Watched - In Theatres
Phone Time - 0
OH SHIT Moments - 3
Run Time - 3hrs
Good Time - 2hrs
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SHOULD YOU WATCH?
YES, FOR HISTORY'S SAKE
OPPENHEIMER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SAME GUY WHO MADE THE DARK KNIGHT, INTERSTELLAR, AND THE PRESTIGE but it isn't anything like those movies. Those movies were adventures and THIS MOVIE IS A SCARY EXISTENTIAL CRISIS OF A BIOPIC and it tends to be a lot of guys in rooms talking. Needless to say YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME STAYING AWAY FROM YOUR GLOWING SLAB IF YOU WATCH IT AT HOME but it won't be available at home for precisely 100 days so it would be a good idea to see it in theatres. As an adult you are obliged to see Oppenheimer in order to understand the world you live in
and AS A PARENT YOU ARE OBLIGED TO TAKE YOUR KIDS, JUST DON'T TAKE ANYONE UNDER 16 CAUSE THEY WON'T CARE. I know 3 hours is a lot to ask but I promise, IF YOU PAY ATTENTION, IT WILL ONLY FEEL LIKE A 2 HOUR MOVIE. The first hour is a little rough because it's a man learning science and becoming a teacher, broken up by some thrilling visuals and music, but right AROUND THE HALF WAY POINT THE JUICE BECOMES WORTH THE SQUEEZE WITH A HALF HOUR OF JAW DROPPING TENSION, VISUALS, AND MUSIC. SERIOUSLY, MY JAW WAS WIDE OPEN AND I WAS GRIPPING THE ARM RESTS WITH A KNOT IN MY STOMACH DURING A HALF HOUR OF ANTICIPATION. THE IMAX IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT EXPERIENCE. I haven't felt anxiety in a movie like that since I was 7 years old at the science center watching the IMAX roller coaster experience. THIS MOVIE IS A HISTORY BOOK BROUGHT TO YOU DRAMATICALLY AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE WORLD KNOW THE STORY but don't expect an action packed movie with unlimited micro near-death moments, it's more like one long macro near-death moment which you, today, are still experiencing. the story is important but it can be confusing, as is the case with all Christopher Nolan movies,
THIS MOVIE IS SCIENCE WRAPPED IN POLITICS PEPPERED WITH WAR SO EXPECT SOME DEGREE OF CONFUSION
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THERE'S PLENTY OF SURPRISING CAMEO'S IN OPPENHEIMER PLAYED BY ACTORS WHO CLEARLY WANTED VERY BADLY TO BE IN A NOLAN MOVIE FOR THE NOVELTY but everyone had an important roll to play in the jigsaw that was the Manhattan Project which practically made them supporting rolls, if not vital rolls. The acting is phenomenal which was to be expected but it went to an other level for me where I had trouble remembering some of the actors real names which produced genuine feeling for the characters. MATT DAMON HASN'T PLAYED ANYONE BUT HIMSELF SINCE ELYSIUM BUT HE DOESN'T RUIN THE MOVIE. His name along with a few others I didn't forget but as for Josh Hartnett, Mathew Modine, Benny Safdie (the man who brought you Uncut Gems), Rami Malek, and Josh peck of Drake and Josh (yes the kids show) became a blur to me and ALL I COULD SEE WERE THESE INNOCENT PEOPLE ENTANGLED IN THE WORLDS MOST DANGEROUS GAME. Also, to see Florence Pugh (the girl from Midsommar) 20 people deep on the cast list seems wrong CONSIDERING HER LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO THIS MOVIE WITH ALMOST EVERY ONE OF HER SCENES BEING A NUDE SEX SCENE, I don't consider this a spoiler more of an enticer, go for the nudes stay for the existential crisis. That being said this is Christopher Nolan's first ever movie with nude scenes and it felt somehow contrived, like he's never slowly and seductively gone to bed with a woman, or maybe that was on purpose. Anyway, Florence Pugh deserves her flowers for her contributions.
You may have come to wonder if Hans Zimmer is back in as Nolan's composer considering the score involved in this movie and the answer is "No, but it's so close it doesn't matter". Ludwig Göransson IS NOLAN'S LATEST COMPOSER, coming off of Tenet and The Mandalorian, THIS IS THE GUY. He has brought you back into that feeling that Zimmer gave you but takes it one step further AS IF MAKING INTERSTELLAR AND TENET HAVE A BABY. This score is interwoven so perfectly into this movie that you almost don't notice it's there. The beauty of film making is that you've taken all of these beautiful and impeccable arts and made them seamlessly evoke an emotion which Ludwig Göransson clearly understood.
OPPENHEIMER IS AKIN TO THE STATE OF THE UNION IN THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN AND HOW IT CAME TO BE THAT WAY. The perfect cinematography by our always loved Hoyt Van Hoytema, the intense acting by all actors (except Matt Damon), and the beautifully emotive score all give you a genuine feeling of sadness for all the people involved in this story.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY FEEL SOMETHING FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE THIS WILL DO IT.
EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO SEE IT AGAIN.
By: Nick G