*SPOILER ALERT*
The following review contains huge spoilers for the movie "OPPENHEIMER" and it is advised to move forward at your own risk.
Movie: Oppenheimer
Date: 22-07-2023
Show: 11.00 A.M
Venue: IMAX at Broadway Cinemas, Coimbatore.
Rating: 9.5⭐
"Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, and for that, he was chained to a rock for eternity.”
This is the start of the modern drama of the man who gave humans the power to destroy themselves. The film is wholly told from the perspective of its titular character, Oppenheimer, from the start to finish, as the gloomy face of Cillian Murphy swallows the huge screens. At the start, it feels like watching a National Geographic documentary about geniuses. The shots of Oppenheimer being troubled and fascinated by the existence of a quantum world put us into the mind of the protagonist. The movie delves into the political and personal relationships surrounding him, shedding light on his motivations. It centers around three crucial historical events: the Trinity test, Oppenheimer's security hearing, and the Lewis Strauss confirmation hearing. As with the director's "Memento," the movie follows a non-linear pattern with color and black & white events unfolding one after another. Also, this is the first film of Christopher Nolan to feature nudity, and it has stirred controversy in India due to its portrayal of sacred quotes during the act. The scenes were not meant to titillate but to convey the relationship of the characters. The background score and sound mixing are surely a best bet for the Academy Awards this year.
Despite its three-hour runtime, the movie flows seamlessly, engaging the audience until the credits roll. It shows the political side of war and the toll it takes on people. The scene after the bombings of Hiroshima, where Oppenheimer delivers his speech to the patriotic Americans, was a scene that affected me the most. People were cheering and shouting not for his invention but for the usage of it on thousands of people. The people were just happy that the war was over and their enemy was crushed. This shows how war can affect people's mentality and make them more welcoming towards acts of brutality towards their own kind. The ominous face of Oppenheimer as he sees visions of burned people with the loud stomping of the people made the audience's hearts pound. The sound design and mixing were the best I've ever experienced in a theatre as the background score elevated the entire movie. Also, the most anticipated scene of the movie, the Trinity test, didn't disappoint. The blast sounds and the boom after an astounding silence were a delight to experience. The film also contains a vast ensemble of actors who all have delivered their best. Especially for people unaware of the history, RDJ's Lewis Strauss character was a great twist in the latter half of the movie. He is definitely a contender for the best supporting actor category for this year’s Oscars. The movie also provides insights into the relationship of Oppenheimer with his wife, Kitty. Even though it is shown to be troubled, they stand by each other till the end, and the scenes where she is interrogated and the end where David Hill tells the truth were so satisfying to watch. He also had a dreadful past with a past lover who had strong communist ideologies.
"I don't know if we can be trusted with such a weapon. But I know the Nazis can't."
Another thing that was important while telling the story of the father of the atomic bomb was how he handled the aftermath. At first, he was one of the first persons to think of making a bomb when he heard that the atoms were split. He took an active part and was swallowed by the thoughts of what could be but didn’t stop to think whether it should be. It was also because of the threat of Nazi Germany having a weapon like that with them, which made it a solid reason for him to develop it first. It is to be noted that Oppenheimer was Jewish and also open-minded to pursue different political ideologies, including communism. But as the film moves, it is found that the Germans were never close to making the atomic bomb as Hitler didn't believe in it, and they took a bad turn.
"You could open the stone without being ready for the snake hiding underneath.”
This is a clear metaphor for Oppenheimer’s situation as he was not ready for the destruction he brought about by his work. He was not forced to work or coerced but did so with a full heart. But still, he felt obliged and guilty for his greatest creation. This is what makes his story a compelling watch. He is not a plain good or bad guy but a troubled and complicated person who had many flaws. The bombings of Japan are not shown but heard only through the radio. It was an artistic choice as from the POV of Oppenheimer, he only heard it through the radio and couldn’t witness the rampage of his creation. It is also implied that Oppenheimer's lover Jean who had communist ties might have been a victim of assassination but staged as a suicide. After hearing news of the suicide Oppenheimer was broken and when kitty found him he told her the truth of their affair.Hearing this, she is furious and urges him to stop feeling sorry for his actions that led to those consequences and start owning up his mistakes.
“Would the Japanese have surrendered if they knew what was coming?”
The after-effects of the Japanese bombing raised the moral qualms of creating such a massive weapon of destruction for Oppenheimer. This is evident from the second half of the movie where he tries to broker peace deals for nuclear disarmament and the alleged sabotage of the invention of the hydrogen bomb, which is said to be 1000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb. Even the father of the atomic bomb couldn't live with his greatest invention. But Oppenheimer was not a naive man who didn't know what was happening. He had full knowledge of what was going to happen and even was in the room where the cities to bomb were selected. After the Trinity test, when the bombs are transported, he warns the general that it would be less effective if it is detonated in the air. He fully knows his actions have been a part that led to the death of many. Even when Szilard and many scientists were trying to stop the bombing, he didn't take any active part in doing so.
