My feelings about Oppenheimer are similar to how I felt about Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-nominated American Sniper (2014). By this, I mean that the key performances were fantastic. But, as for the question of whether I like either film as a whole, not really. Oppenheimer is my least favourite of Christopher Nolan’s movies to date.
I can’t say that I strongly dislike Oppenheimer because it does a number of things well. Nevertheless, the film isn’t the best example of Nolan’s capabilities. Especially considering none of his films has ever forced me to reach for my phone because the events on screen were inadequately engaging.
One hour into the movie, I took a nap. Ten minutes after that, things became exciting again. Sadly, the rest of the movie continued in this fashion of dipping in and out of being engaging and tedious until towards the end.
Of course, a three-hour feature film is too long. And even though I may have been a little tired that day, that fact doesn’t negate the need for better pacing and a tighter edit. There also wasn’t enough variety for me, visually speaking. The black-and-white scenes where Oppenheimer and his associates get interrogated, though those scenes had some engaging peaks, it felt repetitive and tedious in parts.
I guessed that Nolan’s latest film wouldn’t be as thrilling as Inception (2010), The Dark Knight (2008) or Interstellar (2014). After all, the film is limited by the fact that it’s a biography. And therefore, it can only focus on events that happened. Additionally, it’s a story about one of the darkest events in recent human history, meaning that fun is unlikely to be a word to describe the viewing experience. Even so, I thought I’d be engaged at least 90% of the time, as per the usual Nolan film experience.
A notable highlight of Oppenheimer is how, through stunning visuals, the sometimes jarringly loud sound and Murphy’s faultless portrayal, Nolan gives us glimpses into the inner workings of a genius mind, one haunted by a parasitic idea, dare I say.
I also appreciate that Oppenheimer had me thinking about the reality that humans will likely be responsible for whichever end-of-the-world scenario we find ourselves in. Largely thanks to the double-edged sword that is our compulsion to innovate.
The majority of memorable moments in Oppenheimer are thanks to brilliant performances and scenes with great dialogue. For example, all the scenes between Cillian Murphy and Matt Damon’s character, Casey Affleck’s brief but highly unsettling time on screen and each time that Emily Blunt and Murphy’s characters appear together. There’s also Robert Downey Jr.’s latter scenes and, last but not least, the perfection of the final scene.
I wish that I fully enjoyed the story edit along with the award-nomination-worthy performances. I suppose I’ll get over it at some point.
Have you seen Oppenheimer yet? If not, based on the whisperings you’ve heard so far, do you still think it’s big-screen worthy? If you’ve already seen it, where does it land in your list of favourites, a list that includes Inception and Tenet ?
Happy Film Loving
G
The Movie My Life 
Sounds like I might have to wait for it to be available via streaming or DVD.
I’ve heard others say that. When I told my brother about my disappointment, his reaction was that he’s in no rush to see it in the movie theatre, but he’ll definitely see it because Nolan hasn’t let him down yet. I hope you and my brother like it more than I did. 🤓🤞🤞
Haven’t seen it yet, but I will. Sorry to hear it was disappointing for you.
I hope you enjoy it more than I did when you do. 😊 🤞🤞
Oh my gosh! I’m starting to feel like the length of some of these films (increasingly so) is just unbearable and honestly the directors need to be a lot more open to editing because so often the content is not supporting these ridiculous lengths! Honestly I think I’d like it more if I could have taken a break.
‘…Because so often the content is not supporting these ridiculous lengths!’
Perfectly put, Gemma! Though, for me, considering how I feel about Oppenheimer overall, I’d prefer a shorter edit rather than an interval. Except in instances where the film is good and should really have been a two-parter or a mini-series.
Here’s a question the interval raises: How many people would leave halfway through if the first half was disappointing? And if the film was great, I imagine that it might actually be fun to discuss the first half during the interval.
Probably a good deal. I’ve seen a couple of people say people did leave their showings and not return. Which could have good and bad consequences but I’d hate to make life harder for the theatre staff.
I hadn’t even thought about the theatre staff. The addition of an interval would certainly take some getting used to for them.
I saw Oppenheimer on Friday afternoon so the theatre wasn’t too busy. Though, if people had got up and left, I wouldn’t have blamed them. perhaps they did while I napped. 🤓
It’s as I feared. Haven’t seen it yet, myself, but I’m sure the same things will irk me when I do. For starters, a 3 hour runtime (For ANY movie) always makes me extremely apprehensive. You were ready for a nap one hour in – That just really makes me angry toward Nolan. Biographies are boring to begin with. Asking the audience to be invested for 3 + hours worth is pretentious and shows no concern for the audience.
And to think that a week or so before release, the runtime was stated as 3 hours and 26 minutes on IMDb.
Maybe after a certain age, directors start to make films for themselves and care less and less about the audience. Why don’t they keep the ridiculously long versions for themselves, or as an option and give audiences something that won’t disappoint them? Afterall, the ‘director’s cut’ is still a thing, no?
