Cinema fans had been eagerly awaiting the release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer ever since there were rumblings that the project was in the works.
Interest spiked when it became clear that not only was the biopic in the creative control of one of the most influential directors of the 21st century, but was also accompanied by a star-studded cast, with Cillian Murphy playing the titular role supported by Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr and Emily Blunt.
After all the build-up, Oppenheimer delivers on a scale that very few films can.
The film, which was divided into three acts, had something for everyone.
Part one is an origin story following J. Robert Oppenheimer’s rise in an age of fascinating scientific developments, learning from some great minds.
Part two is centred around a tense narrative, as Oppenheimer leads a secret group of scientists to the successful creation and detonation of an atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Part three brought a dialogue heavy courtroom drama showing the fallout from the bomb highlighting how the world would never be the same again.
The standout feature was how the film looked and sounded.
Visually and audibly it was incredible.
With all explosions being real and not reliant on CGI, accompanied by a pitch-perfect intense soundtrack, it transported you into the dark and nuclear world that Oppenheimer experienced.
The performances of Murphy, Downey Jr and Damon were exceptional, and all worthy of Oscar nods for their work, particularly Murphy as you cannot help feel this was somewhat career defining for the Irishman.
Unfortunately, although prominent in the press coverage for the film, both Florence Pugh and Emily Blunt got little opportunity to flex their acting muscles.
It was particularly disappointing in the case of Blunt, who played Oppenheimer’s wife. It left audiences disconnected from knowing Oppenheimer on a more personal level.
A final reservation was, in typical Nolan fashion, the film was told in a non-linear way. Although this was to be expected, this film should have been the exception to the rule in his filmography.
The fact is, this was already a great story, that did not need the timeline warped into a convoluted order – most likely adding an extra 30 minutes to the running time.
That being said, this film is still a must watch as Cillian Murphy gives a scintillating performance that people will talk about for years to come.
