Oppenheimer—Ambition and the Price of Progress
A Thematic Movie Review of Oppenheimer
The seven-time Oscar award-winning film Oppenheimer is set to have its theatrical release in Japan on March 29th.
In appreciation of the film’s re-release, I gave Oppenheimer another watch. I do recommend watching the movie multiple times to get a thorough understanding of it. During my first viewing, it was hard to follow all the characters introduced and their interrelationship with one another. I found it much easier to follow along on streaming, especially being able to use subtitles (can’t hear without my subtitles!).
Christopher Nolan produced a masterstroke when directing this film. His emphasis on using practical effects instead of heavily depending on CGI made the viewing experience a spectacle. The stunning cinematography is even more impressive, considering Nolan accomplished this feat all within a $100 million budget.
In the second watch, I wanted to focus less on the grandiose shots and more on the depths of the characters in the film’s spotlight. The narrative follows the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, while simultaneously exploring the role of Lewis Strauss, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).