There’s a quote from Spider-Man when Uncle Ben tells a young Peter Parker “with great power, comes great responsibility.” It’s a quote that carries a lot of weight for anyone and everyone who finds themselves in a situation that could impact not only their lives but those around you. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer defines that quote both in an astonishing and complex way, much like the man himself J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Story and Cast
World War II is raging on and the need to end it grows with each causality of the war. Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr looks to recruit physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer accepts the appointment. He and his handpicked team of scientists dedicate years of their lives developing, designing, and ultimately creating the atomic bomb. On July 16, 1945, all that work resulted in the world’s first nuclear explosion. A moment in time that has altered history and a lasting change on the world we live in today.
With this new weapon of mass destruction WW2 shortly came to an end. But with this end comes a new beginning where such power that can be unleashed comes into question by the very man who help create it, J. Robert Oppenheimer. What follows is Oppenheimer defending himself when his loyalty to the United States comes into question. Oppenheimer, the very complex man that he was, weighed not only the importance of his work but its catastrophic potential.
Cast
It all begins and ends with Cillian Murphy who most assuredly secured at the very least a Best Actor nomination. He owns every scene to perfection. His acting ability was never in question, but it is on full display for three full hours. Besides Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., and Florence Pugh all gave strong performances especially Blunt and Downey Jr. Nolan has a wonderful knack of casting the best actors that fit his cinematic vision. There isn’t a weak performance from any one and that speaks volumes on Nolan’s direction.
Overall Thoughts
Usually, movies are meant as an escape from reality. Oppenheimer is far from an escape. It’s intensity and intimate look into humanity is both inspiring and terrifying. Nolan’s direction and Murphy’s tour-de-force performance makes Oppenheimer 2023’s most engrossing film to date and a sure-fire Oscar contender. It’s important to see it especially in today’s world.
OPPENHEIMER MOVIE REVIEW VERDICT:
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