A Director’s Cut is precisely the solution here. It should all be planned out in the script. THIS is the 2 hours that will go to theaters. And this is 10 hour version I’m going to dump on their heads later, but I’ll show them the courtesy of not dumping it theaters. <– How it should be decided. He wrote the thing. He should have this under control. God I'm so mad at him😤
I don’t know whether he’s going to hear us. 🤓 It seems as though many people responded positively to the film – if the reviews on IMDb and Rotten Toms are to be believed.
I read some of the green/rotten tomato entries and it seems like there are some who feel as I do and as you might once you see it.
I say, please don’t be too mad. Keep that blood pressure healthy so that we can enjoy your feature-length editing output in the very near future. 😁🙏
You know I am passionate about Nolan! It’s because I love him that I get upset.
I HAVE had blood pressure issues of late lol. My new one is a hot mess😄 I’m by no means ashamed of it, but lower your expectations. Have decided to break it up into 2 ~20 minute parts. The first part will be out Aug. 12.✌️😎🔥❤️🔥
I hear you! 😁
Don’t worry about your new one. I think everything starts as a hot mess until you apply your skills to a high extent. Bring on August 12th! 🥳
Glad I read your review
It was my pleasure, to write it. 😊
Thanks for your insight, G, I think I will wait! 😉
My pleasure! 🤗
Yeah, the cinema nap time. I’m guilty of this as well, especially when getting older. Once I fell asleep during The Wild Bunch. I had a rare opportunity to see it in the cinema and I could not pass up the opportunity. But I was really tired and I should not have gone. That taught me to have a good rest/sleep before the cinema experience, especially with extra-long movies.
Another time I managed to get through 4h version of Branagh’s Hamlet, which was shown at a local film festival with intermission (a shorter version came later to regular cinema). The only time I saw a movie with an intermission. 😀
I agree, like LOTR as the best example, the director’s cut should be for the home cinema.
I’m happy to confirm that I wasn’t tired enough to not watch Oppenheimer. But I agree, with not seeing a film in the cinema if one is likely too exhausted to focus.
Intermissions are certainly a great idea. I’m curious how it’s decided when it comes to the question of whether a super long film should have an intermission or not. Would you watch a movie with an intermission again?
At that time it was unique experience for me, but I used to go to the theater plays so I was used to it. Nowadays I admit I watch some movies in small chunks (usually rewatches) – something that I was fiercely against during my years of publishing movie reviews. How we consume visual media has changed a lot in the last 20 years.
To answer directly if I go to the cinema I don’t have time for intermission! 😆
It’s perfectly fine to watch movies in smaller chunks, especially re-watches. If you have to write about what you’re watching, you’ll just have to make notes during each chunk so you don’t forget what you thought. 🤓
I’d forgotten that intermission is the movie-viewing experience demanding even more of our time. Not great for busy people like us.😁
P.S. I’ll wait for this one to come to streaming, eve though I enjoy the big screen and big sound that Nolan always delivers.
That’s a great plan. Hopefully, it won’t induce sleep for you, even though I’m sure that you’ll be super comfortable at home as you sit down to watch it. 🤓
I just watched Interstellar and thoroughly enjoyed it. But I admit the one word review is “interesting”. Not mind blowing since I was at least familiar with most of the science. But also not cinematic or emotional, which it is just not the first word I’d use. Nolan simply brings quality to all the movies he directs.
It makes sense that those who understand the science in Interstellar would lean towards interesting for a one-word review. 🤓
Looking back, two things stick with me when I remember Interstellar. The first is the father/daughter relationship. Second is the scene with the humongous wave; such a huge wow cinematic moment for me. 😊
I agree that quality is always present in a Nolan movie.
Finally saw this last week, and my reaction is so in line with yours and what we already talked about here. Total snooze fest!😴 3 hours is way too long. They tried to make all of the repetitive university montages suspenseful with the intense music and it was too much to ask… Honestly my biggest disappointment here was the female leads. Nolan has struggled with women in his movies his whole career and for some reason I thought this time out would be different. But Florence Pugh and Emily Blunt’s screw time was so limited. Until the very last scene when Blunt defends him in the hearing room – felt like makeup time allotted to her as repayment for her limited role in the rest of the film. There were def things I liked. and I did feel immensely the tragedy in Cilian Murphy (very good performance) when he tells the crew the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and most people are celebrating… sound design is brilliant, as the acting. But yeah…
Omg meant to say “screen time” for the Pugh and Blunt, but honestly screw time is even more appropriate lol
😂😁😂
Wow! 😁 I’m glad we’re both on the same page with this one. And you are so right about the female characters. Sadly, Nolan does have a habit of failing them. We might just have to accept that it’s one of his key weaknesses as a director. Otherwise, we’ll always be disappointed.