“Oppenheimer” (2023)- Movie Review

Writer/Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt

                                                                                                              ‘Breathtaking Biopic’

Not many historical figures have overcome bomb disasters like J. Robert Oppenheimer. A war hero, Oppenheimer crafted a bomb which became a memento of sorrow. While the bomb fulfilled WWII’s goal, its inception led the inventor’s life to spiral out of control. Debating if he would become a villain, he wasn’t proud of his two-faced invention. He refused to take pride in a baneful invention inciting genocide lawsuits. On a personal level, I find the physicist relatable. In 2003, my family endured a bomb blast with insomnia in Saudi Arabia. Planned by terrorists seeking prestige, it put lives under siege. Truth be told, I was only five years old. My family had recently settled down in the country. Little did we realize our house would fall in front of our eyes. I’ll never forget being woken up at midnight by my father to face an interstellar disaster. I felt fear when sound of bombs hit my compound. I found it a tricky feat to avoid broken glass around the house with my bare feet. Still, my parents’ strong tenet to stay alive allowed me to survive. I remained grateful for my family’s survival. Seeking a quiet place, my family moved to a country where bombs were rare to face. However, it scarred me forever. In nightmares, bombs would ring loudly in my ears. Following blasts which were explosive, I became sensitive to noise. I didn’t have bravery to discuss it with family. Like Oppenheimer’s regret, it was hard to forget. Reading about the icon with a beautiful mind made me leave my past behind. Despite his legacy, the physicist’s story has never been told in movies.

Now, Christopher Nolan tells the true story of the physicist struggling to piece his life together following bomb blasts in his masterpiece “Oppenheimer”. An ambitious, thoughtful and suspenseful biopic, it demonstrates traumatic downfall of a physicist. Christopher Nolan celebrates a one-of-a-kind inventor with a beautiful mind. Boasting phenomenal production-design, engrossing storytelling and powerful performances, it’s a magnificent biopic. Ultimately, its universal message has power to resonate with everyone facing traumatic events at an early age.

Set during WWII, “Oppenheimer” recounts real-life story of a physicist designing a bomb that forever changed history. Cillian Murphy embodies Robert Oppenheimer, a hard-working physicist seeking appreciation for bombs. Oppenheimer’s dreams come true when he designs weapons defeating Nazis in WWII. However, his pride begins to reside following legal investigations involving genocide. Regretting repercussions, Oppenheimer questions whether inventions deserve commemoration.

Christopher Nolan gravitates towards guilt-ridden heroes. One of the world’s greatest filmmakers, Nolan excels making character-driven blockbusters. Whether it’s amnesiac men, thieves haunted by dreams or battered superheroes, his movies highlight guilty characters. With “Oppenheimer”, however, Nolan crafts a biopic. It’s the filmmaker’s attempt capturing life of a historical figure, but he succeeds. Visually, the film is a feast for eyes as stunning as bombs exploding in Oppenheimer’s eyes. Using eye-catching effects, Nolan captures a physicist’s journey designing a bomb changing history. A trademark of Nolan’s movies is practical effects, and it’s evident in “Oppenheimer”. Evoking “The Dark Knight”, Nolan captures explosions by effects. Practical effects are used effectively in the trinity test scene where Oppenheimer tests bombs. Explosions are so well-depicted they reminded me of catastrophes leaving me affected. Practical effects are complicated. As “The Dark Knight Rises” suggested, blockbusters depend on CGI. However, it succeeds. Alongside visual effects supervisor Scott R. Fisher, Nolan recreates explosions. Nolan commemorates history, manufacturing a film demanding viewing.

If innovators don’t attract you towards theaters, however, there’s several reasons to see “Oppenheimer”. From a technical perspective, you won’t see a Christopher Nolan movie that’s as impressive. Accompanied by sound-designer Richard King, Nolan uses diegetic sounds capturing Oppenheimer’s psyche. For instance, diegetic sounds elevate the speech delivery scene. During this heartbreaking sequence, Oppenheimer is haunted by traumatic bomb sounds as he delivers speeches to crowds that are enthusiastic. One appreciates sounds demonstrating Oppenheimer’s psyche recalling “Inception”. Recalling Cobb’s inability telling dreams from reality, Oppenheimer faces bomb tragedies. Sounds are so effective they reignited memories of my trauma following explosive tragedies. Sound-design is complicated. John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place” demonstrated sounds elevate frightening horror blockbusters. As “Dunkirk” suggested, diegetic sounds elevate war movies. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Furthermore, music is magnificent. Celebrating “Insomnia”, it captures inventors’ insomnia. Through phenomenal production-design, Nolan demonstrates physicists’ decline.

