Photo credit: Los Alamos National Library

I rarely watch a movie in the theatre, content to wait for digital rentals or arrivals on streaming platforms. I have a pet peeve about seeing movies in theatres. Other people. But there are some movies you can't wait for. I’ve anticipated the arrival of Oppenheimer since I saw the trailer.

In preparation, I reread the book on which the movie's based, American Prometheus. I wanted to gauge the accuracy of Christopher Nolan's adaptation. I read Kia Bird's and Martin J. Sherwin's Pulitzer Prize winner when it was initially published, but that was nearly 20 years ago. I'm old, and my recall isn't what it once was. If you intend to read the book, and I recommend it for anyone interested in the history, keep this in mind.

It’s long.

And dense with detail.

Really long and detailed.

I dropped the paperback and hurt my foot. 

Armed with a refreshed knowledge of the great scientist's life and the creation of the bomb, I was ready. On a recent Sunday afternoon, I settled into a theatre seat, cradling a bucket of butter-soaked popcorn that cost almost as much as my first car, and waited in anticipation. What unfolded was a two-fold experience. In the film's epic nature and my first encounter with the IMAX format.

Too many filmmakers play fast and loose with the facts when making biopics, historical movies, and “based on a true story” films. They completely erase the lines between fact and fiction and rewrite history to serve their own purpose. Nolan never strayed far from reality. Some historians have taken issue with some details, but I forgave him these minor sins so he could contain the narrative and move the story forward. However, although Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein knew each other, their interactions in the film never occurred. Nolan’s creative license made for some poignant scenes, but they should be treasured for their cinematic rather than historical value.  

The movie accurately depicts Oppenheimer's life, the development of the world's first atomic bomb, and the furor that engulfed him afterward. It sparks thoughtful consideration of whether the bomb's use against Japan was necessary, its impact on global power and relationships, and the shadow it continues to cast on our lives today. It also offers lessons in leadership.

There’s Leslie Groves's courage to select Oppenheimer as project lead against the advice of nearly everyone who ever worked or interacted with the brilliant but eccentric scientist.  And Oppenheimer’s ability to form and steward a team to develop and build the bomb. It's also an accurate depiction of the sinister nature of ego, expertise, politics, and the pursuit of power that pervades governments and businesses.

The movie would be a valuable teaching tool if it weren’t for what earned it an R rating. I’d never seen the actress Francis Pugh, who portrays one of Oppenheimer’s lovers, in a movie before. Now, there’s not much of her I haven’t seen. Nolan lays the actress bare in scenes that could have been omitted or shot differently without leaving holes in the story or damaging the narrative. These few minutes guarantee the unedited movie never sees the inside of a classroom.

As a film, it’s a work of art. The cinematography, writing, and acting elevate it to almost masterpiece levels. It earns all its accolades, and there's little doubt it will walk away with numerous awards for everyone involved. 

Watching the movie in the IMAX format wasn’t my first choice, but a friend insisted it was THE way to view the film. And I was curious about the technology. 

The simplest way I can describe the experience is big and loud.

Really loud.

Really, really, loud. And really big.

Oh my god, it’s loud. And so, so big.

Maybe it’s because I’m old. But sound should be heard, not felt. It shouldn’t jiggle my popcorn, vibrate my seat, or make me wince and instinctively reach for my ears. I also felt like the screen would fall over, and the movie would swallow me. Another friend told me the IMAX format is meant for action movies, sci-fi, and comic book sagas. Fair enough. I’m safe. I don’t watch any of those.

The movie’s three-hour length put my bladder to the test. My discomfort aggravated by my IMAX-fueled shaking seat. In the days of yore, long movies included an intermission. But like I said, I'm old. My apologies to the man I almost knocked over sprinting to the bathroom at the movie’s conclusion.

Overall, I highly recommend the movie. Looking beyond the typical star rating system and using one of my own, I would give the film 5 Ts in the IMAX experience.

True to its source material, Thought-provoking, Theatrically majestic, but be aware of the  Titillations and Tympanic membrane assaults.