Finally saw the movie and really enjoyed it. Reminded me of Amadeus...RDJ even moved like the actor who played Salieri. Pretty much everyone was perfectly cast. Loved the dysfunction and rage in Kitty Oppenheimer.
Thanks for this episode and the best film list that follows. An observation from a geezer about the state of the movie industry: I went with friends to see Oppenheimer on a big screen last weekend. The film, which was great, was preceded by 30 minutes or so of trailers for upcoming films that were, as a rule, video games in disguise or meditations (small joke) on Satanism or both. If these flicks weren't written by AI you could have fooled me. If this junk is what the movie industry needs to survive, send the beast to the tar pit pronto. A nit on Oppenheimer: the cat who plays Richard Feynman isn't nearly edgy enough. Other than that perfection. I haven't seen most of Nolan's other films (except for Memento, which I loved) and will, with your good guidance, correct soon. In my mind, Oppenheimer puts him up with Orson Welles in the pantheon of the greats. Warm regards and thanks again.
I saw it last night in Indianapolis in 70mm IMAX. I drove 2 hours to see it in the full format and it was so worth it. The movie is epic. You all were discussing small details: if you rewatch it, look at the dress shirts Strauss is wearing compared to those of the Senate aide (Alden’s character). Strauss’s collar is a half size too big; that gap you see as men age and start to shrink into old age. Either Nolan or Downey knew that was important and ensured it was there.
Sonny, movies are back. I saw the 70 mm film (non-IMAX) version last night at my local AMC 24. The parking lot and theater was packed. Very long concession line. Groups of women/girls dressed in pink for Barbie.
The 70 mm film version was great, but I was somewhat surprised that it was held in an old-school large capacity theater with uncomfortable seats. Felt like I was sitting in a high school auditorium. Luckily the visual and auditory experience kept me seated.
The Bird/Sherwin book leans into hagiography, traces of which survive in this film. Oppenheimer was a far more obnoxious person than the film allows, particularly in his earlier years. That said, Brody's review that Oppenheimer is a 'History Channel Movie with fancy editing' is an all-time garbage take, as if the substance of the film differed little from American Pickers or Ancient Aliens
In fairness, I have not yet seen the movie (though I have read the book). That said, I have to register the fact that what I most appreciate about this team (Sonny, Alyssa, and Peter) is that they understand that being all white and all black is not at all the same as being gray. Thank you thank you thank you. Looking forward to seeing the movie!
Saw it yesterday on IMAX. I enjoyed it but thought the score was waaaay overwrought. There were many times when I thought “this scene would probably be better if there were no music playing.”
Meant to say I saw the film in Northern Wisconsin woods town and although it was the early Monday night showtime, the theater was nearly full. A real surprise.
The Tuesday matinee was full too! (confess that I spent Monday night watching Barbie with child). But I'm thinking of going again in a week. So much to think about.
No sorry, I worded that strangely. I was in a smallish town in Appalachia, so I was genuinely surprised to see the theater so full. It's not unusual for me to go to a weekday matinee, of even an showing of something superhero-free, and have a theater pretty much to myself.
Seeing the theater packed Oppenheimer was nice even if it meant multiple cell phones going off :)
An outstanding film in every respect most of all for making complex issues and facts so readily understandable. I had read the biography, American Prometheus, on which the film is based and also did a deep dive one summer with a plethora of books on the making of the Atomic Bomb, yet this movie, even though I knew the "story" inside out was edge of your seat exciting despite its three hour length. One of the very few movies I would consider seeing again. DO NOT MISS!
Peter's comment that Oppenheimer is both black AND white echoes wave/particle duality of light. And which side manifests, for both Oppie and light, depends on the context. Cool!
For all the money spent it comes down to the little things that drive one crazy. Look at the flags in the picture you put on this posting - they have 50 stars. We only had 48 stars during WW2. We had not yet made Alaska and Hawaii states. Get the little stuff right and the rest follows. P.S my wife and I were staff members at Los Alamos from 1978 to 1990.
Jul 25, 2023·edited Jul 25, 2023Liked by Sonny Bunch
I saw it last night. Excellent. It was Monday afternoon and the big screen venue was nearly full with a lot of people my age. Given that I saw it in Richland, WA, I suspect many were ex Hanford or Pacific Northwest Laboratory workers. :-)
Finally saw the movie and really enjoyed it. Reminded me of Amadeus...RDJ even moved like the actor who played Salieri. Pretty much everyone was perfectly cast. Loved the dysfunction and rage in Kitty Oppenheimer.
