Movie Review: Oppenheimer (2023)

 

People going to theaters expecting Oppenheimer to be a traditional Christopher Nolan movie, in the sense of groundbreaking action sequences, massive technological machinery and time/place dimension manipulation will be surprised, to say the least.

This is a heavily-focused political-history film, unlike any work Nolan has ever done before. However, despite the many and major differences to its predecessors in the director's filmography, it still works to a great extent.

Below are my general takeaways from the movie, both positive and negative, and not sorted in any particular order for that matter.

1. Excellent Storytelling

Regular viewers, with no to little background information on the subject matter and the depicted historical events, will find themselves exposed to a large amount and a wide variety of information, characters, settings and occurrences. This is a great risk for a director who is treading new genre waters.

But Nolan is no regular filmmaker, and once again demonstrates his excellent storytelling abilities, opting (for the umpteenth time) to unfold the events in a nonlinear chronology. In the final, slightly overstretched act of the film, all pieces of the movie's puzzle come fitting together in near-perfect tandem.

2. Seamless Editing + Gripping Score

It will be a shock if the movie is not at least nominated for the Best Editing award in the upcoming Oscars season. Despite the continuous shuffling back and forth between time-periods and locations (a Nolan trademark), the movie continues to feel like one solid entity, grabbing the viewers' attention from the opening scene and not letting go until the very end.

 

Coupled with the nonstop (at times nerve-breaking) musical score, the film feels like one robust choreographed entity. I barely remember a scene where the music is not immensely present and effective. Music and sound, as with all previous Nolan movies, are again major success elements here.  

3. Acting Performances

Robert Downey Jr. will always be recognized as Iron Man by the majority of people, but his roles in movies like Good Night and Good Luck, Tropic Thunder and Zodiac showcased how unique and versatile of an actor he can actually be. In Oppenheimer however, he reaches new heights, and I even dare to say that he almost steals the show from the leading (and equally incredible) Cillian Murphy.

Speaking of which, Murphy has clearly worked hard to make the central character his own. Despite wearing the trademark fedora and smoking in most of his scenes, the lead actor's performance gives no resemblance whatsoever to his famous portrayal of Thomas Shelby in the Peaky Blinders series. Both Downey Jr. and Murphy will likely be nominated in their categories come the awards season. 

Matt Damon is significantly memorable in his capacity as a comedic relief, but I was a bit turned off by the performance of Emily Blunt, given that she has been one of my personal favorite actresses recently. Perhaps because the character she is playing is not that likable or special in the first place, as she is crying or complaining in most of her screen time. 
 

Overall nonetheless, the entire cast, which is packed with many A-list actors, gives a commendable portrayal of the characters.

"Amateurs chase the sun and get burned. Power stays in the shadows." - Downey Jr. is Captivating and Unpredictable in his Supporting Role 

4. Big Screen vs Small Screen Experience

Given the nature of the movie, and apart from the breath-taking bomb test scene, which is a mighty highlight from the film (with no CGI involved), I felt that I would have enjoyed the movie more had I watched it alone on a smaller screen.

Also, and due to the incredibly fast pace of both the dialogue and events, there were several moments where I wished I could jump backwards and repeat some scenes, just to make sure I was on the same page with what's going on. In any case, the movie definitely demands multiple viewings, so I will surely be seeing it again; not in a theater though.

5. Nudity

I do understand that you have to shed light on the personal life of the central character, to give him more depth and for the audience to sympathize with him. But in the case of Oppenheimer, and because the film is so focused on the science, politics and history of that era, I felt that the nude scenes with Florence Pugh were completely distracting and out of context.

Nolan had already pointed out Oppenheimer's womanizer side, both explicitly and implicitly, so I thought there was no need for a couple of nude scenes to emphasize that point. To me, the scenes turned out to be kind of enforced, rather than being a fitting or contributing part to the whole final outcome.

6. Pace and Character Recognition

As mentioned earlier, the film is very fast-paced at times that it is almost impossible for one to grasp the entire narrative and comprehend all the dialogue. This might be an issue for many.

In addition, I personally struggled with the recognition of the names and roles of many characters, particularly some of the professors and scientists cooperating with Oppenheimer on the project, as well as some of the military and judicial personnel. So at several instances, I was constantly asking myself "Who's this guy? And what's his position? Which side is he on?", and so forth.

