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“Oppenheimer”: The Atomic Bomb’s Journey to Hollywood
Humanity, cinema, and the looming prospect of nuclear war
Christopher Nolan’s latest movie, Oppenheimer, is one of his greatest to date. It expertly explores the life of Robert Oppenheimer and the implications of his most impactful achievement: the invention of the atomic bomb. In many regards, it’s a film that’s long overdue.
There has been no shortage of movies and documentaries that depict World War II, but few modern films have portrayed the atomic bombs that ended it. The horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been largely spared from cinematic representation. And for those going into Oppenheimer hoping for a harrowing dive into those mushroom clouds that nearly brought the world to its knees, they’ll likely be disappointed.
The movie takes a measured approach and doesn’t attempt to glorify the bombs. It delves into the philosophical implications of atomic weaponry, but none of the physical. The impact craters and legions of horribly wounded civilians are never even shown.
The action CGI effects that so many have grown to expect of Hollywood films, and even of Nolan’s previous projects, are notably absent from Oppenheimer. In fact, the film features no CGI effects at all…
