Nolan's latest is filmed in IMAX 65 mm, both in color and black-and-white is the most accessible film till date. You cannot separate Science, Time and Space aspects from his film. Here he uses two metaphor in this biopic which chronicles the life of this gifted scientist, one from Greek mythology (a titan who brought fire to man was punished in the end) and another from Bhagavad Gita (Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people). It took 4000 people, 2bn USD and 3 years of effort to be famed/defamed him as the father of atomic bomb/blood in the hands.
This is a dense epic historical thriller about science, communism , morality and destruction. Oppenheimer is a compelling reminder of the fragility, power and politics. The film is told in two parts color format, similar to Nolan's cult classic Memento. The first part of the film explores his early struggles of Oppenheimer and the second part of the film revolves around the investigation into Oppenheimer after the events of World War II. The second half of trials and tribulations reminded me of Aaron Sorkin style scripting. Its heavy dose verbal drama which is exhilarating and bit tiring also.
Only a few film makers had used sound in such a strident and striking way like Nolan. Here he uses it as tempo for the story narration (biography are boring as such) along with to represent Oppenheimer's inner conflict. Post interval, the Trinity launch is a stunner to watch. Few biopics have a scale like this and he used visuals and soundtrack to stir emotions and turn certain scenes into the most impressive moments of the film.
In the end this is bit of cold, nuanced and a well researched calculated film which will leave the audience divided. For the first time, Nolan film not only had a star studded cast, but also he brought the best out of most of them and the stand out being Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey. I am great fan of Nolan so this is bit biased review for sure. There is no spectacular visual rhetoric this time, so dont go with that expectation even though its filmed in IMAX format.
The man who gave atomic fire in the end couldn't control the after effects and when he tried, it was too late. Finally he made a mark and left a legacy but a very costly one for mankind. In one scene the president says, Japanese wont remember who made the Atomic bomb, but they will always remember who dropped it and i dont agree to that. There is a brilliant scene towards the end between Einstein (the one who started) and Oppenheimer (the one who ended) with a quote "I believe we did" and a sudden cut to view of the new world from above the clouds.
Oppenheimer’s (the chosen one) and the atomic bomb creation was considered as his Dharma, so few consider him as modern version of Arjuna. And dharma resulted in “We knew the world would not be the same, A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent". Oppenheimer life is torn between all these emotions, remorse and that was his Karma boomerang. Does this cycle of Dharma, Karma and consequences ever end?
Verdict - 4/5(A High Quality Detonator From Nolan)