‘Oppenheimer’ Movie Review: Cillian Murphy Leads An Extraordinary Cast In Christopher Nolan’s Magnum Opus
Photo from Universal Pictures
From Joe Peltzer
A flawless feat of explosive storytelling, Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece, the most well-acted film in recent memory and a launching point for Cillian Murphy’s Oscar campaign.
Nolan’s latest follows renowned quantum physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Murphy) as he assembles a team to work on the development of the atomic bomb and the aftermath of its use on both the individuals involved and the world at large. The film is best divided into three parts: Oppenheimer’s rise, The Manhattan Project, and the fallout. Each is presented in utterly engrossing visuals and with delivery that never falters; once the story begins, we’re on a collision course with history.
Murphy has never been better, bringing to life the morally-conflicted Oppenheimer in look and temperament, balancing intelligence, intensity, and care. He leads an all-star cast that delivers one phenomenal performance after another, no matter the size of the role. There will undoubtedly be an Oscar nomination coming Murphy’s way and, to me, he is the clear frontrunner. This is the performance of his career. Robert Downey Jr. is also incredibly effective in his supporting role, here playing Lewis Strauss and representing both governmental and personal interests. He delivers his lines with piercing precision and guides his arc to an intersection that ultimately frames Nolan’s entire roadmap of the story. But you also have countless other performances that are difficult to ignore, from Emily Blunt to Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett to Florence Pugh. I once was worried about this large cast when it seemed like the announcements were never ending. Boy was I wrong.
There is a lot packed into the plot for audiences to dissect. Nolan explores Oppenheimer himself, but also through him the moral ambiguity surrounding the work being conducted. The backdrop is World War II and the years that follow with McCarthy’s domestic war against communism a subplot that explodes in the third act. The script is layered with factual information strategically lays the foundation for this vital look at one of the most consequential periods in the world. The editing, the score, the camerawork… it all brings you into the fray while building up your own moral quandary as to what is occurring before transforming in to straight up disturbing concern. Nolan’s film is a three hour construction that requires every piece to be carefully laid; the cast makes sure the story keeps moving.
Oppenheimer is peak cinema, Nolan’s Oscar-worthy (on many fronts) magnum opus that will be remembered in the same vain as Oliver Stone’s JFK for its examination of all aspects of what transpired. The final words will leave you chilled as the credits begin to role and you start to take in the gravity of what you just watched. Genius, ambition, moral reckoning, and consequence meet head-on for an unforgettable cinematic epic that is as stunning of an achievement as it is an important one, and the best film of 2023 (perhaps even the last few years).
Rating: 5/5
Oppenheimer hits theaters on Friday.
