Movie Review: Oppenheimer (2023)

Oppenheimer (2023) co-written and directed by Christopher Nolan

J. Robert Oppenheimer is famous for leading the Manhattan Project, the American World War II effort to build an atomic bomb before the Nazis. This biography stars Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, who goes through a lot personally as he is drawn into the scientific community on the cutting edge of physics in the early 1900s. He met a great many famous physicists in his academic life and wound up at Berkeley. He also had some interest in unionizing teachers and scientists and in supporting communism, though he was more like a fellow traveler than a flag-waving leader. One day military officer Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) shows up at Berkeley and offers Oppenheimer the job of building the bomb. Groves is not fully committed to Oppenheimer but is impressed with his forthrightness and his connections. Oppenheimer accepts the job even though he has misgivings about compartmentalizing the project. He recognizes the value of keeping information secure. However, the need for collaboration between the scientists is more important to him than keeping key information separate. He has a hard time managing the expectations of the government, his fellow scientists (many of whom were sympathetic if not full supporters of communism), and the project. 

The main, practical part of the project is headquartered in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Oppenheimer chose it for its remoteness and for his fond childhood memories of the area. A whole town is built for the scientists and their families, making a tight social community focused on developing and testing an atomic bomb. There's some debate about sharing information with the Soviets among the scientists. They are also concerned with the impact the bomb would have though Oppenheimer has more of a "we produce and the government decides what to do with it" mindset. After the war, Oppenheimer becomes doubtful about the morality of using the bomb (and developing new, more powerful weapons) and expresses his doubts on the Atomic Energy Commission, making him less popular with politicians, especially Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey, Jr.) who was an advocate for Oppenheimer's involvement in developing the bomb.

The movie tells the story of Oppenheimer through flashbacks as he goes through a grueling review of his security clearance to remain on the Atomic Energy Commission. The review is more of a kangaroo court set up to remove him from the Commission. That framing device is paralleled with Strauss's congressional hearings to be approved as a cabinet secretary. Some senators are dubious about Strauss's judgment, especially his involvement with Oppenheimer. The structure creates the typical mixed-up time narrative of Nolan's films (except for his Batman trilogy) with information provided not in chronological order but in a way to make a dramatic crescendo by the film's end. This style works well here since the movie focuses more on the human relationships and Oppenheimer's enigmatic character than the atomic secrets and discovery. The narrative is well-structured and interesting.

Murphy delivers a great performance capturing the detachment and intelligence of Oppenheimer, making him a bit of a cipher to others, especially the women in his life. Downey also gives a great performance. Both characters are manipulative in their dealing with others though Oppenheimer has more sincerity and naivety, which causes him problems with other scientists, the government, and the few women in his life. His struggles with morality create a lot of drama and some ambiguity, another feature common in Nolan's films (especially his Batman trilogy). The rest of the cast give very good performances too.

The only drawbacks in the film for me were two. First, it feels longer than it needs to be though I am not sure how to tighten it up. Second, the sound design is too heavy-handed with a lot of deep basses and overly repeated motifs. I understand the narrative purpose but would have liked a more subtle touch. These are relatively minor quibbles, the movie is well worth watching.

Recommended.