At this point in time, I'm convinced Christopher Nolan can do no wrong. Oppenheimer is possibly his most ambitious venture and he turns it into one of the greatest cinematic events of the last decade. In telling the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, he has birthed a juggernaut of a film - a certified masterpiece that could become a classic should it stand the test of time.
Right from the opening frame, Christopher Nolan instills a sense of urgency that's never broken, not until the final frame cuts to black. This movie doesn't go the typical route of starting at 1kmh and working its way up to a blistering 100kmh, rather it throws audiences in the deep end of Oppenheimer's life and kicks off at a pace more like 80kmh. From there, it moves so unbelievably fast that it covers an insane amount of narrative across its enormous 3-hour runtime. The notion of being "non-stop" is something used to describe many thrillers out there, but Oppenheimer embodies the non-stop attitude in a way no film has ever accomplished. There's not a single second in here that's wasted - it's 3 hours of heavy dialogue scenes that are planted back to back to back with no room to breathe between them. If you thought there'd be time for a toilet break... guess again... every minute is as essential to the viewing experience as the last. One scene ends and it thrusts audiences immediately into the next conversation, constantly building tension on a scale not many other films have managed to reach.
The narrative takes place over a couple of key time periods in Oppenheimer's life, and despite spending the entire runtime jumping back and forth between those eras, it's not confusing in the slightest. Yes, having scenes in black and white absolutely helps, but it's the flawless structure that makes it all easily digestible. Nolan manages to convey every single story detail perfectly and frames every plot point in a way that's remarkably easy to follow. At the same time, he requires his audience to employ a heightened attention span in order to keep up with the blistering pace at which crucial information is being thrown at the screen. If you're hoping to passively watch this film at home while prepping dinner or checking your phone, you'll almost certainly walk out confused. No matter how locked in you're able to stay, the story is so dense and tightly-packed that it's near-impossible to pick up on every nuanced character beat off just one viewing. But as expected, Nolan ensures every key detail that's essential to understanding the film is emphasised enough to where it would be hard to miss.
The tension across this entire film is palpable, to the extent where the entire cinema audience was practically on the edge of their seats in suspense. Across every single scene, the tension is rapidly and exponentially growing as the film counts down to an explosion (both literally and figuratively) of dramatic consequences. Not only is this film about a bomb, but Nolan seems to have approached it as if it is a bomb. He's built Oppenheimer to be a pressure cooker of suspense, tension and heart-pounding drama that's always on the verge of exploding. As a result, it had me and a packed cinema completely captivated in every moment - including, but not limited to, the infamous Trinity Test. This entire sequence is about as mesmerising as you'd expect - you could hear a pin drop in the theatre as the fear settled in.
Nolan's ability to craft tension almost entirely out of dialogue is the work of a true master of cinema. The dialogue is wonderfully gripping regardless of who the conversation is between. Even if you know nothing about quantum physics, every emotion Nolan wants to convey is evident through the tone of the scene, the behaviour of the characters and the riveting performances by the actors. As with most Nolan films... subtitles would be a nice touch. The majority of the dialogue is still discernible over Ludwig Göransson's bombastic score, but there's the occasional line that requires a keen ear and the utmost concentration to make a guess at what exactly is said.
Speaking on the score, it's hard to imagine Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson doesn't at least get a nomination for what he's accomplished here. I'm yet to pinpoint a specific piece of music that has stood out post-viewing, but it's the entire score as a collective that works to heighten the dramatic intensity of every scene. Once again, Nolan has teamed up with DoP Hoyt Van Hoytema to craft the film's visuals that are on another level. Visually, Oppenheimer is a sight to behold - a true work of art that's unbelievably stunning across every frame. I'm yet to see this in IMAX, but I can't fathom how beautiful it would be if this is how it looks on a regular cinema screen. Going into the film, I hadn't quite appreciated the fact that Nolan crafted this film with "zero" CGI shots. Having now seen it, the benefit and beauty of this decision is clear as day. The knowledge adds an extra layer of shock and wonder to the experience, and it leads to every frame looking very crisp and clean.
This is a character study of epic proportions - providing a level of insight into the mind of J. Robert Oppenheimer that would be nearly impossible to achieve outside of a documentary. Entirely told from his perspective, it's Cillian Murphy who is tasked with bringing the character to life... and what a performance he delivers. Is it Oscar-worthy? Absolutely. Will he win? It's way too early, but at this point I don't see how he won't. He sinks into the role of Oppenheimer and completely embodies the man. His performance is so incredibly nuanced - half the time he doesn't even need to say anything to convey what's going through his head. He's playing an infinitely complex character and that's wonderfully displayed in how he plays the role differently across all stages of his life.
Watching this movie is like playing a game of celebrity bingo - every second scene has yet another A-list actor popping in, dropping a line of dialogue or two, maybe appearing for two to three more scenes, and then bouncing. From the smallest of roles to the largest, everyone makes an impact - rounding out one of the most impressive ensembles in recent years. To mention everyone would be impossible, but here's the best of the best. Robert Downey Jr. delivers what will be one of his most memorable roles outside of Iron Man. His talents are on full show as he puts on a real tour de force performance, carrying the his scenes entirely on his back. Emily Blunt is just brilliant, playing wonderfully alongside Cillian Murphy and nailing one specific scene in which she lets loose and shows off her remarkable range. Florence Pugh stuns in every one of her scenes, leaving a strong impression on the story despite having very limited screen time. Then there's the likes of Jason Clarke and Matt Damon, who both smash their performances out of the park.
Lastly, I need to touch on Christopher Nolan's rather masterful handling of genre. At its core, this is a biographical thriller - every aspect of the film fits snugly within that category. However, this is also a political thriller, courtroom drama, horror film and more all rolled into one epic piece of cinema that only Nolan could accomplish. The themes and subject matter offer a rather horrifying glimpse into the inhumanity of humans - a fact that resonates through this film's core messages.
In the end, to put it simply, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is nothing short of a masterpiece. Not only is this one of Nolan's best films, it's also one of the greatest biopics ever put to screen and one of the most mesmerising pieces of true cinema. Nolan is well and truly a perfectionist, and his attention to detail pays off across every frame. It moves at a ferocious pace, packing one exceptional dialogue-heavy scene after the next to give the film a sense of urgency that keeps audiences endlessly enthralled. At 3 hours long, there's not a single improvement to be made. Nolan has crafted something truly special - a film that embodies everything that makes cinema, cinema.
10/10
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