The reviews are in and the critics are blown away by Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Oppenheimer.
The historical epic, which traces the rise and fall of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, considered the “father of the atomic bomb,” was nearly universally lauded for its chilling portrayal of the development of the first atomic bombs and for Cillian Murphy’s title appearance.
Nolan’s amazing ensemble cast of star actors – including Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Florence Pugh and Emily Blunt – in small supporting roles also garnered praise.
The film even received a perfect five stars from the Chron’s Brian Viner, who wrote that Nolan balances thriller elements “superb” with “profound questions about the morality of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear waste depletion.”
Oppenheimer has been the subject of Barbenheimer memes for weeks, as he shared the opening weekend with Greta Gerwig’s equally anticipated Barbie film, though Nolan’s epic has slightly edged out the pink comedy on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s a hit! Oppenheimer has received an impressive 96 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes from the most prominent critics surveyed by the site, indicating near-universal praise
Ahead by a margin: The film managed to beat Barbie on the critics, although the comedy still has an impressive 89 percent freshness rating
Oppenheimer currently boasts an impressive 96 percent freshness rating from the most prominent critics surveyed by the site, while Barbie has a still-impressive 89 percent freshness rating.
Though Murphy is far from an unknown, having appeared in several of Nolan’s previous blockbusters and starring in the hit crime series Peaky Blinders, many reviewers said Oppenheimer was the most majestic display of his skills yet.
In a positive review for the Los Angeles Times, Justin Chang wrote that Murphy as Oppenheimer was “superbly understated yet intensely expressive,” and likened the film to Paul Thomas Anderson’s dark historical drama There Will Be Blood for its vision of an “indelible.” American darkness takes root in western soil.
The New York Times film critic Manohla Dargis called Oppenheimer “the critics’ choice” and noted that Murphy played the physicist with “feverish intensity.”
While she criticized some of the smaller celebrity parts, including a bit role of Rami Malek, she praised riveting scenes in which scientists debate future weapons of mass destruction and said one of the film’s “pleasures” is representative of the intellectual’s kinetic excitement to experience discourse.’
Ann Hornaday wrote for the Washington Post that Murphy “commands Oppenheimer as his deceptively quiet little center,” and she praised his instinctive physicality and the way he “seems to be becoming more and more skeletal, ethereal, a spirit whose main characteristics… its glassy blue are.” Eyes, omnipresent cigarette and feline purr of a voice.
She gave the film a full four stars, declaring it a “masterpiece.”
Several critics praised Nolan’s visual style as one of the most compelling aspects of the film.
Matt Zoller-Seitz, Editor at Large for RogerEbert.com, gave the film four stars and praised Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema’s mastery of extreme close-ups, especially when Murphy is on screen.
He wrote that the film “rediscovers the power of huge close-ups of people’s faces as they come to terms with who they are, who other people have chosen for them, and what they have done to themselves and others.”
Star-Turn: Critics from the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and New York Times all praised titular star Cillian Murphy, while also praising the impressive ensemble cast
In Detail: Matt Zoller-Seitz, Editor at Large for RogerEbert.com, gave the film four stars and praised Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema’s masterful use of extreme close-ups, especially when Murphy is on screen
He is back again! One of the most highly acclaimed members of Nolan’s star cast was Robert Downey Jr., who plays Lewis Strauss, chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission and longtime colleague who became Oppenheimer’s nemesis
One of the most highly acclaimed members of Nolan’s star cast was Robert Downey Jr., who plays Lewis Strauss, chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission and longtime colleague of Oppenheimer.
But their growing feud led him to urge FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to investigate Oppenheimer in the mid-1950s, and Straus’ unsuccessful appointment as Secretary of Commerce in 1959 was partially negated by his earlier struggle with the academic.
David Rooney wrote for The Hollywood Reporter that Downey “delivered the drama’s outstanding performance,” despite being cast with “strong hitters.”
In a slightly sneaky compliment, he alluded to Downey’s years playing Iron Man almost exclusively before eventually freeing himself for more adventurous things, calling his Oppenheimer performance a “reminder of skills that a lot of our best actors put aside.” while they frolic and play Quippy.’ Superheroes for huge wads of cash.’
Others also praised Tom Conti for his portrayal of Albert Einstein and scenes in which he converses with Oppenheimer, offering a change of pace from the darker parts of the film.
In a mostly positive review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw had much to praise but added: “Rightly or wrongly: [Nolan] uses Gentile actors for Oppenheimer and Einstein, two of the most famous Jewish figures in history, and actually does not quite come to terms with the anti-Semitism Oppenheimer faced as an assimilated secular American Jew.
Among the rare negative reviews for Mashable, Kristy Puchko complained that Florence Pugh, who plays psychiatrist and activist – and Oppenheimer’s early lover – Jean Tatloc, is “reduced to crying and nudity.”
She also criticized the script’s treatment of Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer’s wife, which she felt was limited to defending him throughout the film.
Wasted: Among the rare negative reviews for Mashable, Kristy Puchko complained that Florence Pugh, who plays psychiatrist and activist – and Oppenheimer’s early lover – Jean Tatloc, is “reduced to crying and nudity.”
Head First: Despite all the criticisms, Oppenheimer seems to have fared better with critics than fellow opening film Barbie, although the comedy starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling is expected to dominate at the box office
Despite the criticisms, Oppenheimer appears to have fared better with critics than fellow opening film Barbie, although the comedy, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is expected to dominate at the box office.
However, Oppenheimer will benefit from the more lucrative ticket prices of the premium formats, which many Nolan fans will gravitate toward.
The film has survived an unprecedented three-week embargo on IMAX screens, and several theaters across the country will be showing it in the original IMAX 70mm film, the format Nolan shot the film in, while smaller theaters still using it equipped with rare 70mm projectors will show the film in the normal version of that format.
Larger than traditional 35mm film stock, 70mm film offers better resolution and color reproduction compared to 35mm film, although both formats have been largely replaced by digital projection in cinemas around the world.