Contents
Oppenheimer is a 2023 British-American epic biographical thriller film based on thelife of theoretical physicistJ. Robert Oppenheimer . It was written and directed by Christopher Nolan , based on American Prometheus , a biography of Oppenheimer written by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. It is a co-production between Syncopy Films and Atlas Entertainment , and is produced by Nolan along with Emma Thomas and Charles Roven . The starring role of Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist credited with being the “father of the atomic bomb” for his role in the Manhattan Project , will be played by Cillian Murphy .
Universal Pictures is scheduled to release the film commercially on July 21, 2023. It is Nolan’s first film not to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures since Memento (2000), due to disagreements stemming from the studio’s simultaneous release schedule in theaters and on HBO Max .
| Oppenheimer | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Christopher Nolan |
| Screenplay by | Christopher Nolan |
| Based on | |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Hoyte van Hoytema |
| Edited by | Jennifer Lame |
| Music by | Ludwig Göransson |
|
Production
companies |
|
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
|
Release dates
|
|
|
Running time
|
180 minutes[1] |
| Countries | |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $100 million[2] |
| Box office | $10.5 million[3] |
Plot
A young J. Robert Oppenheimer is a brilliant student but struggles with math in the eyes of his teacher, which contributes to his anxiety. After completing his Ph.D. in physics, in Germany, Oppenheimer returns to the United States, prompted by the absence of research in quantum physics. He begins teaching at the University of California at Berkeley, while also spending time at Caltech . Along the way, he meets important figures such as Jean Tatlock , with whom he is in an on-and-off romantic relationship, Ernest Lawrence , the 1939 Nobel Prize winner who emphasized the importance of practical applications, and Kitty ., whom he later marries.
Leslie Groves approaches Oppenheimer and requests his involvement in the development of the atomic bomb, but only after Oppenheimer assures them that he has no communist sympathies . Consequently, Oppenheimer assembles a team of scientists to work together to create the atomic bomb, with the goal of using it as a means to save the world despite concerns about possible global repercussions. On the day of the Trinity Test , there is inherent uncertainty regarding the possibility of setting off a chain reaction that could have catastrophic consequences and potentially end the world. However, the test is a success.
As World War II rages , United States President Harry S. Truman makes the decision to drop nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki . Devastated by the immense destruction caused by these bombings, Oppenheimer meets Truman in his office, deeply distraught. However, Truman is disgusted by Oppenheimer’s emotional state and perceives it as a weakness. At his meeting, he absolves Oppenheimer of all responsibility for the bombings, but Oppenheimer takes responsibility.
In the next few years, Oppenheimer becomes a strong advocate against nuclear development, especially the creation of the hydrogen bomb. However, his position becomes a point of contention in the tense climate of the Cold War with the Soviet Union . Oppenheimer’s perceived left-wing ties and his association with Tatlock, who is linked to communist sympathies, arouses suspicion among government officials. Lewis Strauss , a powerful figure with staunch anti-communist views, seizes the opportunity to exploit these allegations.
Oppenheimer’s security clearance is revoked. The revelation of his affair with Tatlock and the suspicion of his ties to communism bring him out of favor and effectively silence his influence on matters of atomic energy and national security. In the end, Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein discuss the far-reaching implications of nuclear weapons and the heavy load of knowledge they carry. The camera pans into Oppenheimer’s eyes to reveal his vision of the devastation that nuclear weapons can unleash.
Cast
- Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer[4]
- Emily Blunt as Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer[5]
- Matt Damon as Leslie Groves[6]
- Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss[6]
- Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock[7]
- Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence[8][9]
- Casey Affleck as Boris Pash[10]
- Rami Malek as David Hill[7]
- Kenneth Branagh as Niels Bohr[11]
- Benny Safdie as Edward Teller[7]
- Dylan Arnold as Frank Oppenheimer[12]
- Gustaf Skarsgård as Hans Bethe[13]
- David Krumholtz as Isidor Isaac Rabi[14]
- Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush[15]
- David Dastmalchian as William L. Borden[16]
- Tom Conti as Albert Einstein[17]
- Michael Angarano as Robert Serber[8]
- Jack Quaid as Richard Feynman[18]
- Josh Peck as Kenneth Bainbridge[19]
- Olivia Thirlby as Lilli Hornig[20]
- Dane DeHaan as Kenneth Nichols[21]
- Danny Deferrari as Enrico Fermi[22]
- Alden Ehrenreich as a Senate aide[14][23]
- Jefferson Hall as Haakon Chevalier[24][25]
- Jason Clarke as Roger Robb[26]
- James D’Arcy as Patrick Blackett[27]
- Tony Goldwyn as Gordon Gray[28]
- Devon Bostick as Seth Neddermeyer[29]
- Alex Wolff as Luis Walter Alvarez[30]
- Scott Grimes as Counsel[31]
- Josh Zuckerman as Giovanni Rossi Lomanitz[32]
- Matthias Schweighöfer as Werner Heisenberg[33][34]
- Christopher Denham as Klaus Fuchs[31]
- David Rysdahl as Donald Hornig[35]
- Guy Burnet as George Eltenton[22]
- Louise Lombard as Ruth Tolman[36]
- Harrison Gilbertson as Philip Morrison[37]
- Emma Dumont as Jackie Oppenheimer[37]
- Trond Fausa Aurvåg as George Kistiakowsky[38]
- Olli Haaskivi as Edward Condon[12]
