A Scientist Reacts to the Oppenheimer Trailer

The trailer for Christopher Nolan's upcoming film "Oppenheimer" dropped this week. How does it look from both a scientific and a movie-making perspective?

[robertjulianoph.d.]

It is worth mentioning that while Cillian Murphy may have had solely supporting roles in film, he has been the main character in the television series "Peaky Blinders."

[YF-]

2:14 the music for Oppenheimer was actually written by Ludwig Göransson, who als did the soundtrack for Nolans last movie Tenet. He is incredibly talented and I can't wait to hear what he has come up with this time...

Update: He crushed it, absolutely incredible!

[kefinkamed]

I had no idea Cillian Murphy is not as well known in the US as he is in the UK and Europe, especially given the popularity of Peaky Blinders. I've seen him both in movies and on stage and he's one of the most talented actors of his generation. I can wholeheartedly recommend Anthropoid if WWII history is your jam. It's a fantastic example of cinematic storytelling done well.

[thomaslarsonyt]

After 34 Missions, the last 2 on D-Day, my father was transferred back to the States, where he landed in the Middle of the Manhattan Project. He ate meals several times with Oppenheimer and flew him to destinations 3 times. He said he was a humble man in common surroundings, many fascinating stories from my father before he passed. I must go see this!

[carrollmusician]

I love the Twain quote “Get your facts straight first…and then distort them at your leisure”. I feel Nolan is really good at that concept with his science and more grounded elements of his films

[ericpmoss]

That was fun. My mom was a “computer” at Los Alamos and a friend of Stan Ulam’s wife. Dad was an assembly coder (this was during the H-bomb project) and I think also maybe did something in triggering. Dunno — they never said anything about it other than how some of the physicists often walked around in pajamas and slippers.

[erni_fx]

Correction: (2:14) Hans Zimmer will not compose the Score for Oppenheimer. The Composer is Ludwig Göransson (Made the OST for TENET, Black Panther, etc.)

[davewilton]

Portions were also filmed at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, where Oppenheimer was director, 1947-66. While the major focus is, of course, the Manhattan Project, the film looks to be a true biopic, covering Oppenheimer's whole life, including his, tenuous but real, ties to communism and the later revocation of his security clearance. Nolan is known for non-linear storytelling, so how he tells the story should be interesting.

[robertbenson]

General Leslie Groves may have been the most powerful man in the United States during WWII. His philosophy was “ shoot first, ask questions later”. He was able to obtain material and manpower by a simple signature. He also could transfer personnel without question. A few of the Army Air Force personnel were transferred away from the program because they talked too much. The movie, “Above And Beyond” touched on this several times.

[jenkindinger]

Late to the party but just saw the movie last night - no spoilers. I used to live in Los Alamos as my dad worked at the lab. The set for the original town/lab was definitely filmed in the area - the first scene in the area (pre-lab) has the visible rain from the could effect (virga) that I’ve only seen there, and the other geography looked right. And there are two scenes, an Xmas party and an assembly, that were filmed in the historic Fuller lodge, a remnant from the boys camp JRO was at, and remains at the center of the historic district in Los Alamos. Movie was great - enjoy!

[gauge]

I noticed that in the trailer a downward spike formed, this was seen on later tower tests and it was called “the rope trick”. It was the guy wires vaporizing from the x-ray flux preceding the visible fireball. The only problem is that the Trinity tower did not have guy wires. I worked one of the last underground tests in Nevada in 1992 and some of the “graybeards” there had actually worked atmospheric tests. They had some great stories.

[uhhhlui]

The stadium scene (1:18) actually takes place in Edwards Stadium at UC Berkeley, being that Oppenheimer was a professor there.

[keithbird]

For anyone wanting to delve deeper: 'The Making of the Atomic Bomb' by Richard Rhodes is a pretty comprehensive history. The only book that I went straight back to the start to re-read as soon as I had finished it.

[hagerty]

Pretty much summed up my reaction as well. Nolan is one of the most intelligent filmmakers working today, so I'm expecting great things. I wonder if he's going to be messing with the time sense in the narrative like he's done in his other movies.

My only problem is that they always cast the actor playing Groves about 100 lbs skinnier than he really was! This is not to say anything about his abilities. He was a brilliant administrator. The project he completed just before being assigned the Manhattan Project? Building the Pentagon!

[paulplack]

What a refreshing review! My high school physics teacher worked on the Manhattan Project, and we kids all knew that that meant, but couldn't appreciate its historical significance, or his, at the time. He lost his vision to the effects of radiation before becoming a science teacher. Can't wait to see this movie.

[MichaelSiegel]

Hi all. Unbelievable how many views this has gotten. Thank you! I saw the movie tonight (July 30). Short review should be dropping in a few minutes. I'll post a full review later in the week, hopefully.

[johnjordan]

Totally enjoyed your analysis Michael. You understand its a dramatization but Nolan knows how to just give the audience chills & its refreshing to see a professional not criticizing a movie if your trained eye spots when its more for cinema than 'The Science'. Top stuff.

[scampykaynine]

2:14 I love Hans Zimmer's music as well, but he did not compose the musical score for Oppenheimer. Swedish composer, Ludwig Göransson, created the music for Oppenheimer.

[mikebelcher]

As soon as the teaser came out and seeing Cillian, if you know history you knew this could only be one thing given Nolan's penchant for history and drama. Even now, today, when the current generation is freaking out about what an escalation with Russia could mean (how do they think we felt every time we rolled out to the IGB in the 80's?). When the World really changed and became that much smaller. A turning point in the History of Mankind. Fearful, tragic, great sadness mixed with the wonder of making IT happen. "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

[dcoughla]

Cillian is pronounced “Kill ee ann”. He is best known as the lead character, Tommy Shelby, in the TV series “Peaky Blinders”. Worth a look. This is Christopher Nolan’s first movie away from Warner Brothers and you’re right that the director does his research meticulously. I do hope that Universal Pictures co has not meddled in the film making process & some of the supporting actors don’t overact to show off. This should be good.