Another extraordinary “Oppenheimer” aspect is the screenplay. Nolan’s screenwriting strength is abilities capturing suffering of guilt-ridden characters through non-linear storytelling. Nolan’s movies are commonly criticized for sugarcoating realities of grief. As case in exemplars: “Interstellar” perpetuated belief scientists easily overcome grief of estrangement by travelling interstellar galaxies with relief. Fortunately, however, “Oppenheimer” avoids these problems. Celebrating “Memento”, Nolan uses non-linear storytelling capturing an icon’s personality. The film switches between two timelines: events leading up to Oppenheimer’s invention in color and black-and-white repercussions. Oppenheimer’s peaceful life before bombing is depicted in color whereas post-bombing depression is black-and-white. Through this ingenious structure, Nolan captures complexities of a historical figure. It reminded me about how my life was once joyous before disaster left me impacted. Non-linear storytelling is tricky. Movies jumping back and forth between time periods are commonly tough to follow. Nolan’s first film “Following” suggested non-linear storytelling can be confusing. As “Tenet” indicated, non-linear storytelling is a confusing gimmick. “Batman Begins” demonstrated non-linear storytelling enhances comic-book movies. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Through thought-provoking storytelling, Nolan commemorates physicists.

One appreciates astonishing performances.

Cillian Murphy delivers a career-defining performance as Oppenheimer. Murphy achieved appreciation playing antagonists in the Dark Knight trilogy. With “Oppenheimer”, however, he personifies his most multidimensional character. Portraying historical figures is challenging, but Murphy succeeds. Evoking Hugh Jackman in “The Prestige”, he embodies an inventor questioning whether he deserves prestige for putting lives under siege. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures anxiety, determination and trauma of the legendary physicist. It’s an Oscar-worthy performance.

The supporting cast is extraordinary, crafting strong bond. Robert Downey Jr. is remarkable, capturing acknowledgements of jealousy faced by a politician seeking to destroy a world-famous physicist’s legacy. Matt Damon is dazzling, capturing authority of an army officer prepared for catastrophes. Lastly, Tom Conti deserves acknowledgements. As Albert Einstein, he’s heartbreaking.

Finally, everyone will find a way to appreciate “Oppenheimer” for honoring a beautiful mind. Evoking Ron Howard’s “A Beautiful Mind”, it honors an inventor with a beautiful mind. It discusses relatable themes including career, health and trauma. Viewers aren’t required to be history scholars to appreciate it. Despite knowing nothing about Oppenheimer, I related to the figure. Anyone facing trauma at an early age will love the film’s message. Therefore, “Oppenheimer’s” bombs would blow everyone away.

Fans of history-oriented dramas will certainly appreciate “Oppenheimer” and so will moviegoers giving acknowledgements to intelligent entertainment. A mesmerizing masterpiece, it honors a physicist whose bomb invention ensured Dunkirk wars ended in peace. Nearly 80 years after an icon inventor made atomic bombs proving unquestionably historic, it’s a phenomenal tribute to an innovator cultivating individuals to overcome bombs repercussions proving traumatic.

A powerful role a bomb’s inception played in WWII’s goal, it’s a poignant reminder about how an inventor didn’t realize his creation fulfilling army’s dreams would take a toll leading life to spiral out of control.

Like frightening two-faced appearances of dented politicians, it’s a dark depiction of a bomb causing its inventor without a smile on his face to question if he would die a hero or live long enough to see himself become a villain.

If movies are a memento healing lives of people facing bomb blast sorrow, hopefully watching the story of a real-life hero triumph over near-zero death likelihood inspires individuals facing a crushing low.

As profound as Oppenheimer’s trinity tests, it has persuaded me to turn my life around years after sound of bombs hit my compound burned my home to the ground by honoring a renowned inventor whose achievements deserve to be crowned.

5/5 stars