This year's Oscar race was known colloquially as "Barbenheimer" because the two most talked about and highest-grossing films up for nomination were released on the same day, July 21, 2023. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" couldn't be more different, from tone, to color, and to the girl power theme vs. a male-dominated cast, but became its own cultural phenomenon by sparking conversations and debates, with many emphatic about their opinions. This theatrical sensation boosted sales for both box offices, so much so that people called for a double feature. It also brought a resurgence in attendance at movie theaters, which had declined in recent years due to the pandemic.
Christopher Nolan's 3-hour long biopic of the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer was the ultimate winner that night. Nolan used the 2005 Pulitzer Prize winning biography, American Prometheus, as his primary source. In Greek mythology, Prometheus was a forward thinking Titan who defied Zeus and stole fire from the gods to give to humanity. Like his rebellious namesake, Oppenheimer brought us atomic fire, and then had to deal with the powers-that-be who punished him when he tried to control it. The dramatization of this physicist's life story gives us an insight into his chaotic mind, his complex and tumultuous relationships, the development and release of the atomic bomb which brought an end to World War II, and the political aftermath surrounding his ideological involvement in the communist party.
Oppenheimer, with his unique understanding of particle-atomic physics, was asked to lead a secret government project (The Manhattan Project) to create the first atomic bomb before the Nazis did. He and his team moved out to the middle-of-nowhere desert in Los Alamos, NM, built a town (for their families too), and worked for two years to create and test it. We know what happens after that successful test. Once Oppenheimer wasn't consumed with his excitement and pride over finishing this obsession, he realized the gravitas of the responsibility of his creation, and was haunted by it. He urged the government to regulate its use or refrain from using it ever again. The government basically said, "Thanks for your help. We'll take it from here." 🤫
I understand that's a very basic summary of the movie, but c'mon... it's three hours long. I'm not saying it needed to be trimmed down (well maybe a few of the screensaver-esque peeks into Oppenheimer's thoughts of atomic activity), but people should be warned that it's not a suspenseful or adventurous nail-biter. It goes back and forth in time, and even back and forth in color and black & white. Get comfy and settle in for the journey.
One thing that I think helps in watching this epic of length/subject matter is the all-star cast. Cillian Murphy was brilliant as Oppenheimer; I'm always fascinated by actors who can completely hide/transform their natural accent. Others you'll recognize (or not, thanks to the incredible hair and make-up department) are Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Casey Affleck, Gary Oldman, and Tony Goldwyn, among others. I thought everyone's acting was on point, except for Damon's... idk, he seemed miscast to me... like he was his character Linus from "Ocean's 11" trying to play another character. 🤔
As previously mentioned, "Oppenheimer" was up against "Barbie" as well as "Poor Things", "Past Lives", "The Zone of Interest", "The Holdovers", "Anatomy of a Fall", "American Fiction", "Maestro", and "Killers of the Flower Moon". The only other nominee I saw was "Barbie". "Opp" won seven of its thirteen nominations, which included: Best Director, Best Actor (Murphy's first nom), Best Supporting Actor (RDJ's first win), Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.
MEMORABLE SCENE:
Oppenheimer and his team perform The Trinity Test, the first detonation of a plutonium implosion device, and the excitement/fear/uncertainty is palpable. Everything is riding on this moment. At one point, the team was afraid this would set off a chain reaction of explosions that would basically bring about the end of the world. No matter what, they were making history. The sound editing and and close ups of Oppenheimer's face really made this ten-minute scene intense to watch.
LESSONS LEARNED:
1. Scientists have ethical responsibilities and these should not go unchecked for the sake of technological advancements. Oppenheimer's struggle after successfully inventing the bomb serves as a cautionary tale for future scientists that there should be more public engagement and discourse surrounding possible dangerous consequences for humanity and the environment.
2. Perseverance is a powerful virtue. Oppenheimer was obsessively devoted to his work, even amid relational and scientific obstacles. When channeled in the right direction, staying committed to one's work/goal is commendable.