Say what you want about Christopher Nolan, but his sense of theatrics and spectacle works wonders in exploring the calculated creation of the Atomic bomb, as well as the life story of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Arguably one of the most destructive figures in world history, “Oppenheimer” is simultaneously a biopic of Oppenheimer as well as a deep dive in to the development, and politics of the atomic bomb and how it changed the world drastically.
During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world’s first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history.
Director Nolan prefers an epic scope to the story of a scientist who created such a tool of mass destruction, and often times opts more to depict Oppenheimer more as a genius whose invention would prove a horrific weapon, rather than a sympathetic figure. Any plays towards empathy are often purely incidental, as much of “Oppenheimer” centers on the man creating the weapon, and those around him that were either involved with aiding in the construction, or attempting to undercut his development. “Oppenheimer” is a marvelous cinematic experience, but also one that delves in to the amorality of Manhattan Project. Like 2018’s “Vice,” director Nolan centers on a very divisive often controversial figure in world history that changed the course of humanity, whether we like it or not.
Despite the alienating subject that “Oppenheimer” focuses on, Nolan directs a powerful cast including Cillian Murphy, Florence Pough, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr. the latter of whom might very well see an Oscar nomination for his stirring supporting performance s Lewis Strauss, Oppenheimer’s most ardent opponent during his rise to infamy. “Oppenheimer” surely is film that warrants at least one sit through if not for Nolan’s sheer skill behind the camera.
Universal’s Ultra HD package is a 3-disc set that includes the film alone in 4K on UHD and HD on Blu-ray; there’s also a Blu-ray of special features. Those features include the seventy two minutes The Story of Our Time: The Making of Oppenheimer, a seven part documentary that beautifully chronicles the making of “Oppenheimer” with a thorough and comprehensive look at the making of the movie, its development, shoot, and much more. The chapters includes “Now I Am Become Death,” “The Luminaries,” “The Manhattan Project,” “The Devil of the Details,” “Walking a Mile,” “Can You Hear the Music?” and “We Can Perform This Miracle.”
Innovations in Film: 65MM Black and White Film in Oppenheimer is an eight minutes discussion on Physical film, its legacy and the benefits of its use within “Oppenheimer.” Nolan has a well documented love for traditional film as opposed to digital. Meet the Press Q&A Panel is a thirty five minutes science-forward Q&A panel with director Nolan, who is joined by moderator Chuck Todd, author Kai Bird, Interstellar consultant, physicist and author Kip Thorn and physicist Carlo Rovelli. To End All War: Oppenheimer & The Atomic Bomb is a great eighty seven minutes newly produced documentary film from director Christopher Cassel.
He delves into the basics of Oppenheimer’s life, the development of the atomic pan, the Los Alamos laboratory and project, Russia and other nation’s race to achieve their own destructive weapons, and oh so much more. It’s just a wonderful and informative look in to history that just punctuates the film’s message. Finally, there are fourteen minutes of trailers with a number of promotional trailers, a teaser, the IMAX exclusive trailer and more. Finally, there’s also a Movies Everywhere Digital Code for consumers.