This month Verve’s star teen reviewer Lucy Kennedy examines Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer
R
I’m very interested in history, so greatly anticipated Oppenheimer’s release. The film follows the life of Robert J Oppenheimer from a flailing medical student to the revered leader of the development of atomic weaponry in the US; depicting the scientist’s side of the story while not freeing him of blame.
The movie’s portrayal of the Trinity Test, the first detonation of an atomic bomb in history, was captivating. I had previously only read descriptions of the event, but seeing it played out was another matter entirely, filled with tension and terrible moments of suspense that showed the enormity of the event.
In contrast to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, released on the same day, there is a distinct lack of strong female characters in the film – and it isn’t as if there weren’t women involved in the Manhattan Project, but Oppenheimer does not feature them. It also shows an entirely American perspective of the event, which makes some sense, however, it felt wrong to not explore the massive impact the atomic bombs had on Japan.
Oppenheimer features shots of roiling, writhing fire paired with a deep and ominous rumbling that left me frozen and transfixed with both amazement and fear. The dropping of the atomic bombs is so integral to international relations, the nature of modern warfare, and the development of science, and this film captures it in breathtaking detail.
4/5 stars
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