In Writer and Director Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy plays J. Robert Oppenheimer, Creator of the Atomic Bomb and leader of the Manhattan Project in World War II. Like his mentor Niels Bohr, played with subdued gravitas by Kenneth Branaugh, he was an expert in quantum physics. Consequently, Robert was at odds with Albert Einstein, played by kind, wise Tom Conti, who was a general relativity physicist. Quantum physics was based on probability. Einstein said of Quantum Theory, “God doesn’t play dice with the universe.” He had little respect for Bohr and Oppenheimer.
Yet when physicist Edward Teller, played with apprehensive genius by Benny Safdie, calculated that the atomic bomb explosion could cause an avalanche effect of neutrons that would incinerate the Earth’s atmosphere; thus, destroying it, Robert shows Albert the calculation. Albert confirms it’s correct. Robert profoundly gets the gravity of his creation. He gravely says, “I am now Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
In the sublime narrative arc, Niels Bohr visits his former student Robert at the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Niels says, “You are the man who gave them the power to destroy themselves. And the world is not prepared.” The world is still not prepared. That’s the cautionary resonance of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Cillian Murphy is quiet, powerful, and imperfectly human as Robert Oppenheimer, perhaps one of the greatest minds on Planet Earth. Robert’s personal life was severely flawed. Maybe genius doesn’t necessarily translate into wisdom. Just saying.
In 1945 atomic bombs explode in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing over 200,000 people. Robert’s blue eyes widen in sheer terror: ‘What have I done?’ He has become Death.
Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s visual masterpiece. He didn’t use CGI to recreate the atomic bomb explosions. Instead, he composed footage of atomic bomb explosions from test sights. His effect both enthralls and terrifies. Christopher displays the zenith of his filmmaking prowess.
Perhaps the Atomic Bomb was science’s greatest achievement leveraging the world’s greatest minds at the time. Cillian Murphy authentically embodies Robert’s cautious dispassion. Manhattan Project Supervisor Col Leslie Groves, played with conscience and gravitas by Matt Damon, asks, “What are the chances that we destroy the world?” Robert answers, “The chances are near zero.” Groves repeats, “Near zero?” Robert asks, “What do you want from theory alone?” Groves exclaims, “Zero would be nice.”
Christopher Nolan punctuates that Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project essentially created the end of the world in the name of science, for the greater good. He seamlessly intertwines in the foreground, Robert’s fall from grace in the blacklisting conspiracy led by scorned friend Senator Lewis Strauss, played with calm measured menace by nearly unrecognizable Robert Downey Jr.
Surprisingly, Oppenheimer focuses on the inquisition of Robert’s security clearance hearings and his explicit sex life. Robert was married to Kitty, played by Emily Blunt with convincing bitter rage. They had a relationship while Kitty was still married to her first husband. Meanwhile, Robert continued his illicit affair with Jean Tatlock, the brilliant troubled Communist Party sympathizer, played by beautiful, vulnerable Florence Pugh. Robert’s personal life was a tragic mess, albeit of his own doing.
Christopher Nolan’s overarching meticulous narrative unveils the vicious political treachery as sourced from petty selfishness and arrogant vanity. The darker side of our humanity.
In the bigger picture, Oppenheimer is about possessing the wisdom to wield the power of mass destruction. Can anyone ever be trusted to do so? Humbled Robert Oppenheimer visits Albert Einstein. Robert says, “When I came to you with those calculations, we thought we might create a chain reaction that would destroy the entire world…” Albert says, “I remember. What of it?” Robert solemnly says, “I believe we did.”
That’s the echoing relevance of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Our actions, our creations have consequences, regardless of how noble our intentions might be. Just saying. Oppenheimer is one of the best movies of the year. It’s one of my favorite movies of the year, too.
—
Watch the official trailer here:
***
Support The Good Men Project on Patreon to help us build a better, more inclusive world for all.
***
Photo credit: Shutterstock, modified