PLEASE READ PARTS 1 TO 3 BEFORE STARTING THIS POST, AS WRITING A SYNOPIS EACH TIME WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE, GIVEN THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THIS MOVIE
THIS CONTINUING FILM REVIEW IS FOR A FILM RATED 15 FOR VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE FROM A BYGONE ERA!
Some words may be Edited to make this Review searchable.
With Testing Complete "Fat Man" and "Little Boy", are Carted off by the Air Force to make their Mark on History. Postdam has been a Failure, Japan had not surrendered, and Stalin made a Veiled remark on "America's Great Weapon". Despite the seeds of Russian Espionage Sown, Groves (Matt Damon) says that Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) should be proud of his work. "You Dealt us an Ace, Doctor, it's up to us now to Play it or not!" Seeing the Trucks Ride into the Horizon, Robert sees the Reinstated Edward Teller ( Apparently he was ordered to return and was in the last scene, but I didn't see him) Robert still doubts if they did the right thing. ("I feel, Edward, that this war, and all future wars will continue to be unthinkable, When Teller Quips "Until Someone makes a Better Bomb!" Oppenheimer Shoots him a look, not because Teller is wrong, but because Teller just maybe right!
August the 6th 1945.
A day that would go down in infamy.
President Truman has got on the Radio to Announce that Hiroshima has being Destroyed, as the Soldiers' Cheers go out. They are drowned out by Truman's Radio announcement and Robert's Second son Crying. As everyone else celebrates, Oppie Staggers full of emotion, but not with excitement but overcome with fear!
Oppenheimer return to Princeton university as a hero, abs cheered by the student body as he is asked to give a Speech . However his Mental state betrays the Words he says, as the wall behind him shakes like aftershocks, the Cheers are Silenced and replaced the Sounds of Screaming children and falling buildings. A Camera flashes in Robert's face and Robert Hallucinates the Audience awashed in light and Burned out of existence, only time to skip and the Audience behind him, jostling The Professor back into reality. As he leaves the gym, the laughing has Warped into Crying and Distorted Noise, passing a Celebrating Drunk who is throwing up makes Robert sees him dying of Radiation poisoning.
Sometime Later, Robert is in Washington DC to meet President Truman. Oppenheimer is here to talk about nuclear trade and Cooperation with the Soviets, while Truman laughs off the idea of trade, Since the Soviet Union is a threat. Oppenheimer wants no more of this, he wants Los Alamos Disbanded as he feels he has blood on his hands.
Truman Mockingly removes his handkerchief from his jacket pocket and waves it in Oppenheimer's face. His own face twists into anger, stating that " Do you think the J*ps give a Sh*t on who MADE the Bomb? No they only care about who dropped it!"
After that Disastrous meeting and Being interviewed constantly by the Media, we hear Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr) saying that Robert took the Persona of father of the A-Bomb to advocate for Nuclear power, not by being softly spoken anymore, but by being out Spoken about The Communist element of his life, turning traitor on many of his Brother and some of his closest friends.
Frank was Blacklisted from ever working in any University. Lomanitz, he was made to work on the Railroad, and Haakan Chevalier, he was Exiled, Publicly outed as a Soviet Spy. And Admiral Strauss again was mocked by Oppenheimer for refusing the trade with Norway, only spurs on the Government to work on the H-Bomb.
Despite the wrath towards each other, Robert is still invited to Lewis' Birthday. Still devastated that the government ignored his calls for an arm's deal, Admiral Strauss breaks Robert's heart even further, by revealing the Identity of the Soviet Spy in their Midst: it was Dr Fuchs. After that revelation, the Feds are convinced the 2 Jewish left wing scientists conspired together. And as such, Oppenheimer is trailed at his home by agents. Nevertheless, Robert's Oppenheimer remains the outspoken figure-in fact all this public Scrutiny only bolsters his Conviction. When Eisenhower is elected, Oppenheimer sees it as an opportunity for the new regime to do right. Only for the army chiefs to show Disapproval to Robert's want of public Candour on Nuclear Policy. Strauss is to return to court his lawyers telling him and us a "Dr Hill", a scientist who was part of the Chicago team will testify. Strauss doesn't know him personally, but they do know none of the Chicago team doesn't have the same feelings of shame being surrounded by Oppenheimer for months on end.
