Oppenheimer: Christopher Nolan’s Ambitious Exploration of the Father of the Atomic Bomb

The World Forever Changes.

Chris Nolan is set to make what seems to be a triumphant return to the Cinemas with an avant-garde exploration of the man dubbed as the father of the A-Bomb, Robert Oppenheimer. The film is considered to be [more or less] Nolan’s third jab at adaptation. But ardent cinephiles will know that even when the filmmaker favours recreating someone else’s work. He is still able to pull in an immense amount of originality to such stories that the line between what was added on and what remained as is are usually blurred. And for the most part, inconsequential.

The argument can also be made that the filmmaker seems to attune himself to the things he adapts. In the sense that, Nolan seems not to adapt things lightly, there is always an intention behind whatever he chooses to reimagine as opposed to some other filmmakers who simply ‘go with the flow’ when adapting. This of course, often leads to mediocre results when such works are released.

Further exploring the intention Nolan adds to his work, the filmmaker also has a penchant for treating his films like special events. Each film in his filmographic repertoire has the ability to overwhelm audiences. Whether it’s through their enlivening concepts, beyond immersive set pieces or brilliance of his casting choices.

This may be the reason the filmmaker chooses not to rehash his stories through sequels and franchises. Save for The Dark Knight Trilogy. Which was understandable as it is the only thing adapted by the filmmaker that is based of an IP. As Nolan’s works usually consists of singular book adaptations or good old-fashioned original ideas.

From The Source: Robert Oppenheimer

For those that may not know, the source material from which Nolan used to conceive the film is the Pulitzer prize winning biography, American Prometheus.

Written by Co-authors, Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin over a period of 20 years before eventually getting published back in 2005. The book obviously chronicles the events of The Manhattan Project but also contextualises the man responsible.

The First-Person Perspective

Since the book was clearly a tale built around its obvious standout. Chris Nolan took this up a notch when adapting the work. His script is said to have been written with such a subjective view that the movie has been teased to be a character study unlike anything ever put to film. Or rather, unlike anything the filmmaker has ever put to film.

Nolan even went as far as making sure that the revelations of the character’s inner workings were visualised very practically. With all these ingredients baked into the narrative and execution of the upcoming feature. To say the film will simply “be worth the watch” would be an understatement.

A Grand Ensemble

The portrayal of the leading character that is Robert Oppenheimer is well known at this point. And it rests on the shoulders of frequent Nolan collaborator, Cillian Murphy.

What many may not know however, is that this will be Murphy’s first lead role in a Nolan feature. The actor has since spoken concerning this in an interview. About how he’s always open to working with the filmmaker, but secretly wished he’d be given a starring role [someday] and even though it’s taken a while. Twenty plus years to be exact, delay is never denial. As the opportunity for lead star has eventually presented itself and in an enviable fashion, nonetheless. However, a main character even if portrayed by an outstanding actor, can only do so much. Hence, a cast of characters portrayed by some of Hollywood’s heavyweights crowd the cast list. They include; Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Jack Quaid, Rami Malek and Robert Downey Jr. To mention but a few. This cast list is certainly the most ambitious Nolan has ever put together which pivots the picture as an absolute must see for film fans everywhere.

As chances are at least two or more of the cast that make up the laundry list, have been involved in trailblazing projects that inform the current pop culture zeitgeist.

Fitting in with the Rest

Nolan is perhaps most known for his cinematic works being an exploration of advances in science and tech, in a world plagued with moral ambiguity. His work in films like Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises and Tenet are perfect examples of such.

Even in films that do not compliment their sci-fi tendencies with moral ambiguity like Inception and Interstellar. Nolan has shown time and again to have an affinity for the sci-fi genre. Though Oppenheimer is more a biopic than sci-fi, it aims to explore the advancement of science, in a way that questions the morality behind it.

Thus being rightly poised to fit into Nolan’s masterful filmography.

If there was ever a time to purposefully highlight one of history’s most prominent figures, Oppenheimer is a timely endeavour in that regard. Especially now that it seems the world is now grappling with a new kind of [threatening] advancement. Namely, Artificial Intelligence.

In exploring the ‘tenets’ of what led to the development of [arguably] the most destructive force ever to exist. We maybe made more capable of handling the adversities that come with current/future irreversible change(s) and advancement.

To ensure that as creators, we are not consumed by our creations.

Oppenheimer opens in Cinemas July 21, 2023.