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Oppenheimer follows the life of the brilliant physicist, Robert Oppenheimer, and particularly focuses on his pursuit of the development of the hydrogen bomb. After nuclear fission is discovered, he theorizes that it could be weaponized, and that he could build an atomic bomb. The scientist, fascinated with solving the puzzle and proving his theory (irrespective of the consequences), assembles a team of fellow brilliant scientists to see if they can do it. There is this pesky detail that instead of blowing up their target, they could actually blow up the world, but details shmetails. After a successful test, Harry Truman orders the bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which Truman claims was responsible for the Japanese surrender (lots of historians refute that claim). The context of the film is a government hearing to take away Oppenheimer's code clearance, and to humiliate him publicly in the process by a politician who has a score to settle with our hero for having embarrassed him years before.
The film is fascinating and the performances are stellar. Cillian Murphy is particularly staid and methodical in this film, something he perhaps borrows from his time on Peaky Blinders. What I found particularly interesting was that the story was so compelling that the explosion was the least interesting part of the movie, and I think you could easily watch the film on your tv at home and still have the full experience. This is another historical film where you know the outcome and you still are on the edge of your seat the entire time. I don't know if Christopher Nolan will win the Director prize for Oppenheimer, but it is without a doubt a tremendous achievement. Oppenheimer received the most Oscars nominations in this round of nominees.
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