- Gary Oldman as Harry S. Truman[39]
- John Gowans as Ward Evans
- Kurt Koehler as Thomas A. Morgan[40][41]
- Macon Blair as Lloyd K. Garrison[42]
- Harry Groener as Gale W. McGee[42]
- Jack Cutmore-Scott as Lyall Johnson[42]
- James Remar as Henry Stimson[42]
- Gregory Jbara as Warren Magnuson[42]
- Tim DeKay as John Pastore[42]
- James Urbaniak as Kurt Gödel[42]
Production
Development
In December 2020, Warner Bros. Pictures announced plans to release its 2021 films simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry. Christopher Nolan , who had partnered with the studio on every one of his films starting with Insomnia (2002), expressed his dissent on the matter. 13 In January 2021, the media raised the possibility that Nolan’s next film could be the first not to be financed or distributed by Warner Bros. 14 The filmmaker had previously supported the studio’s decision to giveWonder Woman 1984 (2020) a simultaneous release, stating that he perceived that situation to have been handled correctly, but said that he had been excluded from any discussion regarding the postponed release of his Tenet film . 15
In September 2021, the media reported that Nolan would be directing a World War II- set biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer , creator of the atomic bomb , and that they were in talks with Cillian Murphy to star in it. 16 Nolan was approached by multiple studios, including Sony Pictures , Universal Pictures , Paramount Pictures , and Apple Studios due to his strained relationship with Warner Bros., although the option of working with them was not completely out of the question. 17According to inside sources, Paramount was left out of the selection from the start, as the studio was in favor of increasing releases on the streaming service . 18
On September 14, it was announced that Universal would distribute the film, with production scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. Some of Nolan’s demands included a production budget of $100 million and a marketing budget of equal value, and a theatrical window of at least 100 days, among others. 18
Cast choice
Oppenheimer marks the sixth collaboration between Nolan and Murphy, and the first in which the latter is the lead. To prepare for the role, the actor did what he summed up as “a lot of reading” on Oppenheimer’s life. 20 In October 2021, Murphy and Emily Blunt were confirmed to play the lead roles. 1 2 At the end of 2021, Matt Damon , Robert Downey Jr. , 3 Florence Pugh , Rami Malek and Benny Safdie joined the cast. 4 At the beginning of 2022 Josh Hartnett did the same ,21 Dane DeHaan , 7 Jack Quaid , 11 Matthew Modine , 10 Dylan Arnold , Olli Haaskivi , 8 Alden Ehrenreich , David Krumholtz , 9 Josh Peck , Rob Morgan , Michael Angarano , Kenneth Branagh , Devon Bostick and David Dastmalchian . 6 12
Newsweek critic Malina Saval questioned the director over his choice of Murphy in the title role: “Oppenheimer was in a perpetual state of identity crisis, constantly struggling with his Judaism , that a much more authentic portrayal of him on screen can only be achieved through the casting of a Jewish actor in the role. But this doesn’t seem to have occurred to Nolan.” Saval added that this is “another glaring example of how Hollywood ‘s collective drive for diversity, equity and inclusion when it comes to on-screen representation has almost completely eluded the Jewish community.” 22
Filming
Pre-production was underway in January 2022 in New Mexico , where a two-day casting call was held in Santa Fe and Los Alamos for local citizens to audition to play residents, military personnel, and scientists. 23 In February a new casting day was held . 24 Filming began at the end of February 2022, with Hoyte van Hoytema as cinematographer. The film uses a mix of IMAX 65mm and wide-format 65mm film; 1 It is also the first film to shoot sections in IMAX analogue photography in black and white. 25
During post-production, editing was handled by Jennifer Lame, and the soundtrack was composed by Ludwig Göransson . 1
Premiere
Oppenheimer is scheduled for a July 21, 2023 release by Universal Pictures on IMAX 70mm, standard 70mm , 35mm, and digital. 1 Taking into account the film’s budget and marketing costs, Variety magazine stated that the film will need to gross at least $400 million worldwide to turn a profit. 26
Marketing
Oppenheimer ‘s marketing campaign began on February 22, 2022 when a first look of Murphy dressed as Oppenheimer was shared. In the black and white image, Murphy is seen with an unfazed look as he smokes a cigarette. Noting the physicist’s history with chain smoking , Variety commented, “That’s certainly true to the historical record.”
On July 22, 2022 (exactly one year before the film’s theatrical release), a teaser poster was released. A teaser trailer followed on July 28, 2022, featuring a live countdown to 05:29 a.m. (MST) on July 16, 2023, the 78th anniversary of the first atomic weapon detonation ; premiered at screenings of Nope before being posted online on Universal’s social media profiles. Empire commented, “It looks like heady, brooding stuff with a real sense of weight—a Christopher Nolan movie, in other words.” Two more trailers were released in December 2022 in front of screenings for Avatar: The Way of Water., one of which was exclusive to IMAX screenings.
In May 2023, an official trailer was released during preview screenings of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 . It was later released to the public on May 8, 2023 along with a new poster.
Reception
Criticism
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 93% of 213 critic reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The website’s consensus reads: ” Oppenheimer marks another riveting achievement from Christopher Nolan, benefiting from Murphy’s masterful performance and stunning visual effects.” 27 Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned a score of 89 out of 100 based on 59 reviews, indicating “universal acclaim”. 28