#34: OPPENHEIMER- REVISIT

Starring Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenny Branagh and Tom Conti. Written and directed by Christopher Holan. MUSIC BY LUDWIG GöRANSSON. Budget a mere $100 million, running time 180 minutes.

After a quick three word review? Well here it is. 

LONG AND LOUD

However, if you're after something a little bit more measured, please read on.

A film that's been brilliantly marketed for a good seven months, building a sense of expectation, helped in no small part in the fact that the cult of Christopher Nolan shows no signs of breaking, with each film hailed as a masterpiece even before its been released, indeed his last effort the woeful Tennet was described as the saviour of the film industry being as it was the first film released after Covid. In fact his films have reached such near mythical status that it's bordering on cancel culture to dislike or diss them or him, and verily he is being positioned as the 21st Century Kubrick.

And whoever came up with the idea of the idea of convincing the general public to watch this alongside Barbie as a double bill needs to receive a Nobel prize for something, probably not one of the science awards, but something, cos it was bloody genius. 

So what of Oppenheimer, well sorry but it didn't blow me away, truly it nearly deafened me, but there was no blowing going on.

A historical biopic about both the creator of the atom bomb, and the bomb itself this is a film that hits the ground running and just doesn't stop, like a 10,800 second fast burning fuse, this film fizzes and burns at such a furious pace that you never have a chance to wallow in it, as you would a Kubrick, or savour its exquisite delights before the next scene is battering you stupid. 

Gloriously acted by Cillian Murphy, who is simply astonishing and Robert Downey Jnr who delivers a masterclass in acting and together they explode on the screen, their chemistry and sheer acting prowess is staggering to behold, however that's not to say that anyone in this film delivers anything other than a superb performance, because they don't. Everyone and everything about this film in front of and behind the camera delivers a film of such power skill, and professionalism that its a truly wondrous thing to behold. 

So it's a shame this is only worthy of an 8/10.

It's too loud, far too loud, the sound mix is cranked up to 11 and you strain to hear the actors over the music that never lets up and fills each and every scene and nearly every minutes with nonstop sound, I can't remember another film where I've been so aware of the soundtrack apart from Gods of Egypt. The sounds screams at you telling you at every scene how you should be feeling lest the visuals fail to convey the same emotion, so when the --

SPOILER ALERT

-- Atom bomb is finally detonated the sheer humungous roar of the explosion seems somewhat sedate in comparison. 

That added to the fact the film positively races relentlessly from beginning to end made this somewhat of a chore to experience, although its a delight to see that Hollywood is still making films like this and it's a joy that a director like Nolan keeps making movies for grownups. 

Deeply satisfying yet somewhat disappointing. 

8/10 

REVISIT - 2/6/24
Having not seen this since its release I was curious to watch it again, perhaps, or so I thought to enjoy over the course of a Bank Holiday Sunday.
 
Sadly, dear reader, after three attempts to watch this I bailed, and the issues I had on first viewing 'it' up there on the big screen were magnified 10 fold when watched at home.  

It's the relentlessness of it, its breakneck speed, it's never stopping to catch its breath, its never pausing, it's just GO! GO! GO!!!!! And because this is a marathon of a movie and not a sprint it's just bloody irritating. It's like everyone involved is running very, very fast while at the same time shouting very loudly. There's never a let-up, I mean, even when Oppenheimer is enjoying a camping trip on his family ranch with his mates the wind is so furious and loud that it pummels the actors and deafens us, leaving you straining to hear what they're talking about.

Add to that, the sound balance ricochets all over the place, so much so that I was lunging for the remote control to fiddle with the sound level every few minutes least my wife who seems to think it's my fault volume goes from whisper to shouty-loud, while then the music bellows into submission. 

Did someone whisper in Nolan's ear that you mustn't give the audience any respite from the visual or audio whilst watching his films and that every second must be accounted for?

Anyway, this will now remain unwatched, I have no inclination to return to it for a fourth time and so I'm giving up on it and sending it off to CEX to make £1.00. Hopefully. 

6/10