Oppenheimer
Epic. There is simply no other way to describe Christopher Nolan's magnum opus of a biopic, Oppenheimer.
Adapted from the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird & Martin Sherwin the film tells the story of the father of the atomic bomb. Audiences will learn about the man behind the science from his early years as a student through to his recruitment into the Manhattan Project, his vices & ultimately the fallout of his creation.
Oppenheimer is a marvel of a film that sees it spanning many genres across the 3-hour runtime. At its core, it's a biopic of a brilliant mind hellbent on expanding his understanding of science & the universe. But that's not all, Oppenheimer is also a tragic story of a love triangle, mental health, obsession, betrayal & even a hint of spy thriller. Fusing all of these thematic elements & plot lines was certainly no easy task but Nolan has done so radiantly.
Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr as Lewis Strauss, Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock, Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer & Matt Damon as Leslie Groves also deserve extremely high praise. Each & every one of these actors deliver career-best performances which help bring all of the story threads together in portraying a convincing world where the actors disappear so that only the characters remain.
Cillian Murphy & Robert Downey Jr in particular are sure to be in the running for a plethora of awards come the end of the year. Murphy's depiction of Oppenheimer as a polarising, cocky figure is expertly done. Conversely, Robert Downey Jr comes across as incredibly slimy, manipulative & self-serving as Strauss.
On the sensory front, Oppenheimer is a must-watch in the biggest & loudest cinema you can find. Not only is this film a feast for the eyes & ears but it's also a film that you will physically feel reverberating through the pit of your stomach. Nolan's problems with sound mixing are vastly improved, but still not perfect, with key lines of dialogue easily heard with only a few short moments where it was difficult.
On the sonic front, Ludwig Göransson's score is phenomenal, the use of static from a Geiger counter as an element in the music is a master stroke. When the bomb is finally tested the use of silence is another stroke of genius as it elevates the sense of awe & wonder for what you are witnessing on screen.
Visually Oppenheimer is stunning thanks to the use of practical effects over CGI. Blending the bright oranges & white of the bomb with black & white scenes of flashback Oppenheimer is always visually intriguing & captivating. Not once during the 3-hours did it feel like this film dragged for even a second.
Ultimately Nolan has created his greatest work to date. Oppenheimer is a film that will follow you out of the cinema as you contemplate a tragic, macabre story of mutually assured destruction.
Pario Magazine stands in solidarity & support of the WGA & SAG-AFTRA in their fight for better working conditions.
Our publication has always been focused on the creative brilliance of these individuals rather than on the business of film/tv. As such we will continue to highlight their creative talents during this time so that their contributions to our entertainment are not overlooked.
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