Oppenheimer
4K
(2023/Universal 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: A- Picture: B Sound: B Extras: B
Film: A-*
Nuclear
energy and nuclear war has been the subject of many a documentary,
plot devices in endless thrillers and sometimes, has been dealt with
in the strongest manner in films like The
China Syndrome,
Fail
Safe,
Hiroshima
Mon Amour
and of course, Kubrick's Dr.
Strangelove.
If one wants to say more on the subject and tell another important
story with more original and new points on the matter, it is not
easy, so when I heard Christopher Nolan was going to make an epic
biopic on the man who helped create the nuclear bomb (and there were
actually two types,) I was ready for something big, important and
special. Oppenheimer
4K
(2023) is the remarkable result.
The
underrated Cillian Murphy plays the title historical figure,
challenging the establishment and even the brilliant Albert Einstein
(the always reliable Tom Conti in an impressive turn) in trying to
figure out how subatomic science will work, then have to accelerate
the study when a race for a weapon based on such unheard of
technology is sped up by the advent of WWII and rise of the Axis
Powers, especially The Nazis. The U.S. Government intervenes, makes
Oppenheimer the head of the project and the hard work begins.
Running
three hours, the film NEVER feels that long, taking its time to build
up what happened as the urgency becomes increasingly dire as more
news quickly develops and unknown to the public at large, the stakes
grow as astronomically as the science itself. The screenplay wastes
no time in building up its main story, its subplots and even has a
few historical and cinematic intertextual references. It is a film
accessible to all viewers, but the more you know about the situation
and time, the better its gets, which also helps repeated viewing as
you think more about it and learn more, as well as get re-reminded of
other aspects of it all. Nolan at the top of his game as much as
ever.
Of
course, it has exceptional costume design, production design,
thoroughly researched to not only feel period-accurate,but it sure
feels like it. Then there is the great supporting cast that includes
Emily Blunt (back in the form she is best capable of,) Matt Damon,
Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami
Malek, Tony Goldwyn, James D'Arcy, David Krumholtz, Michael Angarano,
Benny Safdie, Josh Peck, Gustaf Skarsgard, Olivia Thurby, James
Remar, Gary Oldman and Kenneth Branagh. It is one of the best casts
of the last few years and the choices are so remarkable and dead on,
they only further enhance each other and the film.
Despite
not being a film about the fictional fantastic, realism included,
this would be one of Nolan's few films totally realistic films. I
figured it would work critically, but would it also be a hit? Well,
when it came out around the same time as Barbie,
who knew both would go right through the roof. Intertwined together,
possibly as two nightmare visions of a bad future or worse, if you
are really
cynical, they became the ''My
Sharona''
of the moment as Superhero films collapsed the way disco music did by
late 1979 (political targeting aside) as those films went into
overkill mode. Martin Scorsese's comments about them not being real
cinema sadly coming true in multi-billion-dollar-losing fashion.
It
is also one of the ever-decreasing (especially with a big budget) few
films by grown, intelligent, mature adults made by them for them and
the rest who can keep up if they choose. This is the kind of film
the big studios used to make all the time, but started giving up on
in the 1980s as broader, more commercial fare and mall cineplexes
started to kick in, making its success all the more great into the
awards season where it is a top contender over and over again as we
post. Sadly, the world happens to be closer to another actual use of
nuclear weapons and the film could not be more timely.
I
intend to see it a few more times, preferably on photochemical film.
This is something I rarely encounter with new feature films, because
it is all too rare for movies this good to get made. The reasons are
for another essay and another time, but its timing is uncanny and
with all the hype and new wave of hate going on and especially in the
last few years on the upswing like nothing we have seen in decades,
though any time is the time for what will be soon considered a
classic. Nolan continues to be on one of the biggest commercial and
critical rolls in cinema history.
Definitely
see this one, or see it again, though if you already have, I know
you'll be taking it on again soon. It might even be greater than I
thought after the first screening.
As
for playback performance, both discs offer a mix of 2.20 X 1/1.78 X 1
aspect ratio framing, totally shot on photochemical negative film by
Kodak, including three Vision 3 color negative stocks and a new
variant of Double-X black and white negative, used in part as a
throwback to the Super-X and Super-XX monochrome film of the times
the film takes place. Though it lacks Dolby Vision, the 2160p
HEVC/H.265, HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition
image on the 4K disc is still stunning and impressive throughout with
amazing depth, detail and some of the best color range (and in the
case of the Double-X, gray scale) and to think, this is a reduction
of sorts form the original film, the most advanced photochemical film
of its kind ever made!
The
1080p digital High Definition image transfer on the regular Blu-ray
is good for the now-older format, but no match for the 4K, which sold
out immediately upon release and is rightly becoming one of the
biggest 4K discs ever made.
Director
of Photography Hoyte Van Hoytema, ASC, FSF, NSC, works with Nolan for
the third time and continues to be one of the great cameramen of the
moment with stunning work on Ad
Astra,
Her,
Nope,
The
Fighter
and the bond film Spectre.
He's the kind of artist so amazing that when I hear he will be
lensing a movie, that just ups my anticipation and expectation. The
demo shots on this disc are endless and it is a serious must have for
all serious film fans and home theater owners.
Though
the sound was 12-track in the best theatrical presentations,
including Dolby
Atmos and DTS: X, that is being held back (for now?) and we get a
still-strong DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix despite the
fact 4K and Blu-ray discs can offer both types of soundtracks. It is
still a very impressive soundtrack and mixdown in this case, so
though I wish the other option(s) existed here, it is solid and fuses
well with the image.
Extras
include Digital Code Copy, while the discs add...
THE
STORY OF OUR TIME: THE MAKING OF OPPENHEIMER
NOW
I AM BECOME DEATH - The cast, crew and producers join Christopher
Nolan in sharing the personal stories that made them passionate
about the project's ambitious design for bridging multiple genres.
THE
LUMINARIES - OPPENHEIMER's all-star cast discusses how they
synthesize the script's dramatic narrative with the real lives of
historical figures to embody their complex characters.
THE
MANHATTAN PROJECT - To visualize Oppenheimer's ability to see
different dimensions and to recreate the historic Trinity test,
filmmakers developed unique techniques to craft stunning effects
without using CGI.
THE
DEVIL OF DETAILS - A look at how production designer Ruth De Jong
and team recreated the entire town of Los Alamos with
period-accurate props, spectacular sets and painstaking attention to
authenticity.
WALKING
A MILE - Costume and makeup craftspeople populate OPPENHEIMER's
immersive environments with iconic figures by utilizing thousands of
pieces of clothing and cutting-edge prosthetic applications.
CAN
YOU HEAR MUSIC? - Working closely with Christopher Nolan, Ludwig
Goransson composes a deeply personal, historically expansive score
ranging from the organic to the alien to accompany the visual
landscape.
WE
CAN PERFORM THIS MIRACLE - Christopher Nolan's closest collaborators
demonstrate how his artistic vision creates camaraderie that drives
his talented crew to continue breaking new ground in filmmaking.
MEET
THE PRESS Q&A PANEL: OPPENHEIMER - Chuck Todd moderates a
conversation where Christopher Nolan, author Kai Bird, and
physicists Dr. Kip Thorne, Dr. Thom Mason and Dr. Carlo Rovelli
reflect on the fascinating science and doomsday concerns OPPENHEIMER
illustrates onscreen.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
