Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer: This film was a disappointment, living up to its expectation. This one was great because of the talent of the director Christopher Nolan and the subject : the story of the father of the atomic bomb.

Here is a brief chronology to better understand this complex film. Oppenheimer, brilliant American theoretical physicist, pioneer of quantum mechanics, became the scientific director of the Manhattan Project in 1943. His mission: to make an atomic bomb before the Nazi regime. The 3rd Reich capitulated on May 8, 1945. The research continues. The first nuclear test takes place on the base of Los Alamos, on July 16, 1945. Two bombs are manufactured and launched on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. From now on, mankind can destroy the planet. The Cold War begins. In 1947, Oppenheimer was appointed director of the GAC, the General Advisory Committee, which provides scientific and technical advice to the United States Atomic Energy Commission, which manages research and the manufacture of weapons. Politician Lewis Strauss is one of the founders of this commission. In 1949, the GAC, chaired by Oppenheimer, expressed its opposition to the development of the thermonuclear bomb, known as H-bomb. President Truman decided to develop it, which would be effective in 1952. In 1954, during  McCarthyism years, because of his links with communists, Oppenheimer is auditioned by a security commission. He loses his security clearance and returns to civilian life. He continues his research in physics. John Kennedy awarded him the Enrico-Fermi Prize in 1963 as a sign of rehabilitation. He died of cancer a few years later.

For the first time, Christopher Nolan is directing a biopic. It was inspired by the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. "That was the challenge of the project: to tell the trajectory of a man,..., and tell it from his point of view," says the filmmaker. "Cinema, as a narrative tool, is particularly suited to making the spectator share a life course in all subjectivity, leaving him, like the characters, to make up his own mind, while taking a look at these same characters in a slighlty little more objective way. The scenes told from Oppenheimer's point of view are in color, interspersed with poetic images symbolically evoking his inner world. Christopher Nolan even wrote these scenes in the first person. The so-called more objective scenes, from Lewis Strauss' point of view, are in black and white. What Christopher Nolan chooses to show of Oppenheimer's life, and by his omissions, he reveals his own personality, while the Oppenheimer mystery remains. Today, historians agree that the use of the atomic bomb was not necessary for the capitulation of Tokyo, as was however announced by the American government, and as this film shows.

As usual, Christopher Nolan plays with temporality by telling in a delinearized way, Oppenheimer's life, his hearing by the commission in 1954 and the hearing of Lewis Strauss by the Congress to become Secretary of Commerce in 1959. It was a joy to get lost in the spacetime of Tenet. It's much more problematic for this biopic of a complex personality who lived through turbulent times (World War, Cold War, McCarthyism). The film is three hours long, roughly two hours of quantum physics scenes and one hour of trial. The virtuosity of this director's directing is still intact, except for an unnecessary sex scene as laughable as the death of Marion Cotillard in this Dark Knight Rises. Intimacy is not the strong point of this director. Visual and sound inventions are present: solarization of the image, strident violins, visual and sound impression that the world around Oppenheimer trembles and collapses. The central part concerning Los Alamos is brilliant, even if the character of Oppenheimer's wife is absent. But, over the three hours, the film is above all a film of dialogues, cold.

Christopher Nolan has surrounded himself with a prestigious cast to play more than twenty characters. Each artist is at his best, whatever the importance of his role. All of them are perfectly believable, naturally delivering a lot of dialogues of quantum physics. Cillian Murphy plays Oppenheimer. The actor played in Dunkirk, Inception, and the Dark Knight trilogy. He carries the film on his shoulders and delivers a remarkable, restrained, with fineness, performance. The tandem he forms with Matt Damon, who plays Lieutenant Groves, works wonderfully. Robert Downey Junior brilliantly interprets the politician Lewis Strauss, the villain of the story. Special mention to Tom Conti for his interpretation of Albert Einstein.

Christopher Nolan collaborates for the fourth time with the director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema (Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet). The film was shot on IMAX and 65mm film, in color and black and white. Usually reserved for big show films, this process was used here for the first time for intimate scenes. Scenes filmed in the Los Alamos desert benefit from this format. The filmmaker and his cinematographer brought in special effects supervisors Scott Fisher (Oscar winner for Interstellar and Tenet) and Andrew Jackson (Oscar winner for Tenet) to create the film's atomic explosion, without resorting to digital images. The director is working again with composer Ludwig Göransson (Tenet). His music is omnipresent, evolving from the violin, for the character of Oppenheimer, to orchestral music and then to synths to create strangeness and the nuclear threat.