This was due to The Los Alamos team shown slides of the Damage created by the impact of the Bombings and they hear Groves describing the Horrific events that Followed. After the meeting, a Shook up Robert is told by Teller that Oppenheimer former Professor, Dr Blackett Condemned his actions making Robert fantasize about Blackett actually Biting into that Apple he Poisoned. Once again Teller wants the Focus to be on his Hydrogen bomb research. And once again Robert refuses and again, not knowing the Guilt that Oppenheimer feels walks off angrily. Robert is praises at a public procession at Los Alamos by Groves as a hero, but once again He voices his Concerns about Nuclear war!
Back in the Present, Strauss' lawyers has bought this month's TIME Magazine with Lewis' face on the cover, and he is shocked to read a Quote from Strauss said the other day in his court's greenroom and therefore should not have being Public Knowledge was printed into the magazine. Strauss says he had a good friend in Times Publishing house who needed a good quote. The lawyer However thinks that this had being a Government Hatchet Job to Ruin Oppenheimer's Creditability the whole time!
"You say Agent Borden was Holding up a Knife to You. I now Believe, Sir, he was Holding it FOR you!"
In Robert's Hotel Room, He, Kitty and his lawyers are working our how to deal with Borden and Teller on cross, with Kitty knowing all the the long, It's Strauss who is the real enemy. She throws an ashtray at her Husband, pleading with him again to fight back.
Strauss is the Puppet master the whole time- this meeting with the Prosecutor's, no more than an evaluation for Oppenheimer's Security clearance. But in truth, it's a recorded Evidence gathering against Robert with the Case against The Defendant coming from his own mouth. "Those who seek the Sun, get eaten, Power....Remains in the Shadows!"
We see the Springing of the trap from Oppenheimer's perspective, Consulting an AEC lawyer, however because of the conflict of interest, Because Oppenheimer was Chairman, they cannot directly help, however they hired Lloyd Garrison, one of the Country's top defence lawyer of his era. However, The Government stack the deck against him, by not Supplying key evidence. Mr Garrison tells Oppenheimer Isador Rabi will testify on his clients behalf. Dr Lawrence was going to testify too, but Lawrence believes Robert had an affair with Ruth Tomlin, that resulted in Dr Tomlin's untimely death. Just like they first met, Isador makes himself known offering a handkerchief full of Orange segments but this time, Robert accepts the food, and the help. Lawrence turns the corner to see Dr Ravi who bolts from his chair to stare daggers at their former friend. Robert has not seen any of this and Rabi spares him the trouble of knowing Lawrence was there.
Despite his intricate plan to Shame Oppenheimer, the Leading Judge doesn't let Lewis Strauss have it all his way, like Robert, Strauss will not know key Witnesses ahead of time.
In the Boardroom, Mr Garrison tells the prosecutors, Dr Lawrence has come down with Colitis, but I think it's really an attack of Conscience! So instead they are going to continue to cross examine Agent Borden as planned, but with the Government agent Stonewalling, Garrison's every counterpoint, he leaves his seat to whisper an apology to a tired and Exasperated Oppenheimer "is anyone going to tell the Truth?"
Dr David Hill, A physicist who worked in the Chicago Team of the Manhattan Project makes his way to the stand. Hill was Strauss's witness, however Dr Hill cannot ignore the Animosity and Lip Service made towards Dr Oppenheimer.
In fact apart from Teller and those already close to Robert, the Entire scientific community have rallied behind Oppenheimer. Despite Alienating those close to him, when it mattered the most, his friends and even those he never met Personally are here to save him.
But with no Evidence that Strauss, Borden and Teller have Conspired together, Kitty is Furious that Robert continues to martyr himself as she, her husband and their lawyers argue over the Dinner table that night.
Kitty is asked to testify on behalf of her husband, however she is grilled on being a member of the Communist Party, However Kitty is defiant and speaks circles around Roger Robb, Interrupting his questions with Corrections and Coy Answers, Since Robert, while he had Communist Ideals he was never a party member. That night the Lawyers leave and Albert Einstein reveals himself. He now believes Robert and him are Kindred Spirits, Two men Betrayed by their Countries. Albert asks why He thinks America would be Accountable, when Germany wasn't. Robert believe they will, simply because America would never come out and say they are similar to their enemies in any way. Einstein is not convinced and wants Strauss to go to hell!
