First Thoughts and Initial Reaction
I am not sure I have had a movie theatre experience ever in my life like I did during Oppenheimer. Seeing this movie in the 70mm IMAX film showing as Nolan intended was like being there in person for every scene, conversation, and moment. The sound design, the visual effects (especially those piecing together the first act with young Oppenheimer), the score, and so many other aspects were enhanced to the millionth degree in this type of viewing. For a 3-hour biopic, the entire cast from top to bottom buying in to help Cillian wear the weight of the role on his shoulders was remarkable to watch unfold. Every character had a crucial part throughout the film based on the timeline of their appearance, adding and adding to the product of the film. I could only dream for when I will have another theatre experience like I did for that movie.
Cillian Murphy – Kicking the Door Down as the Lead
As many know, Cillian Murphy is a staple in Nolan films, just typically as a supporting piece. This time around he got to take the wheel. For anyone that has watched Peaky Blinders, 28 Days Later, or The Wind That Shakes The Barley, you know Cillian can manage the weight of a lead role, this however has some weight tacked on with it being a Nolan film that is so important as this. Cillian truly sculpted his appearance to have the prominent features, and body silhouette that Robert Oppenheimer did. His dedication to this opportunity is why Nolan knew he was the man for the job. Cillian showcased his acting chops as he changed throughout the film from young Oppenheimer, to the man we become familiar with thirty-so years later in the film. Keeping such a performance up to a high degree for three hours with the primary focus on you is reason alone to give him his flowers for this performance, but it looks like this is front-runner academy award material he hit us with.
Supporting Cast Put Up Nineties Chicago Bulls’ Numbers
There isn’t enough I can say about how incredible it was that this cast grouping of premier actors and actresses jumped on the bandwagon to make this film as incredible as it was produced. I felt like all of these supporting icons took on an undertaking that is different than how they may be typically perceived, outside Matt Damon and Rami Malek, they just made sense in their roles to me.
Emily Blunt as a drunken frustrated Kitty while supporting Oppenheimer was a fresh breath of air from roles she typically plays. Not to mention the scene with Jason Clarke in the interrogation room she decided to BODY the entire performance. Rami Malek’s moment with Strauss ramped the final act up to over 9000 levels. Florence Pugh while limited (and stunningly gorgeous) was such a pivotal part of Oppenheimer’s life and the communist ties being discussed throughout. Matt Damon just felt perfect in his role as general, and you see him over time get more comfortable with Robert compared to their first meeting. When he appeared in the film you knew we were about to get rolling with some serious bomb work. Jason Clarke also as the interrogator is so underrated. The increasingly loud back and forth he has with Cillian is a highlight to the film. Limited work from Casey Affleck was outstanding, and Josh Hartnett when he popped in and out was crucial to moving the timeline along in pivotal moments.
Now for Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss. I broke him out because he is easily my pick to win best supporting actor after this performance. The culmination of all of his actions throughout the film, and his pulling of the strings behind the scenes as Lewis Strauss made for a perfect build up to the collapse he experiences at the end of the film. I forgot entirely during that film that this man was Ironman, I was that immersed into his embodiment of Lewis Strauss and turning people one by one against Robert Oppenheimer in support of him. The scenes with the bomb deliberations as well to discuss progress were tense in their own way, and his dialogue at the end to cap off his frustration for not being nominated with the score resonating through the background was something I could watch a hundred times over and it would not get old. Robert Downey Jr. showed he is more of an actor than what he has shown in Marvel.
Prometheus Allegory
“Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. For this he was chained to a rock and tortured for eternity.” This is such a powerful allegory that runs parallel with the Oppenheimer story. Oppenheimer gave man the weapon, stemming from long studies of quantum theory, for a mass destruction event. He was praised for his contribution. A powerful moment is exchanged as well between Robert and a scientist where they discuss that their country needs them, until they don’t. Which was exactly right. Some time later after the use of the bomb and several events of Oppenheimer using his platform to discuss his left-wing opinions, the nation turned on him. He was condemned for the very contribution he gave to the country, being “tarred and feathered” as Kitty Oppenheimer would put it. His dedication to his country and contribution in the race in helping to end the war came with massive levels of guilt internally for Robert, and years of condemnation.
Final Thoughts
I saw this movie twice in theaters, and the movie hit just as hard the second time. All the performances, the sound design, the line deliveries, the building of the story over such a long elapsed time, and fuck, that ending. The movie was a masterpiece by the sum of its parts, capped off with what I’ve seen some call “the greatest cinematic ending in history” due to what the weight of a single sentence and moment built up over an entire film can mean. Nolan did not have to go this hard when he wanted to give Cillian his ever deserving first lead role in a Nolan film. However we now have a movie that will stand the test of time that tells a story of a man and a time in the history of mankind that can never be forgotten because of the art form Nolan gave it to us in.
The Cinema Speakeasy Theatre Room 
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