“Don’t let that cry-baby in here again.”
Oppenheimer's relationship with Truman and his realization of the consequences of his invention are powerfully portrayed. When Oppenheimer visits President Truman and says that he has blood on his hands, Truman berates him by calling him a cry-baby and giving him a kerchief to wipe off the blood. Truman and others stood by their beliefs and decisions, while we could never know what Oppenheimer believed in. This is also expressed by Edward Teller, who would later become the father of the hydrogen bomb. The scene with Truman showcases how he was entirely helpless and couldn’t stop the repercussions of his greatest creations. He had just changed the course of humanity for the best or the worst. He knew he was the starting point for the destruction of humanity, which led him to use his newfound celebrity status to take an active part in government decisions. The policies and speeches of Oppenheimer after the bombings brought a bad taste to the patriotic Americans and politicians who wanted their nuclear power for themselves and didn’t share the same moral qualms as Oppenheimer. Even though there were many reasons, the creation of the atomic bomb led to the start of an arms race, which in turn led to the Cold War between Russia and the USA. The thing that was created to stop the Germans and the war was now continued to determine the world's next superpower.
“A Prophet isn't allowed to be wrong. Not once.”
The final part of the movie deals with Oppenheimer and his rivalry with Lewis Strauss. From the start, it is made known that Oppenheimer had communist ties. People outside the USA cannot understand the severity of these ties, as the history of the USSR and the USA is required to be known to understand its significance. It was the time of political pressure and propaganda where even the slightest hint of someone being a communist could lead to them being considered a Russian spy or worse. They could lose their jobs or be taken prisoner. It was the height of the Cold War, and people were still fresh from the war wounds of World War II. This is why it was a big concern that Oppenheimer had communist ties, the man who gave them the power to destroy themselves.
“Amateurs chase the sun and get burned. Power stays in the shadows.”
These things clash head-on when Lewis Strauss arranges a security hearing, hoping to undermine Oppenheimer's authority and exacting revenge for his humiliation on the isotope's transportation incident. This is revealed gradually in the movie, which plays as a nice twist. The scenes in which Oppenheimer is interrogated at the end, coupled with the fast cuts, made me feel like watching a thriller rather than a docu-drama. Lewis gets his wish, and Oppenheimer has his security clearance revoked, which leads to his credibility being affected. Even though Oppenheimer knows that he is being set up, he chooses not to fight back but takes in the humiliation. His wife keeps insisting on him to fight back while he sits back and takes it. This could be understood as he is using this as a coping mechanism to absolve himself of his guilt for creating humanity's greatest destruction and the Hiroshima bombings. Kitty tells him that this is a waste of time and nobody would forgive him just like that.
“Is anyone ever going to tell the truth about what's happening here?”
In the end, all the plot points converge, where it is revealed that Lewis was the one who set up Oppenheimer, and he is now trying to enter the US Cabinet. But while he is celebrating his success, it is short-lived as the truth comes out of his ploy to oust Oppenheimer. He has overestimated his plans, and his true nature is revealed in front of the committee, which leads to his disapproval and the consequent disdain from the scientific community and others. And Oppenheimer is provided with medals for his service to the nation after some years. There is also a scene there where Kitty refuses to shake hands with Teller, showing her integrity and the love for her husband.
“The beginning of the end.”
But the movie does not end here. In the middle of the movie, Oppenheimer shares something with Einstein, which makes him go emotionless and walk away from him. Strauss thinks that he had told something about him, which made Einstein averse towards him. It is only revealed at the final moments of the movie what he had conveyed. He quotes about the chain reaction that they feared would happen when the first atomic bomb is triggered, which would lead to continuous explosion and the destruction of humanity. He says that it has happened, implying that they have sown the seeds for the beginning of the end for humanity. Oppenheimer has started the chain reaction (not a chemical but a literal and political chain reaction that could end all life) that he was warned at the beginning when the bomb is detonated. What they thought would end all wars and be used as a deterrent would one day lead to the extinction of species as they keep on trying to reach the next big thing for their superiority. The movie ends with the face of Oppenheimer as it started. As the credits roll, we can't stop feeling the dread we have brought on ourselves, and with that, a three-hour-long journey comes to an end.
The review provided above is solely the opinion of the reviewer and does not represent any official statements or endorsements. The content is based on personal views and interpretations of the film. Individual experiences and perspectives may vary, and readers should exercise their own judgment when considering the review. The intention is to offer an informative and subjective assessment of the movie without any intention to offend or demean any parties involved in its creation.
