Oppenheimer (2023)
I seem to have been unfortunately labeled as a “Nolan Hater”, and it seems like this moniker will never leave me. Although I have been critical of his films in the past (see my Tenet review), it certainly does not mean I hate him. On the contrary, I actually love that there is a person that gets people excited about film. Heck, I can sort of attribute my very first spark of film love to watching The Dark Knight on IMAX. Prior to that experience I barely knew films could be like that. I also love how Nolan is able to constantly create new and unique stories while still bringing in big box office numbers. It shows that audiences don’t need to be fed the same regurgitated thing over and over again for them to show up to theaters. With all that being said, learning about Oppenheimer made me wary on two fronts. The first being that Nuclear and Quantum Physics is my major, and I wouldn’t be able to hold back not reacting to any false or overdramatized claims about the field. The second worry, was that Nolan, a man notorious for lacking emotional depth is taking on a biopic of a very complex person. With regards to my first worry, thankfully the film decided to not dive deep into the field and just explain certain high level aspects broadly. In terms of the second however, Nolan just can’t not be Nolan. I’ll explain.
You would not find it surprising that I came into Oppenheimer with a lot of caution especially after the trainwreck of a film Tenet was. How could Nolan go from his least and distant film to one that requires subtlety and nuance. Well he doesn’t really, he is still the same old Nolan, yet he implements his quirks in interesting areas that work (sometimes). Even when making a film that is 90% conversations, Nolan cant help himself by interweaving the plotlines into this complex puzzle that requires a second viewing just to keep up. This man cannot keep it simple, and it’s why many people love him. His movies are like a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be unraveled. Though I tend to go on the side of not really wanting all his movies to feel like a puzzle. Especially something like Oppenheimer that may have benefited from pulling back a bit. But I am torn saying that, because pulling back would require this to be a totally different film. Nolan is not equipped for subtlety so he does what he knows best: big, fast, and explosive. This works some of the time, and when it does the film just hits perfectly, however when it doesn’t work we go back to the Tenet trainwreck.
I am completely torn about the direction this film has taken. It seems like this film is divided stylistically and structurally (whether intentional or not) into three distinct parts, each an hour long. The first hour, which serves as the frantic introduction to all the characters and Oppenheimer’s backstory is my least favorite and most infuriating to watch. That section is cut together as if it is a one hour long movie trailer. The blaring score (which is great mind you, though I don’t want it on ALL the time), the fast cuts, and insanely fast (at times incoherent) dialogue had my brain jolting from side to side not knowing what to focus on. It always felt like I was one step behind, when I just wanted to understand. Again, this is something many may enjoy, but I cannot say I fully support the direction this first hour had, and I feel like it hindered my enjoyment of the final quarter as it fatigued me very early on.
Things weren’t all bad though, because the second hour of this film is possibly the best thing Nolan has ever put on film. The second hour alone is, dare I say, a cinematic masterclass. Here, and only here, did I agree to having this thundering score mask behind every conversation, because it finally led to an important moment that I will touch upon later. Regardless, his constant score with the frantic plotline going into full gear felt like a freight train with no brakes, heading towards the inevitable implosion at the end of the tracks. This is where Oppenheimer clicked for me, and it clicked so well. The plot chugged along so intensely that ending that section of the film with silence was the absolute perfect choice. It brought weight to the scene and will possibly be one of the most memorable film moments of 2023. This hour caps off with might arguably be Nolan’s most introspective scene as Oppenheimer is forced to face a crowd of people who laud him as a hero while he is battling his inner demons with what he has done. I loved that entire sequence, and I had hoped the film would continue on that path. Unfortunately it let go of all that, and went back to action paced conversations which leads me to talk about the third and final hour of this film.
With the climax occurring at the halfway point, I was surprised the film would keep going. It definitely kept going but maybe not in the way I had expected. The film culminates with the hearing that would determine Oppenheimer’s security clearance approval. Even writing that you could see what is wrong with that statement. We had just scene a monumental hour that culminated in one of the most destructive weapons of all time being detonated for the first time. Going from that to deciding his security clearance approval is a huge drop in stakes. Which is why Nolan’s deliberate breakneck style fails him in the final hour, as the viewers have had no time to grasp the subtleties of Oppenheimer losing his security clearance. As a man of science, one who has dedicated everything to this field, him losing his security clearance means he may not ever work on something he has poured everything into. He will lose the thing that kept him going, an extension of his soul. Though, you can see how Nolan’s need for speed and grandiosity even in such small hearings can end up damaging the overall pacing and stakes of the story. It was a balancing act, that Nolan decided to run across rather than taking his time. His approach may have been right for many people, but I still see areas where he could have made this so much better.
I have sort of gone through most of the movie on a high level approach to its three part structure. The film has so much more to talk about but I don’t know if it’s worth really delving deep into when they are pretty apparent. Nolan is technically as sound as he has always been. His commitment to using special effects really enhances his films and gives them the push they need. The score, as mentioned, is incredible but I still cannot stand hearing it constantly over every single dialogue scene. Again, I was in a state-of-the-art theater and I had trouble making out some of the dialogue due to the mixing. This issue is still present, and I wish for the day it disappears. Cillain’s performance has gotten all the praise it deserves, he knocked it out of the park (if it wasn’t for his performance, the score at the bottom would probably be way lower). All the supporting actors did a nice job too. Nolan’s dialogue is something I still can’t get behind. His writing still irks me, as much as I love his technical abilities, he really does not know how to write well.
Those are my overall thoughts on the film. Did I love it? No. Did I hate it? Also no. Am I going to continue to support Nolan? Ofcourse I am. I have never been so conflicted with a Nolan film, I have usually been on the side of either loving his films or absolutely despising them. Oppenheimer presents a dilemma as I despise the first hour, absolutely adore the second, and feel indifferent about the third. Whether or not you agree or disagree, I hope you can read my thoughts and see that just as much as Nolan, I love cinema. He may overvalue certain traits and ignores others that I find to be important. But at the end of the day, I criticize because I love film. I nitpick because I love to dive into the world of cinema. I love finding my own lane, taste, and identity as a film fan. It is what brings us together, and I’m glad we still have someone that is able to pull such wide audiences together for the love of cinema. I really hope that this can be translated even further, and that these healthy discourses I see online do not fizzle out as the hype for Oppenheimer dies out. Go watch this, go support cinema.
