Oppenheimer: Historical film directed by Christopher Nolan that focuses on the creation of the atomic bomb and the role of scientist Oppenheimer.
Plot and background
Following “Tenet” in 2020, Christopher Nolan turns his attention to scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967) and his role in the invention of the atomic bomb in his twelfth film. In the biopic, Cillian Murphy slips into the role of the scientist who, as a renowned physicist, became the head of the top-secret Manhattan Project. “Oppenheimer” will be released in German cinemas on July 20, 2023. The official trailer gives first glimpses of the exciting cinematic portrait of a man with conflicting feelings:
“Oppenheimer” – plot
To save the world, one man had to dare to destroy it. J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is one of the most complex personalities of the 20th century. His genius is trumped only by his moral brokenness as he secretly leads the so-called Manhattan Project for three years during World War II and vehemently opposes pushing nuclear policy in the postwar era.
Always at his side is his wife and botanist Kitty Oppenheimer (Emily Blunt), who, however, struggled with her inner demons during the period of her life in Los Alamos, where Oppenheimer tested on the atomic bomb. Other key trailblazers in the phase include Leslie Grove Jr (Matt Damon), who takes charge of the Manhattan Project; Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), a key figure in postwar U.S. nuclear policy; physicist Ernest Lawrence (Josh Hartnett); Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh); and Nobel laureate Niels Bohr (Kenneth Branagh), whom Oppenheimer admires.
“Oppenheimer” cast
Why “Oppenheimer” can fix Nolan’s fundamental flaw.
Instead of dealing with high profile ideas & losing character value in a sprawling cast like many of Nolan’s previous films, Oppenheimer will be based on one character’s perspective. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/PIgbVNIf56
– …meet the family (@eesfamily09) January 9, 2023
As early as 2005, Cillian Murphy auditioned for a starring role in a Christopher Nolan production, but was “only” given the supporting role as the antagonist Scarecrow in Batman Begins. Since then, Murphy has appeared in four more Nolan films before embodying the lead role for Christopher Nolan for the first time in his sixth attempt with “Oppenheimer.” In order to work through the complex character problems of Oppenheimer on film, one can look forward to a who’s who of Hollywood stars in additional roles.
With stars like Emily Blunt (“Mary Poppins Returns”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man”), Matt Damon (“The Martian”), Florence Pugh (“Midsommar”), Josh Hartnett (“Sin City”), Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”), Kenneth Branagh (“Tenet”), Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”), Tom Conti (“The Dark Night Rises”) and Dane DeHaan (“A Cure for Wellness”), the thriller has a top-class cast. Matthias Schweighöfer (“The Horniest Day”) also landed a role in the historical thriller as Werner Heisenberg, the German physicist and co-founder of quantum mechanics who worked on the uranium project in Berlin in 1942.
“Oppenheimer” – True Background
In the Manhattan Project, over 150,000 people worked in top secret under Oppenheimer over a three-year period. Shortly before the end of World War II in 1945, the United States succeeded in completing the construction of the atomic bomb. After the use of the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and its devastating effects on humanity, Oppenheimer vehemently advocated that no more would be dropped.
A complex biography of Oppenheimer was produced in the time frame of 25 years. “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” by authors Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, won the Pulitzer Prize for best biography upon publication in 2005. Christopher Nolan is adapting this non-fiction book, which itself clocks in at over 700 pages.
“Oppenheimer” – Background
It was a bang in the film world when Christopher Nolan announced that he would be leaving his regular film studio Warner Bros. after “Tenet.” In order to bring Christopher Nolan’s new film to theaters, a competition initially broke out between leading film studios. The contract was finally awarded to Universal Pictures. A decisive factor in the acceptance was Universal Pictures’ promise to the filmmaker to grant an exclusive theatrical run of about 100 days for “Oppenheimer.” In the same breath, Universal Studios chief Donna Langley spoke of what she called an “anomaly.”
Filming took place primarily in the U.S. state of New Mexico. There, where Oppenheimer himself worked in Los Alamos, the world of yore was now recreated. Likewise, filming took place at the prestigious Princeton University, where Oppenheimer and his wife themselves lived.