As Such, Lewis is freaking out over Oppenheimer turning all the Scientists against Strauss, even thinking the Argument between Him and Einstein all those years ago was a setup! However we get the Kicker-Robert CHOOSE HIROSHIMA AS A TARGET!, And put on the Spot, Robert starts to Sweat and Stammer and Hallucinate The sound of marching Feet, and Brilliant white light. As he is overwhelmed he Confesses he thinks he should be accountable for the deaths. At the same time Strauss is also losing his mind. At the end of the both the Hearing and the trail, years apart from each other, both have lost, in The Fusion Scenes covering the Security Hearing, Robert loses his Security clearance, but he will not be Arrested for Treason, but he will be tried. Five years later admiral Strauss promotion to cabinet is overturned by 3 votes, one by the future President Kennedy. Being driven to his home, Robert finds Catherine in the garden after the hearing. She asks if this was his plan to let the world tar and feather him, they would forgive him? Robert simply says he doesn't know, but they'll have to eventually. As the Oppenheimers leave in Quiet Victory, Strauss leaves in Noisy Humiliation. Before being torn apart by the press, the Indignant Admiral still believes he was stood up by The Scientific Community the very day he Met Oppenheimer, what ever he said to Einstein only proved to be the first Stage of his Downfall. Borden his loyalty now to himself after Strauss lost, says there is no way to prove that, only they knew what they said to each other on that day near the Duck pond in Princeton.
And Through the power of Framing Devices, we see what Albert said not the other way around. He warns Robert that years down the Line, The Government will honour his work but the praise would not be genuine. It'll be a PR Stunt . "They'll say "we Accept You, we praise your work", But they will never Say "we Forgive you!""
We Flash Forward to exactly that we see that! As the Cast are now elderly men in Washington, Congratulating him. All the while Kitty is beside her husband and when Roger Robb extends the hand of friendship towards her, she gives him the death stare, Robert asks one more question to Albert.
"Remember those equations i showed you that theorized that we could destroy the world?-I THINK WE ALREADY DID!
The last thing we see and hear is Oppenheimer trying to keep it together, the Sound of Marching and Delusions of the Earth being Destroyed viewed from space continues to Torture his mind, til we see and hear No more!
THIS FILM IS INCREDIBLE!
In this film Robert Downey Jr said a line which i quoted previously; "How could a man who sees so more than us, be so blind?" that line is so Apropos as we are introduced to Cilian Murphy Awkward, Naive, Mentally Unstable Womaniser. Clearly not the Most Heroic Person...And that's the point! We are Shown that there are no Winners in War, Only Victims and Villains-The Idealists are either Broken or Tested, the equal Become Oppressed, The Lonely seek Attention at the cost of Marriage and the powerful Fear losing their influence. This Cast, this Highly touted Cast, each give the Performance of their careers. Murphy is of course the lead, but he is Supported by this great cast, Downey plays a great Fork-tongued Manipulator (Again, praise goes to the Make-up Department for aging these Characters so connivingly) who was a superb Twist Villain. Florence Pugh is magnetic and Alluring as the Femme Fatale, But it's Emily Blunt that gets the nod as the Formidable Kitty Oppenheimer, playing the Pillar of Strength in this shaky marriage to this Cowering Apologist her husband has become.
The Cinematography and Direction is Top notch...Once you figure that Christopher Nolan plans to tell the Story of Robert Oppenheimer from 2 sides like a literal Trial, With Colour scenes being For and The black and white being against! Top that with each scenes contain Flashbacks and Delusions to progress the story, can be jarring for some. This film because of this framing device and it's 3 hour Length, is not the kind of film, you can leave to make a snack and come back later to ask someone "What Did I Miss?". This Film is the Cinematic Event it claims to be. The Actors are on the top of their game, presented in a Trail to draw your own conclusions of a man who at best was Morally grey, The Script sharp and Quotable, as you have read, the Characters are Believable, A ridiculous thing to say to when its about real people, But sometimes Biopics tend to make parody of their Subjects (See: The General!) no such Issues here! And the Music score is Sublime, Some of it peppered with the sounds of Geiger Counters and The Humming of Machinery, gives some Scenes a Feeling of Bemusement and Tension. (The piece of Music that Plays when Albert reads Teller's Atmospheric Ignition equation, that cues up the sound of A Loud Crackle of a Geiger Counter with Albert's Mood switching from Happy to Shocked is essentially effective!)
Again, This film is Incredible!
CREDITS
Oppenheimer was Reviewed, Compiled and Edited by Eamonn Bermingham
With Media in Part 1 from Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer was Produced and Distributed by Warner Bros!
NEXT MONTH ON BOGGER BOX OFFICE!
We have another film from last year, that caught my attention, Wes Anderson is also in the desert doing experiments, In a Cold war Comedy drama Caper, called Asteroid City!
