OPPENHEIMER – A Review by John Strange
J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man most responsible for the United States’ successful development of the atomic bomb, was a free thinker. This is what made him a powerhouse in theoretical physics but also made the government uncertain of his loyalty to this country.
Oppenheimer from director Christopher Nolan follows the genius over a period of years as he attends school in Europe, through the development and use of the A-bomb, and to his fall from grace at the hands of his political adversaries.
I am told the story is fairly true as told in the film. The film is at times a bit confusing as Nolan shotguns events at you in his attempt to get everything into the THREE-HOUR run time. But we get the idea that Oppenheimer’s mind was elastic enough to grasp what was needed to build the bomb, but that imaginative ability was also his downfall as he was able to see many futures where his work might destroy the world.
The story is full of odd visual effects, almost to the point of annoyance. I realized it was distracting when I realized I was spending more and more time looking closely at each new character as they entered the drama to determine who the actor behind the makeup was. David Krumholtz as Isidor Rabi was just the beginning. The talent brought together to play the key roles in this film is impressive. I challenge you to see how many you recognize.
There is nudity and sex in the film, so it is not suitable for youngsters to watch, even if you want them to learn about this important historical person.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey, Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett, Kenneth Branagh, David Krumholtz, Gary Oldman, Casey Affleck, Matthew Modine, Tony Goldwyn, Scott Grimes
MPAA Rating: R (for some sexuality, nudity, and language)
Selig Rating: 3.8 Stars
Runtime: 189 Min.
Release Date: 07/21/2023
Wide Release
Language: English
Movie Site: OPPENHEIMER Official Site
Trailer: OPPENHEIMER Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
