Oppenheimer

Christopher Nolan is simply a master at his work and this film just solidifies how good of a director Nolan is. "Oppenheimer" follows the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

I am a huge fan of biopics and really enjoy them. I always want to see how directors tell those biopics in a meaningful and smart way. Well, when it comes to Nolan I expected to be blown out of the water and I am happy to confirm that it did not disappoint! So far, It's my favorite film of the year and it's going to be hard to top that experience. First off, I have to praise the writing here. Clocking at a whopping 180 minutes, the film never loses its grip on you and keeps you engaged despite the long scenes that are heavy on dialogue. It was complex in a beautiful way and will make those 180 minutes go by in a flash. There's everything that you would expect from a typical Nolan film. It's heavy on drama and high on the emotions. All of the acts in the film felt consistent and did not disappoint. I also loved the ending which I won't spoil! Moreover, I have to mention the excellent character development. Everyone in the film gets their proper time to shine. It was so meticulously written and I adored that! It was extremely interesting to see Oppenheimer's character development in the film. Now one thing that stood out to me was how the film shifted in telling the story. The black-and-white sequences are told from an objective point of view while the color sequences were from a subjective point of view. This shows how much Nolan was involved in the creation of this film and his attention to detail. What I always love about Nolan is how much he pushes cinema. He aims big and never fails to amaze me! 

What else Nolan exceeded in was the romance. All of Nolan's previous films were low on romance and did not feel meaningful in any way. To our surprise, Nolan did a really good job at creating a meaningful romance. They were also shot in a very Nolan way and were integral to the film's story and Oppenehimer's character development. This is how romance scenes should be done in any kind of film!  Of course, Nolan's film wouldn't be complete without having practical effects. Holy Sh*t! Nolan was not joking when he said that you could feel the bomb physically!! When the bomb blew off everyone in my theater jumped out of their seats. What was even more impressive was how Nolan was able to pull off the practical effects of the atomic bomb. It's a spectacle in IMAX and honestly blew my mind (pun intended). Speaking of that, I want to mention that this is a must-watch in IMAX. It's shot in IMAX cameras and is mostly in a 1.90:1 ratio. You'll have a tremendous experience in the theater and it will be like no other film because "Oppenheimer" deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Furthermore, I would like to mention that Nolan is the first director in Hollywood to put out the clearest audio in IMAX. Ludwig Göransson is a master at his craft because the score was sensational. Hearing this in IMAX was a feast for my ears! 

On that thought, the cinematography was also a feast to my eyes! Hoyte Van Hoytema one of my favorite cinematographers ever has outdone himself yet again. The film was visually stunning showcasing the atomic bomb in a beautiful yet dreadful way. The color palette also matched the tone and complemented the film. It added a layer of depth to the movie that you'll surely appreciate once it's done. Last but not least, I would like to mention the R rating in this film. It earned its rating for its dark and macabre themes. The sound design, the cinematography, and one particular sequence had my jaw on the floor. I was shocked and I think everyone will be when they watch this film. Finally, I want to praise the performances here. Cillian Murphy is a powerhouse and honestly deserves an Oscar for his phenomenal performance. On the other hand, Robert Downey Jr. killed it as Lewis Strauss. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets nominated for an Oscar for supporting actor. Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Florence Pugh did an equally great job too! Nolan truly crafted something special here and I can't recommend it enough. It's big, it's ambitious, and in my opinion, is Nolan's best work to date. It's a strong cinematic experience that's not to be missed on the big screen!