AND NOW THE ENDING CHAPTER OF THE STORYLINE!
When i was 3. I was Introduced to Death.
Scratch that. When i was 3, I was introduced to the Concept of Death.
And it wasn't a Funeral, that wasn't for a while!
When i was Young, and it was Christmas, living in Ireland, that meant being in the Eu meant the member states could buy Programs, even cartoons on the cheap-cheap!
So one such show that was blended into my Subconscious mind for years to come was a Marionette show that had a scene where puppets where dancing with happy Polka music playing until a Ventriloquist's Dummy of the Grim Reaper, Cut their strings and caused the music to end on a Scare Chord, It's eyes glowing and a Maniacal Laugh causing the Crying Toddler i was to seek the lap of my mother.
And for Years to even now, It's the one thing factor that appears in my Nightmares, where I, Or people die, Regardless of how it doesn't fit the dream to have the Grim Reaper be a Puppet, automatically taller than everything else.
But that is the Thing about the Fear of your Own Morality.
It Shadows over Everything Else.
And that's where we Stand, Joe-jack and I, Facing two Mysterious Men who on no uncertain terms, came to Kidnap Someone!
"Joe-Jack You take the Guy dressed like a Cowboy, I'll handle the Gimp!
"A Gimp, you zay? Why zat is not very nice? I was expecting some courtesy from the Mara's champion!
I WANT NOTHING TO REMIND ME OF HER, NOT AFTER WHAT SHE DID TO OUR FRIEND THAT WE JUST HAD TO BURY!
Yes, I must be hard to go on when death hits close to home, I vonder if i ever feel bad over the Eons or if i was always Dull to the pain.
WHO...OR WHAT ARE YOU....WHY ARE YOU SO BLASE ABOUT DEATH?
Not at all, i greatly respect him otherwise i would not have come here, with hi....OH YOU DIDN'T KNOW? YOU TRULY DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE?
"YOU ARE GOING TO TELL ME WHO YOU ARE...RIGHT NOW" Eamonn said as he swung a punch expecting to hit the stranger with the Dimension Shattering Punch, only for the Plague Doctor to grab his arm and inspect his Hand, His Eyes Bulging with Glee behind the Googles, built into the Gasmask.
ACH MEIN GACHT! WHAT FINE SUTURES ZE MARA CONTRUCTED IN YOUR SURGERY TO REMOVE ZE FRAGMENT OF ZE DVD OF HERR DEVIL! CLEARLY HER MEDICAL ACUMEN WAS EXQUISITE! I FEEL HONOURED TO SEE SUCH CAPTIVATING SURGERY, THAT I FEEL INCLINED TO SHOW YOU MY OWN!
Herr Doktor raised one of his arms and blasted some knockout gas into Eamonn face, he then Proceeded to take a Syringe out and took a blood sample from his confused preys arm. he then scanned it with his Googles than seemingly had Ai technology to scan Blood.
HOW VONDERBA, THIS IS! YOU ARE A MAN WHO ARE THE FULL OF THE SECRETS, HERR EAMONN, NOT ONLY TO US TO YOURSELF, IT SEEMS!
Eamonn, was wiping off the toxins from his face which were now entering his bloodstream via his Tear Ducts. "Wha..at....d..do you mean....what are you...
....TALKING ABOUT? WE ARE HERE TO FIND A CREATURE ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION! THAT CREATURE IS YOU! MEIN FRIEND YOU CAN STOP DEALING WITH THE NATIVE, WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED!
What a shame Doc, we actually having a good gunfight there. I Was nearly getting challenged!
"YOU LEAVE MIS'ER EAMONN A LOAN,!" Cried Joe-Jack as he shot the Stetson off the Cowboy. giving all the humans a true glimpse of his face. The face of a Wooden dummy carved into a skull.
Now, why did you think you could go and think a cheap move like that would work. Don't you know You Can't Cheat Death, Cause if you Didn't Know, I KIND OF TAKE THAT AS A NOT ONLY A PROFESSIONAL INSULT, BUT PERSONALLY!
And now you know, why we need this specimen. We need to study this Happening. Death, restrain my Patient. As i ready the transport to Ze Grey Area!
And like that, Once again, Eamonn was gone, taken by Supernatural Force, But Joe-Jack would learn this Force would Not be taken lightly as Meddling with it would alter the flow of time.
Find what will happen in the NEW STORYLINE FOR 2024-25
THE TWO DEATHS OF E!
ONLY ON BOGGER BOX OFFICE!
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