 

 

7. Concluding Thoughts

The movie will certainly be considered as one of Nolan's best accomplishments when looking back on his career as a whole. It is thought-provoking, and forces the viewers to put themselves in the sticky situations J. Robert Oppenheimer's has faced. 

It also motivates the audience to thoroughly research the subject matter and the time period, and to seriously consider the grave moral and political implications some individual decisions can result in.

However, a few drawbacks (many of which could probably be ignored on a second watch) prevent it from being the ideal biopic Nolan would have probably hoped for.

 

 

My rating: 9/10

Movie Review: The Irishman (2019)

A mob film, starring genre legendary actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, and directed by none other than Martin Scorsese. For me, this was close to a dream come true, given that classic mafia flicks such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed can easily fit into a list of my all-time favorite movies, and that Scorsese in particular is a filmmaker who heavily influenced my selective taste for films. Add to that the raving critic reviews and multiple award nominations, and so all was set for me to witness another cinematic masterpiece. Unfortunately however, by the end of the movie, I realized I was somehow disappointed by the outcome.

The overall letdown by The Irishman doesn't take away the fact that it is indeed a very good movie by certain standards. Therefore, I will split this review into two parts, where the first talks about the positive aspects and strengths, while the second handles the drawbacks that eventually led me to believe that this could've been a much better cinematic experience.

The Positives

1. The Acting

You can't mention Scorsese without referring to De Niro. The two men heavily contributed to each other's titanic status over the span of almost half a century. De Niro, aside from his unforgettable role in The Godfather Part II, arguably delivered his most memorable performances and cemented his reputation as the best actor of his generation under Scorsese's direction. This fact is ensured again in The Irishman; De Niro digs deep and brings out his best serious performance in years (he's been mostly involved in comedies or as a guest lately) as Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran. His character is the main one, around which all of the events and other characters revolve. Whenever he's on screen, which is for almost 95% of the total scenes, he's just at his usual awesome.

Pesci on his part, rumor has it that it took Scorsese and the film producers around 50 attempts to convince him out of his retirement and play the role. Contrary to the majority of expectations, you don't see the bloody, ass-kicking, head-blowing Pesci from Goodfellas and Casino in The Irishman. Here, he plays the sly, cold-blooded mob head Russel Bufalino, who perhaps his own words describe him best: "When I ask somebody to take care of something for me, I expect them to take care of it themselves. I don't need two roads coming back to me". There have always been doubts about Pesci's acting credentials outside of the rage and the cursing and the gun-firing perimeter, but this probable final role of his glorious career will again prove any remaining doubters wrong. He's that good.

"You might be demonstrating a failure to show appreciation" - Pesci is Intimidating in his Role as the Boss

As for Mr. Pacino, we finally get to see him collaborate with Scorsese, playing the famous Jimmy Hoffa, and for me, he is the one that stands out most among the three amazing leads. As with De Niro, Pacino was unfortunately involved in some really crappy productions over the last two decades, slightly tarnishing his legacy. So this was a massive opportunity for him to showcase his mythical acting capabilities, especially for the younger viewers. As the historic Hoffa, Pacino gets to do what he does best when he's in character: scream and point and show off and, most importantly, bring the best out of his co-stars. The Irishman will undoubtedly be mentioned among his best works. 

2. The Last Hurrah

Despite the drawbacks that will be explained below, I can't deny the nostalgia I felt when I watched the lead actors sharing intense scenes together, or when classic songs were playing in the background, bringing those 70's and 80's vibes back, or when the end credits wrote "Directed by Martin Scorsese". The Irishman is probably - and sadly so - the final curtain call for those stars and their great director, at least in this genre, which they made their own. Moreover, the way the story evolved for each character, made my admiration grow even bigger for this golden generation of professionals who gave us such a unique and rich perspective into the world of organized crime through multiple movies, and inspired many other filmmakers as well as millions of viewers worldwide.

