosion, just not a nuclear one. With the magic of a buttload of explosives and good camera work, Nolan was able to recreate the look and feel of an atomic weapon without almost any digital assistance, an undeniably impressive feat. And the rest of the picture's visuals will leave you just as impressed, as every scene, whether a room filled with people chanting Oppenheimer's name after the success of the weapon or when Emily Blunt's Kitty shuts down investigators who are questioning her husband's legacy, keep you gripped as each hour passes.
Every actor and actress throughout gave it their fullest, Cillian Murphy expertly selling himself as J. Robert, making me almost question how he isn't the man himself. Robert Downey Jr. did a great job as Lewis Strauss, showing his range beyond Marvel and proving he is, without a doubt, a terrific actor, playing the almost twist villain his character is to a tee. As mentioned, Blunt does a great job, partnering with Oppie in his tragic life and picking up drinking, furthermore fracturing her. Truthfully, the film is practically just a reel of famous actors doing the best performances of their lives; every second, every scene, feels so purposeful and meticulous, which is not easy when you've got 180 minutes to fill. But with Oppenheimer's great acting, writing, and cinematography, the movie never drags, giving exactly what was promised: a biographical epic about the man who made the A-bomb. The New AgeThe moment the first nuclear weapon dropped, the world irreparably changed. A new age had come, one where war could not be fought like in the past; where conflict was covert and ideological; where one idiot's decision could end it all. Somehow, though just barely, we have managed to avoid this, and let's hope that remains eternally true. But let's talk about something a little different.
Politics and such are topics avoided by many regularly, especially in movie reviews. Though the entertainment industry has recently been hit with two major walkouts, with the Writers Guild Of America and The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation Of Television & Radio Artists members striking against major studios for fairer wages and ensuring that AI/deepfake technology won't be used to either replace or exploit them. Now, some may question if they're justified, but it does appear to be a warranted concern given the rise of chatbots like ChatGPT and actor likeness' wanted in PERPETUITY by movie companies to make infinite sequels and such, just to squeeze every dollar out of them, where or not they consented to it (or if they pass). But all of it, these strikes, the crazy comments from CEOs like Bob Iger and David Zaslav, the rise of AI and inflation, make it clear that a new age of Hollywood is coming. How ironic.
Oppenheimer and this evolution seem disconnected, but good old Oppie did two things: supported unions, and brought the world into the damn Nuclear Age. In tandem with the film, the very industry it is releasing to is using what unions were built for—collective bargaining—and forcing it into a new age where both writers and actors of all levels can make a decent living when creating films like Oppenheimer, bringing audiences on unimaginable journey's or educating them on historical events or making them laugh and cry. Movies are meant to bring people together, especially as we become ever more divided, and it just seems so interesting that this all has aligned so perfectly. History's alive, we're all living it, and it just so happens that a fantastic freaking flick is out with it.
ConclusionHow do you even conclude such an adventure? Oppenheimer is a good film. That's the whole point of this article. It and Barbie are easily the movies of the summer, and both will make more money than conceivable for the struck studios of Universal and Warner Bros. For those interested, a consumer boycott has not been called, meaning you can and should continue to enjoy such films, regardless of the strikes. But there are many ways to support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, including spreading the message, donating to the unions, and, of course, not crossing the picket lines if you're a member. Though if you want an emotional, ethereal, surreal moviegoing experience while learning a thing or two, Oppenheimer is great as well. Up to you! Just realize that, like in Oppenheimer, the (entertainment) world is changing, and no matter the results, the paradigm WILL shift. That is beyond a guarantee.
Oppenheimer follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the lead directors of the Manhattan Project, leading to the construction of the first nukes. He was coined the "Father Of The Atomic Bomb," bringing dozens and dozens of America's top minds together in the 1940s to build the ultimate weapon, standing in a similar position to the mythical Prometheus, giving humanity a fire that very well could destroy it.
The three-hour biopic delves straight into the life of the theoretical physicist, exploring his charming and womanizing personality, almost constant psychotic breakdowns early in his life, and repeated egotistical insistence that the hydrogen bomb was impossible, full well knowing it was and knowing that it would do unspeakable things if invented. By no means is he portrayed as a good person; Oppenheimer falls closer to the tragic hero type, his major flaws and past Communist affiliations weighing down his legacy (plus the guilt of knowing what his leadership/invention led to).
As always, there is a lot to this movie, with tedious historical accuracy adding to its runtime. Never mind the real-world events surrounding it today, as the entertainment industry is going through its own form of revolution, with strikes—a significant part of Oppenheimer and his leftist connections—actively happening in Hollywood. So let's take a deep dive into Oppenheimer, how he changed the world, and how cinema itself is entering a brand new age of both innovation and fear.
The HistoryThough the life of Oppenheimer is far from basic, only one thing is needed to understand: he loved physics. The man moved from scientific concept to concept, but always remained in that general field, especially fascinated later with quantum physics, as he brought from Europe to the US. He actually got his Ph.D. in Germany back in 1927, then became a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, inspiring students with the very ideas that kept him up at night. They ranged from theories on the existence of black holes to quantum tunneling to dreams of nuclear fission and so much more, all of them assisting in his invitation to a project so secret, even past affiliations could be signs of disloyalty. And this is where the darker underbelly of Oppenheimer is shown.
