Probably the most explosive pop culture moment in recent memory, Barbenheimer not only revitalizes a lackluster summer moviegoing season but makes history as one of the most successful opening weekends of all time. There was never any doubt that Barbie – with its candy-colored visuals and generations of fans – was going to do big numbers. Oppenheimer, on the other hand, is a strange summer holiday offering. A weighty 3 hour long biopic about the father of the atomic bomb isn’t exactly anybody’s idea of a good time but if someone can make it work, it’s Christopher Nolan. The writer-director-producer has done the impossible: turning a serious historical film typically reserved for awards season into a must-watch IMAX spectacle.
The film revolves around J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), a Jewish-American physicist who, during World War II, was tasked to lead the Manhattan Project in order to develop atomic bombs. The film depicts the laborious few years when Oppenheimer – Oppie, to those closest to him – and his team race to get the bomb made before Nazi Germany can. It also deals with the aftermath of the nuclear race and the consequences for Oppenheimer’s life going forward. Haunting and contemplative, the film is a cautionary tale about the costly tolls of war and ambition.
Oppenheimer is adapted from the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Matthew J. Sherwin. The book likens Oppenheimer to the Greek god who steals fire from the gods and gives it to mankind, thereby handing them the power of unimaginable destruction. Likewise, Oppenheimer saw his finest creation becoming the most potent weapon of mass destruction. The film explores what that means to him, personally and publicly. Oppenheimer’s naivete in the name of science slowly unravels as he realizes there are factors beyond his grasp that would change the course of history. The complexity of the man – so brilliant but woefully misguided – is portrayed beautifully by Murphy, a long-time Nolan collaborator who finally gets a chance to lead his film.
On a technical level, the film is simply superb. The sound design, in particular, plays a huge part in creating the ambience of the movie. It booms and rattles and frenzies in rhythmic harmony, echoing the chaos in Oppie’s mind. As always, Nolan refuses the use of CGI, so everything you see onscreen is as authentic as they get.
The script, on the other hand, could use a few vetoes. Nolan fills the movie with endless scientific discussions and those long stretches do get tiresome for casual audiences. The pacing is off, particularly in the middle section. While its explorations of ethics, science, and warfare are truly profound, the film really didn’t need three hours to deliver that. The character-driven bits are excellent, though, anchored by the powerful performances of its A-list stars. Ultimately, it’s a mixed bag of high and low points, making Oppenheimer a competent but flawed movie, just like its protagonist.