The Negatives

1. The Anti-Aging Technology and the Cast

One of the most talked-about aspects of The Irishman is the anti-aging or de-aging technology that was used to convey the lead actors in the earlier ages of their characters, given that all three leads are in their late 70's. Why am I considering it a weak point in the movie? Simply because only the faces of the actors were made younger. It was great seeing the face of a 40-year old De Niro back on the screen, but it still was the movement, the posture and simply the body of a 70-year old man. Acting doesn't only require facial expressions, it requires body language and physicality. So for me as a viewer, I really felt the struggle of De Niro and Pacino in particular, throughout multiple scenes, when they were not only required to look younger, but to act so. Also, there is a slight confusion for the viewers as to what period was being shown, due to the difficulty in differentiating between the characters' appearances at different points in time.

As such, and given that the movie had been in the making for at least 25 years according to some reports, was it worth it to proceed with the same cast members in the first place? I mean yes it is marvelous to have such titans return for a mob movie under Scorsese, but wouldn't it had been better if younger class-A actors were given some of the lead roles instead?

A Large Part of the $175 Million Budget is Dedicated to the Digital "Youthification" Technology 

2. The Run-Time and the Script 

Director Martin Scorsese has always expressed his concern about the future of the traditional film-making and movie-watching experiences with the ongoing rise of giant streaming services, but with a movie of a duration of 3-plus hours, I think he made the right decision to release The Irishman via Netflix rather than theatrically. I think that the number of viewers who criticized the movie for its extended length would've been much bigger had it been released in theaters. At least if at some point a viewer was not able to stand such a long running time, he/she would easily be able to resume the movie shortly afterwards. I am stressing on this point because yes, The Irishman could have easily been at least half an hour shorter, and this is mainly due to the script.

Screenwriter Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List, Gangs of New York, Moneyball, among many others), who is a frequent collaborator with Scorsese, is not at his absolute best here. A very big chunk of the movie covers the Italian mafia's insistence on taking action against Jimmy Hoffa, and the latter's defiance to their powers and influence, leaving Frank (De Niro) in an intermediary position, moving forwards and backwards between the two parties to try and prevent the inevitable. Also, despite the effortless delivery of the lines from the actors, many major scenes feel dragged and could have been much, much shorter. When you make a 3-plus hour movie, you need to take advantage of such a duration in properly building up character background and come up with original, never-seen-before plot lines; neither is fully demonstrated by Zaillian's script.



So, The Irishman will probably go on and win multiple Oscars come the end of February, and it is indeed a great nod to a genre and style that impressed countless people over decades, but personally, I wouldn't mention it if I'm asked about the greatest mafia movies I've ever watched.


My Rating: 8/10

UEFA Champions League Semi Final: Salah is a Truly Living Pharaoh & Bayern vs. Real Preview

This year's Champions League is proving to be one of the most memorable football competitions ever. Yesterday's match between Liverpool and Roma, although almost completely one-sided in terms of score and performance, provided a nervy finale when Roma managed to score two consolation goals during the last ten minutes to unhinge Liverpool fans and players alike, as they were reminded of the "ROMAntada" that happened two weeks ago. In any case, the final result is still a very comfortable one for The Reds heading into the return leg next week. Salah was simply magnificent. He is now performing at a level where you just can't doubt his quality anymore. He is a savage running behind and at defenders, and when he is facing the goal, his calmness and efficiency are just top class. His Messi-esque goal was just the beginning yesterday, as he went on to score another great goal by slightly chipping the ball over the towering Alisson, as well as providing two additional assists to Mane and Firmino. A complete game that will surely enhance his chances in the Balon D'Or race come next January.

Mo Salah is the Man of the Moment in World Football

Tonight, another epic battle awaits in Bavaria. Bayern are raring to have another opportunity to face us to avenge the last two times we knocked them out. Despite the refereeing controversies of last year, no one can doubt that we deserved the qualification. We were the better team for most of the 180 minutes in both matches and that's why we went through and continued all the way up to secure the much coveted back-to-back title. With Heynkes as a manager, the Bavarians are more balanced and stabilized at the back. Although they miss one of the best goalkeepers ever in Neuer, their organization in defense and midfield, as well as the surprisingly good form of their stand-in keeper, make up for Neuer's absence. Up front, they are hauntingly dangerous to say the least, with names like veterans Robben and Ribery on the wings, James as a number 10 with Thiago or Muller beside him and Lewandowski as the striker. That's why the key today for Madrid is to be at their best defensively to try not to concede more than two goals.

