Christopher Nolancreated a masterpiecewithOppenheimer.A ticking time-bomb of a movie, it was a three-hour thriller about the race to finish the secretive construction of the first ever atomic bomb, in a bid to bring and end — finally — to the horrors of World War II. The fact that the bomb in itself is the most horrific piece of weaponry ever made is also a major factor in the film’s narrative.
But one notable absence from the film is the visual of the actual bombings themselves. WhileCillian Murphy’s titular characterworks away at Los Alamos to ensure the creation of the bomb is done promptly, and we see arecreation of the Trinity Test, the first ever atomic explosion, we are never actually shown the dropping of the two nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Nolan has now revealed the thought process as to why that decision was ultimately made. Speaking in alengthy piece with Variety,the director explained that, although the film revolves around the consequences of these two acts of war — or war crime, depending on your point of view — the film is fromJ. Robert Oppenheimer’s perspective, and if he wasn’t present for them, neither should we. We are left, as is Oppenheimer, to reckon with the actions and the aftermath helplessly, much as the physicist was.
“The film presents Oppenheimer’s experience subjectively. It was always my intention to rigidly stick to that. Oppenheimer heard about the bombing at the same time that the rest of the world did. I wanted to show somebody who is starting to gain a clearer picture of the unintended consequences of his actions. It was as much about what I don’t show as what I show.”
Where Can I Watch ‘Oppenheimer’?
Oppenheimerwill be released on digital to rent and purchase on demand, on Tuesday November 21. You can find out more information aboutwhere to seeOppenheimerhere.
The movie will also be released on4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVDon the same date, which marks exactly four months since the film was released in cinemas.
Oppenheimer
The story of American scientist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
