Oppenheimer movie review

Oppenheimer is a biopic which was released on the 19th July 2023. The movie focuses on the famous scientist who initiated the Manhattan project.

Oppenheimer’s personal story is well presented in this movie. Between 1926 and 1929, Oppenheimer wrote his doctoral thesis in Europe (unfortunately, the important people that had a huge influence on him, such as Paul Dirac or Max Born, are not mentioned). During the scenes about him coming to America, we are introduced to the theories of quantum mechanics, which he pioneered. Christopher Nolan, the movie director, highlights this in his movie. The film shows quite a bit of the historical context, helping us understand the need for the creation of the atomic bomb. We learn for example that McCarthyism is ubiquitous in North America during this period.

The movie is well directed, the special effects are impressive, and the music composed by Ludwig Göransson is very coherent with the movie. The absence of action might make the movie seem overlong, but the people who want to learn more about Oppenheimer will love it. Moreover, it is pretty interesting to see the political aspect of his live, his dealings with the American Government. His ideas on what he wanted to do after the creation of the atomic bomb are mentioned. He says the famous line: “Now I become death, the destroyer of the world” (https://youtu.be/lb13ynu3Iac). The cast is star-studded: Cillian Murphy is Oppenheimer (he won the Oscar for his portrayal), Robert Downey Jr is Lewis Strauss, the President of the Atomic Energy Commission, Matt Damon is Leslie Groves, the Army general.

Oppenheimer is one of the best movies of 2023, it tells the story of a famous scientist who changed the world, and who deserved to be better known. The movie can at times be rather complex, but it is still accessible. Christopher Nolan has done a fine job.

Hinek Sauvant