By: Charlie Tortorella
There is no doubt that Christopher Nolan has made his name legendary through the sheer scale of his films. For instance, take a look at his films INCEPTION, INTERSTELLAR, THE DARK KNIGHT, TENET, and THE PRESTIGE. Each are impeccable examples of his style, all fantastical in their nature. Time after time, Nolan’s vision prevails by making intricate stories come to life in captivating and innovative ways. The music scores of his films always boom. His cinematography can only be described as grand. We expect nothing less from his upcoming release, OPPENHEIMER. The film, however, is a biopic, a type of film Christopher Nolan has yet to helm. Does it matter? Will it noticeably affect his style? Can the movie live up to Nolan’s sky-high standards? Here is everything you need to know about OPPENHEIMER ahead of GIFF’s Advance Screening.
OPPENHEIMER tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, an American scientist known for spearheading the creation of the first atomic bomb and leading the Manhattan Project in World War II. The storyline of the film follows Oppenheimer as he and his team race to develop the first Nuclear weapon. Right off the bat, we know that the plot lends itself nicely to Nolan’s patented style. What better for a cinematic spectacle than an atomic explosion created by the “Destroyer of Worlds”?
OPPENHEIMER also stars one of the most impressively assembled casts ever seen, headlined by Cilian Murphy, a Nolan frequenter, in the Titular role. Notable names joining him include Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Gary Oldman, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and many more, including a familiar face at GIFF, Tony Goldwyn. These are just a few of the many talented actors and actresses to get excited about.
On the more technical side for you film-tech enthusiasts, the movie was shot on a combination of IMAX 65mm Film and Large-Format 65mm film and switches between telling the story through a black-and-white and a colored lens. OPPENHEIMER also utilizes a staggering amount of practical effects rather than CGI. And yes, that includes the explosions, leaving no other way to describe it: OPPENHEIMER is going to be a technical marvel, especially in person.
Compared to budgets of many of Nolan’s more recent films, this biopic was made on a relatively small scale for his standards. Produced on a “mere” 100 Million US Dollars, OPPENHEIMER’s budget is similar to the one allotted to DUNKIRK, Nolan’s one other historical film. Budget aside, OPPENHEIMER promises to be both realistic and awe-inspiring.
Whenever Christopher Nolan releases a movie it is exciting, but there’s something about this film that’s different. The buzz around OPPENHEIMER feels like more. Our expectations are high, and there is no doubt that they will be met and surpassed. If you are as excited about OPPENHEIMER as we are and can’t wait for the opening, see it with us before its official release date.
Join GIFF at 7pm on July 20th at the Avon Theatre in Stamford for our Advance Screening of OPPENHEIMER and be an early witness to what will surely prove to be an epic example of Christopher Nolan’s cinematic genius and one of Hollywood’s most spectacular works of the year!
SOURCES:
IMDB: Technical specifications https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15398776/technical/
Everything to Know about Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer: https://aframe.oscars.org/news/post/everything-to-know-about-christopher-nolans-oppenheimer
