Adam Tropp

Probably a bit talkier than the average person that hears "Christopher Nolan summer blockbuster" will expect it to be. Very much a biopic, not a war film. There are a few scenes that make the most of the imax 70mm film that Nolan is famous for, but most of it could be enjoyed just as well in your living room. And of course, it's grandiose beyond belief. Nolan said Oppenheimer might be "the most important person ever." If you wanna be dispelled of that notion, read the book the movie is based on. He was literally just the guy they hired to run the team, and far from the most capable scientist on it. All that said, it's entertaining.

Very well acted, Phoenix's performance delivered everything I expected and more. But beyond that... not much. The film is entertaining enough, but often meanders and becomes dull at times. It seems like it has something profound to say about mental illness, but doesn't know exactly what. It gets lost in trying to say something profound about populism and the disenfranchised poor in the Trump age, but either doesn't have the courage to say it, or simply doesn't have anything interesting to add to the conversation. Overall, it struggles to find its place between arthouse cinema and supervillain blockbuster

Think Hereditary, but think more impressive, more visceral, and more unsettling. Aster ups the ante for his sophomore effort, and the idyllic beauty of the landscape and central characters only makes the horrific violence hit harder. It isn't scary per se, but it is as creepy as a movie can be, and it will make you think about things you'd rather not think about, both of which seem to be the hallmarks for this promising filmmaker.