“Oppenheimer” blasted through theaters during its opening weekend, making an astounding $80.5 million. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film covers a very impactful time in the world that changed many lives.
Running for just about three hours, the thrilling, insightful movie has drawn views in. Nolan’s film covers topics previously untouched, turning the tragic story of the atomic bomb into a wild story about love, science, politics and dealing with the right and wrong of one’s actions.
“Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds,” Cillian Murphy, playing Oppenheimer, says.
One of a few chilling quotes said throughout the movie, this quote has an unexpected impact when you are faced with the idea of the atomic bomb. The whole idea of a bomb like that is slowly shown as the movie progresses with Oppenheimer seeming to be the only one who sees what will happen if they use it.
Under all the death and sadness and destruction, there are still scenes that show love and happiness, if only for a little while. Oppenheimer meets a lady named Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh. Though their relationship inevitably turns sour, for just a moment there is love and close friendship. Kitty Oppenheimer, played by Emily Blunt, also plays a large role in this movie. She is the one that keeps sense, is strong willed and determined, and fights for Oppenheimer, even when he won’t fight for himself.
We also see consistent conflict with a man named Lewis Strauss, played by Robert Downey Jr. Strauss takes on a strong hatred for Oppenheimer after being shut down and belittled by him multiple times. We see many scenes of him and Oppenheimer arguing until the end when he reveals he rigs Oppenheimer’s trial shown throughout the movie against him.
David Hill, played by Rami Malek, stands up for Oppenheimer against Strauss and completely destroys any argument Strauss has against him. This feels like a small victory after numerous tragedies.
Oppenheimer greatly portrays the human fight for knowledge against ethics. Oppenheimer struggles at the end of the movie and during the atomic bombs’ build about if what he is doing is truly good for society. When he goes to President Truman about the bomb and the weight he carries about the deaths from it being dropped, he is called a “crybaby scientist” and told the weight is not on his shoulders.
Overall, this movie could be said to be eye-opening or informative, but I think it is also a look into some of humanity’s darkest times. The cast also truly pulled this movie together and made a beautiful film full of heartache and devastation that should be held in high regard for many years to come.