Thanks for this episode and the best film list that follows. An observation from a geezer about the state of the movie industry: I went with friends to see Oppenheimer on a big screen last weekend. The film, which was great, was preceded by 30 minutes or so of trailers for upcoming films that were, as a rule, video games in disguise or meditations (small joke) on Satanism or both. If these flicks weren't written by AI you could have fooled me. If this junk is what the movie industry needs to survive, send the beast to the tar pit pronto. A nit on Oppenheimer: the cat who plays Richard Feynman isn't nearly edgy enough. Other than that perfection. I haven't seen most of Nolan's other films (except for Memento, which I loved) and will, with your good guidance, correct soon. In my mind, Oppenheimer puts him up with Orson Welles in the pantheon of the greats. Warm regards and thanks again.
I saw it last night in Indianapolis in 70mm IMAX. I drove 2 hours to see it in the full format and it was so worth it. The movie is epic. You all were discussing small details: if you rewatch it, look at the dress shirts Strauss is wearing compared to those of the Senate aide (Alden’s character). Strauss’s collar is a half size too big; that gap you see as men age and start to shrink into old age. Either Nolan or Downey knew that was important and ensured it was there.
Sonny, movies are back. I saw the 70 mm film (non-IMAX) version last night at my local AMC 24. The parking lot and theater was packed. Very long concession line. Groups of women/girls dressed in pink for Barbie.
The 70 mm film version was great, but I was somewhat surprised that it was held in an old-school large capacity theater with uncomfortable seats. Felt like I was sitting in a high school auditorium. Luckily the visual and auditory experience kept me seated.
Yeah those old-school theaters are a trip.
It may also be worth noting (because I couldn’t find a definitive answer via web search) that the non-IMAX 70mm film version has previews.
The Bird/Sherwin book leans into hagiography, traces of which survive in this film. Oppenheimer was a far more obnoxious person than the film allows, particularly in his earlier years. That said, Brody's review that Oppenheimer is a 'History Channel Movie with fancy editing' is an all-time garbage take, as if the substance of the film differed little from American Pickers or Ancient Aliens
There is never (ok, almost never) “less”. Yes, there is disruption, but disruption always leads to more.
In fairness, I have not yet seen the movie (though I have read the book). That said, I have to register the fact that what I most appreciate about this team (Sonny, Alyssa, and Peter) is that they understand that being all white and all black is not at all the same as being gray. Thank you thank you thank you. Looking forward to seeing the movie!
Saw it yesterday on IMAX. I enjoyed it but thought the score was waaaay overwrought. There were many times when I thought “this scene would probably be better if there were no music playing.”
Meant to say I saw the film in Northern Wisconsin woods town and although it was the early Monday night showtime, the theater was nearly full. A real surprise.
The Tuesday matinee was full too! (confess that I spent Monday night watching Barbie with child). But I'm thinking of going again in a week. So much to think about.
Did you see it in North Wisconsin woods too?
No sorry, I worded that strangely. I was in a smallish town in Appalachia, so I was genuinely surprised to see the theater so full. It's not unusual for me to go to a weekday matinee, of even an showing of something superhero-free, and have a theater pretty much to myself.
Seeing the theater packed Oppenheimer was nice even if it meant multiple cell phones going off :)
An outstanding film in every respect most of all for making complex issues and facts so readily understandable. I had read the biography, American Prometheus, on which the film is based and also did a deep dive one summer with a plethora of books on the making of the Atomic Bomb, yet this movie, even though I knew the "story" inside out was edge of your seat exciting despite its three hour length. One of the very few movies I would consider seeing again. DO NOT MISS!
Peter's comment that Oppenheimer is both black AND white echoes wave/particle duality of light. And which side manifests, for both Oppie and light, depends on the context. Cool!
Also, Alyssa, as I watched this film, I also thought of Copenhagen. Great Play!
For all the money spent it comes down to the little things that drive one crazy. Look at the flags in the picture you put on this posting - they have 50 stars. We only had 48 stars during WW2. We had not yet made Alaska and Hawaii states. Get the little stuff right and the rest follows. P.S my wife and I were staff members at Los Alamos from 1978 to 1990.
Seems like you were looking for a reason to complain about the movie
I saw it last night. Excellent. It was Monday afternoon and the big screen venue was nearly full with a lot of people my age. Given that I saw it in Richland, WA, I suspect many were ex Hanford or Pacific Northwest Laboratory workers. :-)