By Alicia Hayes - December 31, 2023
Christopher Nolan aims to create visually stunning scenes, but the impact is overshadowed by the one-dimensional characters that stumble through the narrative like lifeless marionettes. The film, spanning an excruciating three-hour duration is burdened by a narrative that fails to transcend. In what should have been a profound exploration of J. Robert Oppenheimer's complex psyche, Nolan succumbs to the allure of a hypnotic and, at times, celebratory biopic that teeters on the brink of glorifying its protagonist.
Oppenheimer's ominous declaration to President Truman, juxtaposed against the intentional creation of a cataclysmic bomb, becomes a missed opportunity for Nolan to delve into the moral ambiguity of scientific innovation turned destructive force.
The film's potential for atomic grandeur is squandered, leaving the audience grasping for substance amid the cinematic spectacle. The characters, in a narrative that demands depth, elicit more apathy than empathy.
Christopher Nolan, a master conductor of storytelling, falters in his endeavor to craft a spectacular opus. The rhythm and pace is erratic. “Oppenheimer” is a 3 hour cinematic misfire, leaving the audience yearning for the explosive brilliance that remains elusive within the confines of this lackluster biopic.