Oppenheimer (2023)

Oppenheimer (2023)

 3/10

Starring

Cillian Murphy

Emily Blunt

Matt Damon

Robert Downey Jr.

Florence Pugh

 

Directed by Christopher Nolan

 

The film felt like Christopher Nolan wanted to prove he could make a three-hour-long movie about a subject he likes, turn it into a blockbuster, and have everyone want to see it. Because regardless of what I have read about this movie, I could not help but feel everyone is in on a joke except me. This movie is very boring and beyond the titular character, none of the other characters are given any depth. The film is so disjointed and lacks cohesion that there’s no point in trying to connect with anyone else. Cillian Murphy plays Oppenheimer, and apparently, that’s all that matters. Attempting to string a meaningful connection between the characters is a waste of time, just learn their names and places and move on.

As expected, the cinematography is world-class, as you’d expect from Nolan. But that’s about it. The storytelling is poor, and the non-linear structure makes it difficult to piece things together at first. When you finally understand the flow, you’re left wondering if it was even worth the effort.

Christopher Nolan is undeniably a great filmmaker, but the pride behind this film’s creation is evident. It feels like something made for himself rather than for the audience to enjoy.

The plot focuses on Oppenheimer, a physicist tasked with developing the atomic bomb during World War II. While the film explores moral dilemmas, questioning, and drama, it’s presented through cut scenes and a non-linear narrative that trades storytelling for flashy visuals. In the end, I couldn’t help but think, “Why didn’t I just read the book instead?”

Sometimes, it feels like reviewers and award shows decide in advance which films they’ll champion, regardless of their actual quality. This seems to be one of those cases. Despite its flaws, Oppenheimer receives overwhelming praise because of its marketing power and the name Christopher Nolan. Meanwhile, better independent films go unnoticed.

This is the Oppenheimer and Barbie year. Even Barbie, which was released around the same time, seems to have the same luck for being an award movie. Its marketing and messaging made it difficult for some people to openly criticize it. The same seems true for Oppenheimer. Any negative opinions risk being dismissed, simply because of the filmmaker behind it.

There’s no point rushing to see this film. It wasn’t worth the time or money I spent watching it. If you must see it, wait until it ends up free on a streaming service.