Gautham Raju

Oppenheimer is here. And so again is Chris Nolan's marvellous story telling! He brings out the happenings in the mind of the "Father of Atomic bomb" into the screen in eerily palpable way, as in you feel Oppie's feelings. Though cinematography is bit underwhelming compared with his other masterpieces, combined with extremely well designed and timed sound track, it makes you sit back and experience the emotions that went thru the scientists minds in the Manhattan project. Chris nolan's movies have always been a challenge to the intellect and comes across like an exam where you need to come prepared else you fare badly in comprehension of the content of questions and hence the subsequent poor performance in getting the actual message. Here background knowledge of Manhattan project and scientists involved, helps make general sense. Though Oppenheimer is among the more comprehensive of nolans movies, the intensity with which he captures the man's emotions is mind-blowing, literally! In the setting of his scientific background being complicated by his political leanings and his trysts with the American government , challenge to his integrity and his opinion about weapons of mass destruction and his affront to credibility crazed politicians; the result of the solidarity he built with other scientists and especially Einstein has been poignantly captured. While the movie undoubtedbly extolls the main subject , many other scientists who contributed like Richard feynman, Hans bethe, and others have not been acknowledged much at all. Also Subramaniam Chandrashekhar (of chandrashekar limit fame ) has been grossly underplayed. But probably that was beside the point considering the focus was on Oppenheimer. Familiar with Chris' usual style, the storyline always behaves like many waves in motion with the crests and troughs of many waves intersecting with each other at times(where we can make sense) and diverging away at others(again diverting attention) just to converge together at the end to reach the "shore" of a smashing climax. The second half of the movie makes for gripping storytelling(akin the movie "12 angry men"). It's amazing how Chris nolan manages to bring the best out of each actor and the story which makes one feel as if he/she is living the plot. The cast are at their empathetic best! The whole movie cinematography endorses Edward teller's(father of hydrogen bomb) views on oppenhiemer that he was a complicated man. But still he had a responsible conscience and a clear head that made him handle all the adverse and perverse political machinations after the war and outsmarted his adversaries aptly, well captured by Robert Downey saying "Sometimes this is how the game is played ". Must watch for a physics and history enthusiast both existing and prospective! And also for others who want to "actually feel" the movie experience.