Oppenheimer is going to be a future cinema cult classic. The film IS long and in places is slow to progress. The first thirty minutes or so for example, but this is used excellently by Christopher Nolan (Director) to set the scene. Thankfully this film goes deeper than the creation of the atomic bomb and instead presents a fantastic biopic of Oppenheimer’s life before during and after his best.. and worst creation. It’s always hard to give a film review without giving away spoilers. So I’d say if you’ve any interest in this, go and see it.. It will open your eyes a little more than thinking of ‘him’ as the atomic bomb guy. Sure – he was, but he was a person before that and afterwards… his opposition to it’s use.. unfortunately falls upon deaf ears.

I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.
J. Robert Oppenheimer

The style of filmmaking that Nolan choses is often grand and visually mind-blowing but he also likes to base his films within solid, grounded theory, so I would guess that the same has been done with Oppenheimer. His attention to detail on previous films was second to none, so I see no reason why it wouldn’t be the same for Oppenheimer. I say that because I simply don’t know enough about Oppenheimer to speak with authority on him and his life. But it did make me come away and want to learn more. The choice and preference of Nolan to shoot on 70mm IMAX film allows for superb reproduction of the small details that go into this film. An excellent performance by Cillian Murphy as Robert J. Oppenheimer presents the man behind the bomb as an ambitious but initially nervous man with talent in academic circles. But the supporting cast deserve way more than supporting credits in this title. There are some huge names here such as Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, Oppenheimer’s main opposition throughout his life and career and Matt Damon as Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves. The talent in this movie is stacked. Florence Pugh as mistress Jean Tatlock and Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer support also but don’t seem to get anywhere near as much screen time as their male colleagues. The first two hours for both of these characters is spent mostly towards the edge of the frame.

Ludwig Göransson’s score is however the real star of this film. There are times were the devastating effects or war are not shown on the screen, but yet you can still feel them, and their surrounding tensions growing through the merciless score. There are times of extreme triumph which are overshadowed by Political fallout, and other scenes were through the growing tension held within the score the IMAX experience theatre shakes under the weight of success. Oppenheimer – as a film, is a thinker. It’s not an action film, so please don’t go expecting Michael Bay visuals, you’ll not get that here. But if you want something to think about.. This could be the film for you.

I’d give it 3 out of 5. But the IMAX 70mm experience – I love it and the screen at Vue Printworks, Manchester was great. Seats were good and it doesn’t hit you till you see the entire screen showing a close up on one person’s face and you can see literally every single detail. Wow. The experience at Printworks was good too. Attentive staff and a good selection of hot and cold food, snacks and drinks. The seats reclined too and all of that is available for around £8 during the weekdays. – That’s a great price for the cinema these days.