 

Real's defense this season has been shambolic. Navas is having his worst season between the sticks and his performances were very inconsistent along the whole campaign. He should be at his best tonight for us to keep the tie alive for the second leg. Carvajal's season is also not his best; a weird heart injury at the start of the season came at a time where he was being culpable for many goals we were conceding. He did improve after that though, but he never reached last season's form. Marcelo on the other hand has completely shaken away his bad form at the turn of the year. He still is somewhat of a liability defensively, but when he goes forward, he causes his opposite number a lot of trouble. Ramos has also been responsible for many conceded goals this season; I have noticed that his speed has dropped a few levels and this is letting forwards, and especially wingers cutting inside, to leave him watching when they pass him by. His character is still as essential as ever on the pitch though, and it is in games like tonight's that the true leader in Ramos comes forward. Meanwhile, Varane has only been at his best for a few games, and luckily these games were the crucial Champions League knockout ties. He was so good against both PSG and Juventus, but this is definitely his toughest test yet. As for Casemiro, who is also an integral part of the defensive setup, he is also a few levels below his usual best this season. Zidane has given him a bit more freedom to roam forward when the team has possession of the ball, and this has rewarded him with a few more goals, particularly in La Liga, where oddly enough he has a goal more than Benzema, but when opponents cut the ball and burst forward quickly on the counter, his initial position is left in void and this has led to many chances and goals against us. So tonight, Casemiro should only operate in his primitive role: a destroyer, a pure number 5 in front of the back four, and leave the rest of the offensive work for those responsible.

Ramos's Magical Allianz Arena Night is Now 4 Years Old

Moving forward across the center of the pitch, both Kroos and Modric are definite starters. Kroos is one of the most consistent players not only in Real, but in all of Europe. He is immensely important for the team whatever the system being deployed. No one knows Bayern and the Allianz Arena better. Modric too remains as vital as ever, but his age is starting to show, even though Zidane tries his best to rest him of all players as much as possible. He clearly struggled physically against Juventus two weeks ago, so he should definitely up his game tonight, because Bayern's midfield is even more advanced on all levels.

 

Ronaldo is the the only certain starter in attack. What an incredible year he is having so far, scoring seamlessly in both La Liga and the Champions League and bringing the best out of his teammates in times of struggle. Unfortunately, he is the only reliable goalscorer in the team currently, and so if Bayern manage to handle him well, we will struggle to find the net. His record of 9 goals in 6 games against Bayern speaks volumes.

Ronaldo is Mr. Champions

This leaves two spots to be filled, and there are three options for Zidane:

1. Isco and Benzema:

If Zidane opts for Isco as the fourth midfielder, then it will be very important to deploy Benzema beside Ronaldo in attack. Benzema is having a dry season in front of goal, but in this 4-4-2 diamond system, his link-up play is integral to make the team tick. His absence against Juventus showed why he is particularly important in such a line-up. Isco gives the team more ball control and individual brilliance. The only drawback is that he is not quick enough on the wings, where Bayern are very reliant in their attack game plan.

2. Asensio and Lucas

It is being speculated that the duo will probably start the match, mainly to provide enough defensive width, as well as to use their speed on the counter. Personally, I do really hope Zidane starts with both of them in a 4-1-4-1 system. They did a lot of damage to PSG across both legs, and Asensio's introduction last year in the second half at the Allianz turned the game around in our favor. The drawback? Maybe they still lack a bit of experience and character to play such difficult games from the beginning, and Zidane will only have Bale as a winger on the bench.

Asensio and Lucas have Outshone Benzema and Bale

3. The BBC

This is the least possible option. It's been ages since the BBC were untouchable. Bale is probably on his way out in the summer after a hugely disappointing season. You can see that he still has plenty to offer, but mentally and psychologically he is off. I don't even remember when was the last time that Bale has scored an important goal in an equally important game. Having him on the bench is surely a better choice. Benzema is also continuing to baffle fans and critics alike week in week out. He plays just well enough, but he just doesn't score. His only positive contribution is his link-up play in the 4-4-2 system and nothing else.

 

So it should be a mighty task tonight. If all the players were at 100%, just like the games against PSG and the first leg against Juve, then a good result is guaranteed, and I'm not necessarily referring here to a huge victory reminiscent of the unforgettable 4-0 in the Decima season; scoring at least one goal and conceding two goals at most would be just good enough.