Oppenheimer
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan
From the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2005) by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin
Produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan
Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh
Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema
Editing: Jennifer Lame
Music: Ludwig Göransson
Production companies: Syncopy Inc, Atlas Entertainment
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date: July 19, 2023 (France), July 21, 2023 (United States)
Running time: 181 minutes

Seen on July 11, 2023 at the Cinémathèque de Paris, Room Henri Langlois, 70 mm

Sabine's Mark:

Christopher Nolan's latest cinematic masterpiece, Oppenheimer, takes audiences on a fascinating journey through the enigmatic life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant mind responsible for creating the atomic bomb. The film's complex story unfolds in two parallel timelines, skilfully interwoven by Nolan to offer a captivating exploration of Oppenheimer's profound impact on the world and the complex tapestry of his personality.

Divided into two distinct perspectives, Fission and Fusion, the film's structure is a stroke of genius that captures the essence of Oppenheimer's character. In the vibrant timeline of Fission, viewers are transported through Oppenheimer's evolution from an ambitious student to his central role in the Manhattan Project. Cillian Murphy's portrayal of Oppenheimer is nothing short of revelatory. His embodiment of Oppenheimer's multi-faceted nature, coupled with his piercing blue eyes that convey both insight and vulnerability, transforms Oppenheimer into a hypnotic screen figure.

The supporting cast shines brightly alongside Murphy. Robert Downey Jr. gives depth to Admiral Lewis Strauss, a character whose motivations are intimately linked to Oppenheimer's destiny. Matt Damon's portrayal of General Leslie Groves adds authenticity and richness to the complex world of wartime scientific collaboration.

The finesse of Nolan's direction is evident in every frame of Oppenheimer. The film's visual and auditory elements work in synergy to create an immersive experience that holds the audience's attention. From impressive shots of the Trinity explosion to intimate dialogues around conference tables, every scene is a testament to Nolan's cinematic genius. The sound design, particularly in the aftermath of Hiroshima, hauntingly conveys the monumental impact of Oppenheimer's work.

However, it is Nolan's ability to move seamlessly from scientific exploration to philosophical introspection that truly sets Oppenheimer apart. The film's exploration of quantum mechanics serves as an evocative metaphor for Oppenheimer's internal dichotomies. Like the superimposed particles, Oppenheimer embodies both the role of the brilliant physicist and that of the conflicted soul, torn between the quest for knowledge and the moral dilemmas arising from his discoveries.

Nolan's narrative choices, notably the interplay between color and black & white, contribute to the film's thematic richness. The contrast between Oppenheimer's and Strauss's perspectives highlights their divergent paths, underscored by the manipulation of power and politics that guides their fates.

Oppenheimer also delves deeply into the socio-political landscape of his time. Nolan deftly avoids reducing the characters to mere political allegories, instead presenting a nuanced exploration of the human condition. This approach adds layers of complexity to the characters, elevating them beyond mere historical figures and underscoring the contradictions inherent in each individual.

Despite its three-hour running time, Nolan's narrative prowess never falters in Oppenheimer. The complex narrative, punctuated by his trademark non-linear approach, keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. The film's length is no problem, thanks to its seamless pacing and art of storytelling.

As the film progresses towards its courtroom scenes, Christopher Nolan deftly manages tension and revelations, propelling the narrative towards a sobering finale. Through these hearings, he masterfully weaves Oppenheimer's personal struggles with the larger societal forces at play, leaving the audience to question the nature of responsibility, morality and the lasting consequences of scientific progress.

Oppenheimer is an extraordinary cinematic achievement that transcends the conventional limits of a biographical film. Christopher Nolan's meticulous attention to detail, combined with outstanding performances, make this a stimulating exploration of human complexity and the intricate interplay between creation and destruction. In an ever-changing world, Oppenheimer is a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between light and darkness in all of us. Once again, Nolan confirms his status as a visionary director, creating a cinematic experience that captivates the senses while stimulating the intellect. A must-see masterpiece that makes you want to go to the movies and love them....

Oppenheimer
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan
From the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2005) by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin
Produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan
Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh
Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema
Editing: Jennifer Lame
Music: Ludwig Göransson
Production companies: Syncopy Inc, Atlas Entertainment
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date: July 19, 2023 (France), July 21, 2023 (United States)
Running time: 181 minutes

Seen on July 30, 2023 at Gaumont Disney Village, Imax Room seat E19

Mulder's Mark: