Christopher Nolan’s latest work, “Oppenheimer,” has exceeded audience expectations after its highly anticipated release.
The film follows the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the infamous physicist who directed the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico, during World War II. Oppenheimer’s work on the Manhattan Project was paramount to the development of the atomic bomb, which later earned him the title “father of the atomic bomb.”
Nolan’s adaptation of Oppenheimer’s biography “American Prometheus,” written by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, was nothing short of brilliant. The film’s script was incredibly intricate, jarring and emotionally compelling as it portrayed Oppenheimer’s life throughout the most pivotal years of his career. The film held a captivating pace that kept audiences engaged and went far beyond merely creating a simple portrait of Oppenheimer’s life.
“Oppenheimer” opens with a troubled, college-aged Oppenheimer attending the University of Cambridge, but the film quickly cuts to a much older and frailer version of himself being interrogated for his involvement with the Communist Party during his work for the Manhattan Project. These opening scenes reveal the non-chronological structure that is maintained throughout the film. This story-telling structure adds a great deal of entertainment value for the audience, keeping viewers engaged for the full duration of the movie. 
Nolan told this story through two lenses. Much of the movie is in color and focuses heavily on the experiences of Oppenheimer himself. However, there are also moments when this story plays out in black and white. While it may not be entirely intuitive to viewers, the black and white scenes represent the story as seen from the perspective of Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.).
Cillian Murphy’s performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer is the pinnacle of the entire film. Murphy portrays Oppenheimer with a great deal of depth and honesty, which helps the audience to form deeper connections to to his character.
Murphy skillfully conveys the contradictory nature of Oppenheimer’s personal and professional life. Oppenheimer was both celebrated for and tormented by his work on the atomic bomb. It is in this tension that Murphy excels in his performance. Murphy’s dedication to the physicality of his role elevated his performance to a profound level. Oppenheimer’s frail stature in the final moments of the movie is quite devastating, making Murphy’s decision to take on this physique quite touching.
Nolan’s impressive casting for Oppenheimer’s colleagues, friends and family cannot be overlooked. Emily Blunt gave a raw depiction of Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, who challenged the stereotypical roles of a wife in the late ‘40s and ‘50s. Along with Blunt, Matt Damon gave a strong performance of Leslie Groves, a lieutenant general in the United States Army who worked alongside Oppenheimer in the Manhattan Project. Damon and Murphy’s on-screen chemistry was undeniable, which made for an endearing, yet heart-wrenching relationship between Groves and Oppenheimer.
Each actor in the film executed their role with accuracy and dedication. The richness of “Oppenheimer” owes itself to the work of those with more understated roles.
Beyond phenomenal sequencing and acting, the film has a music score like no other. It is equally as beautiful as it is haunting, and it shapes pivotal moments of “Oppenheimer.” Moments such as the Trinity Test and the final scene of the film were made exponentially more intense due to Ludwig Göransson’s composition.
The culmination of Nolan’s profound script, the cast’s stellar performances and the exceptional music score crafts a film that evokes visceral and raw emotions within its audience. While the work is certainly focused on the life of Oppenheimer himself, the film explores life-or-death moral quandaries and raises questions about potentially dangerous scientific discoveries. It forces the audience to examine the severity of our current state. Even beyond these ideas, “Oppenheimer” has much to offer to its audience.
This film leaves viewers breathless. It is an experience that requires a debrief, simply due to the richness of the work. Without a doubt, each person leaves the cinema with a feeling they cannot quite explain, and that is what makes “Oppenheimer” such a masterpiece.