Film - Oppenheimer

I don't need to give a brief synopsis of the year's biggest film which meant for several weeks, there was little choice at the cinema. But just in case J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is the man who leads the development of the atomic bomb and this is about the time leading up to the testing point.

The film publicity makes him look like some kind of Frankenstein monster but the story running alongside his master achievement is of him being determined to reclaim the security clearance snatched from him. And then we see him in a similar ‘standing trial’ situation when his former colleague Lewis Strauss is assessed for a key government role. It seems

The film uses various colour schemes from monochrome to a mirky sepia to full colour to guide us through these many timelines all the way through.

Rather than Openmeimmer being the monster, it is mankind, urging him to build a bomb to end all bombs/wars/worlds. We see plenty of his genius through the scribbles on the blackboard, carrying piles of books, the student fans and chatting with Einstein.

The cast is starry as you’d expect although it would have been good for the women, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh to have as much screen time as Matt Damon as the General leading on the project and Robert Downey Jr as Strauss.

Yes, it’s long and a well-timed bathroom break is needed although the skipping around timelines makes it a compelling watch.

7½/10