For years prior to his involvement in the Manhattan Project and appointment as director of Los Alamos, Oppenheimer regularly mingled with members of the Communist Party of America, while also consistently sending money through said organization to Spain to help fend off fascism in the nation. In his eye, he was just a little bit left-leaning; but for the US government, seeing that one of their brightest minds, never mind most scientists in the nation, were fairly liberal and constantly forming unions, definitely caused concern. Though there was always the underlying idea that, if America did not work on making the atomic bomb, Germany would do it first, which would heavily change WWII's tides. So, for the years it took for the Trinity Test to happen and be a success, the government put aside its problems and brought together the greatest minds under the greatest scientific leader to create the greatest invention in human history. But great does not mean good; more accurately, the US brought them together to make the worse type of creation: a key to self-destruction.
In 1943, the "town" of Los Alamos, New Mexico, was founded, with J. Robert Oppenheimer as its mayor, sheriff, and obviously, chief of its largest industry: atomic bombs. To build the first nukes, the United States put in almost two billion dollars to construct entire secret towns and labs across the nation, all focusing on the sole goal of getting enough uranium, plutonium, and the such to build full-scale bombs. And after much turmoil, worries of Soviet spies, anxiety that they may ignite the atmosphere, and concerns that all of their work would go to waste, in 1945, the "Gadget" was finally tested at Trinity. And to say the least, it worked. A month later, "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, decimating the cities and killing likely hundreds of thousands, some instantly, some slowly. It's a tough tale to tell, a hard story to hear, but on August 6th and 9th, 1945, the two and only atomic bombs used in war were dropped by the United States of America, practically ending WWII there and then. Ever since, the world has lived in The Nuclear Age, where apocalypse is only one button press away.
The FilmOppenheimer is famed director Christopher Nolan's twelfth movie, and it is honestly by far his best, which says a ton when the competition is Interstellar, Inception, The Dark Night, and many more. He has, time and time again, delivered on creating a theatrical experience like no other, regularly partnering with IMAX and exclusively shooting with film instead of digital cameras, while also sparsely using CGI. So, when watching Oppenheimer, know that the nuclear explosion that is shown IS a real explosion, just not a nuclear one. With the magic of a buttload of explosives and good camera work, Nolan was able to recreate the look and feel of an atomic weapon without almost any digital assistance, an undeniably impressive feat. And the rest of the picture's visuals will leave you just as impressed, as every scene, whether a room filled with people chanting Oppenheimer's name after the success of the weapon or when Emily Blunt's Kitty shuts down investigators who are questioning her husband's legacy, keep you gripped as each hour passes.
Every actor and actress throughout gave it their fullest, Cillian Murphy expertly selling himself as J. Robert, making me almost question how he isn't the man himself. Robert Downey Jr. did a great job as Lewis Strauss, showing his range beyond Marvel and proving he is, without a doubt, a terrific actor, playing the almost twist villain his character is to a tee. As mentioned, Blunt does a great job, partnering with Oppie in his tragic life and picking up drinking, furthermore fracturing her. Truthfully, the film is practically just a reel of famous actors doing the best performances of their lives; every second, every scene, feels so purposeful and meticulous, which is not easy when you've got 180 minutes to fill. But with Oppenheimer's great acting, writing, and cinematography, the movie never drags, giving exactly what was promised: a biographical epic about the man who made the A-bomb. The New AgeThe moment the first nuclear weapon dropped, the world irreparably changed. A new age had come, one where war could not be fought like in the past; where conflict was covert and ideological; where one idiot's decision could end it all. Somehow, though just barely, we have managed to avoid this, and let's hope that remains eternally true. But let's talk about something a little different.
Politics and such are topics avoided by many regularly, especially in movie reviews. Though the entertainment industry has recently been hit with two major walkouts, with the Writers Guild Of America and The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation Of Television & Radio Artists members striking against major studios for fairer wages and ensuring that AI/deepfake technology won't be used to either replace or exploit them. Now, some may question if they're justified, but it does appear to be a warranted concern given the rise of chatbots like ChatGPT and actor likeness' wanted in PERPETUITY by movie companies to make infinite sequels and such, just to squeeze every dollar out of them, where or not they consented to it (or if they pass). But all of it, these strikes, the crazy comments from CEOs like Bob Iger and David Zaslav, the rise of AI and inflation, make it clear that a new age of Hollywood is coming. How ironic.
Oppenheimer and this evolution seem disconnected, but good old Oppie did two things: supported unions, and brought the world into the damn Nuclear Age. In tandem with the film, the very industry it is releasing to is using what unions were built for—collective bargaining—and forcing it into a new age where both writers and actors of all levels can make a decent living when creating films like Oppenheimer, bringing audiences on unimaginable journey's or educating them on historical events or making them laugh and cry. Movies are meant to bring people together, especially as we become ever more divided, and it just seems so interesting that this all has aligned so perfectly. History's alive, we're all living it, and it just so happens that a fantastic freaking flick is out with it.
ConclusionHow do you even conclude such an adventure? Oppenheimer is a good film. That's the whole point of this article. It and Barbie are easily the movies of the summer, and both will make more money than conceivable for the struck studios of Universal and Warner Bros. For those interested, a consumer boycott has not been called, meaning you can and should continue to enjoy such films, regardless of the strikes. But there are many ways to support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, including spreading the message, donating to the unions, and, of course, not crossing the picket lines if you're a member. Though if you want an emotional, ethereal, surreal moviegoing experience while learning a thing or two, Oppenheimer is great as well. Up to you! Just realize that, like in Oppenheimer, the (entertainment) world is changing, and no matter the results, the paradigm WILL shift. That is beyond a guarantee.
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