Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer, the new film by master auteur Christopher Nolan, based on the 2005 book American Prometheus, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin does not disappoint. It’s a compelling story that is not just about a physicist but about his complex journey; a process that is put underneath a microscope as we await the historical outcome.
The nonlinear story, a trademark of Christopher Nolan takes the audience from Princeton, the university Oppenheimer worked out of and lived at, to a secret military base in Los Alamos, New Mexico where Oppenheimer leads a team of scientists as project manager in an effort to develop the atomic bomb before the Nazis, known as the Manhattan Project, to the trials against Oppenheimer and those involved with connections to Communists who were leaking information about the top secret project.
Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer is convincing in portraying a brilliant mind who is constantly dueling with morality and loyalty. As is Oscar winning Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Tenet) who takes you into the working mind of Oppenheimer with the melodic strings of “Can You Hear the Music,” and then transports you into the complex reality of Oppenheimer’s world with retro synthesizer tones and rhythms. This combination of classical and new wave creates a meditative sound for the creative mind, a transcending sound for those who manifest from their imagination.
As compelling as Oppenheimer’s time spent developing the atomic bomb is, he is also caught up in the spiderweb of infidelity, treason, and internal conflicts revolved around a race to finish the atomic bomb and remain loyal to both his communist friends and family and the United States of America.
In Oppenheimer, no matter how tainted his character is, there is a special gift not many have, that only few recognize. It is military sergeant Leslie Groves, portrayed by Oscar winning writer, actor Matt Damon, who recruits Oppenheimer but also questions his abilities to lead.
“Oppenheimer can’t run a hamburger stand,” Groves states.
“No, but I can run the Manhattan Project,” Oppenheimer responds with a smirk.
Oppenheimer is then taken to a top-secret location, Los Alamos, New Mexico, where he instructs Groves that his team will need a town to live in, so it feels like home. No questions asked, Groves and a team of military personnel build a town in the middle of the desert for Oppenheimer and his team.
The race against communism and freedom begins. As the Manhattan Project moves forward, Oppenheimer and his team of scientists are time and time again faced with adversities. Having too many brilliant minds working together in theory is an excellent idea, but as the project gets bigger, more difficult and frustrating, more members of the team quit or fight with Oppenheimer. The tensions of the unexpected and the mistakes that are made continue for 1 year, 2 years, 3 years; millions of dollars wasted, all of it relying on a leap of faith. Will it work with such conditions?
Even though Oppenheimer was told many times he can’t his response was always, “why not?” Only the loyal, committed and those who believe stick with it and remain loyal to Oppenheimer.
However, one scientist, a communist, during the Manhattan Project is leaking important information to the Nazis who are trying to develop a bomb as well before the Americans, a middleman stealing information from the competition.
Despite it all, those who believe, move forward and prevail. At a pivotal moment as Oppenheimer nears the end of the project, he seeks guidance from another brilliant mind of the time, a colleague, Albert Einstein. Oppenheimer returns to Princeton to speak with Einstein.
“What do you think this means?” Einstein reads as he holds a piece of paper with complex equations, that was given to him by Oppenheimer who walks beside him.
“We get to handle an atomic device that may start a chain reaction that destroys the world,” Oppenheimer replies.
“So, you’re here lost in your quantum world of probability?” Einstein asks.
At the end of their conversation Einstein hands the paper back to Oppenheimer; this is Oppenheimer’s project, one not many are willing to take a risk with, even Einstein.
“Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds,” Oppenheimer quotes Lord Krishna from the Bhagavad Gita
Eventually the Manhattan project is completed and history in made in the wanning days of World War II in Japan after the Nazis have been defeated.
In the end though, with all the sacrifices it’s the reflection on that which you created; was it worth it, all the hurt, all the pain; was it morally right to do such harm in order to bring such global peace?
“Mr. President, I think that I have blood on my hands,” Oppenheimer tells President Truman in the oval office.
“Do you think those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki give a shit who built the bomb. No they care about who dropped it,” President Truman responds.
After the success of the atomic bomb project the trial against Oppenheimer begins. Was he morally right for his creation, and was he loyal to his country.
“In the heart of darkness honesty and loyalty will destroy all…” Oppenheimer states while on secret trial defending his word on loyalty, communist friend and the United States. This truth could have his friend killed and him arrested.
“In this country no man should face pillage for stating an honest opinion,” Oppenheimer states.
“I see Oppenheimer as a confusing man, misunderstood and complicated man, but I believe in him and his honesty,” Sergeant Leslie Groves tells the trial committee.
“Kitty and I are grownups, we walked through fire together,” Oppenheimer declares.
“Did you think that if the world tarred and feathered you they would forgive you?” Kitty asks Oppenheimer when finally alone.
“We’ll see,” Oppenheimer responds with a smirk.
Overall, Oppenheimer by Chirstopher Nolan is a brilliant film that puts an important piece of American and global history under the microscope. It is a constant battle of morality and loyalty, a duel between communism and freedom. Despite the turmoil and the internal and external conflicts, Oppenheimer’s journey is one many dare not take, but a journey worth experiencing and learning from; a lesson needed for the human race during the current state of the world. Are we willing to learn from the past and evolve, or make the same mistakes, but with greater destruction and consequences. Only time will tell.
Oppenheimer Movie Trailer