# Oppenheimer (2023 Christopher Nolan film) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [July 21, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361 "2023-07-21T18:47:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/21 "2023-07-22T13:51:44Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > I would definitely recommend seeing this in IMAX or at least on the biggest screen you can, as well as for full theatrical sound, if only the “The Scene”. Apparently there’s this whole thing known as “Croppenheimer”: there are a number of different formats that the movie is being shown in, and even if you see the movie in ‘IMAX’, it may not be the fully uncropped format— you need to ensure it’s ‘IMAX 70mm’. > **[Croppenheimer explained: Your last minute guide to seeing Oppenheimer](https://www.avclub.com/your-last-minute-guide-to-seeing-oppenheimer-1850656635)** > > Confused by all the options Christopher Nolan bestowed upon us for Oppenheimer? You’re not alone. Thankfully, our hassle-free viewing guide is here to help. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/22 "2023-07-22T13:55:29Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Apparently there’s this whole thing known as “Croppenheimer”: there are a number of different formats that the movie is being shown in, and even if you see the movie in ‘IMAX’, it may not be the fully uncropped format— you need to ensure it’s ‘IMAX 70mm’. Michigan used to have a very accessible IMAX theater at the Henry Ford that showed movies in “full IMAX”, not the cheap cop-out versions. It’s gone now and Michigan has two theaters showing IMAX in the entire state. I believe I read that 19 theaters in the nation are showing this movie in its full IMAX version. Back when we had the IMAX close to use, I saw Ghost Protocol, the fourth Mission Impossible movie in full IMAX(it had segments, not the entire movie, filmed this way.). It was downright amazing. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/23 "2023-07-22T13:59:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Michigan used to have a very accessible IMAX theater at the Henry Ford that showed movies in “full IMAX”, not the cheap cop-out versions. It’s gone now Aw crap, I didn’t know that! I was thinking, “I bet the Henry Ford IMAX will show the movie in 70mm format”. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/24 "2023-07-22T14:08:35Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Aw crap, I didn’t know that! I was thinking, “I bet the Henry Ford IMAX will show the movie in 70mm format” Friend told me this year when I mentioned Henry Ford. I read later the upgrade to current IMAX technology was too expensive for them, so they converted it to a more regular theater. I saw the opening show there of Fantasia 2000 in January 2000. Shame it shut down; it was terrific. It cost about $40 for my wife and me to see Mission Impossible 4, but the scene where Tom Cruise goes outside on the windows of Burj Khalifa is a top theatrical moment for both of us. The entire theater was gasping, laughing, and cheering at the end because it was so terrific in full IMAX format. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/25 "2023-07-22T14:31:35Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > But… why would I want to see Barbie? > > It’s basically supposed to be a live action _Lego Movie_. I won’t be seeing it in the theater, but I will catch it on streaming. Well, I haven’t seen _Lego Movie_ either… Don’t know if I’m missing anything worthwhile there. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/26 "2023-07-22T14:37:00Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Michigan used to have a very accessible IMAX theater at the Henry Ford that showed movies in “full IMAX”, not the cheap cop-out versions. It’s gone now and Michigan has two theaters showing IMAX in the entire state. Assuming [this list](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2023/07/20/oppenheimer-70mm-imax-theaters-locations/) is accurate, the Chrysler IMAX Dome Theatre at the Michigan Science Center will be using the 70mm format. As for me, I would have to brave the border to Langley BC. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/27 "2023-07-22T14:38:56Z")
Looking forward to seeing it when it streams. A really good read about Edward Teller is _[The Firecracker Boys](https://www.amazon.com/Firecracker-Boys-Dan-ONeill/dp/0465003486/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2E8R5NFQBVD6Y&keywords=the+firecracker+boys&qid=1690036522&sprefix=the+firecracker+boys%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1)_, by Dan O’Neill. Teller was a lunatic who thought he was a visionary when it came to the use of nuclear bombs to create harbors and move those pesky mountains that are always getting in the way. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/28 "2023-07-22T14:55:53Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > there’s always at least one huge stupid thing that ruins all the movies that I’ve seen from him. Is this movie REALLY LOUD? Like, louder than the actual trinity explosion loud? > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > but I’m amused that some percent of the audience wants to see both this and the Barbie movie. I want to see both. I like the idea of meta-aware oddball adaptations. I loved the LEGO movies. They are quite clever, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/29 "2023-07-22T18:31:19Z")
Closest 70mm IMAX is 2 hrs away and they’re marketing it as a limited run which pretty much covers any movie. So I guess it’s regular theater or watch it at home. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/30 "2023-07-22T18:42:48Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Also, _YIKES_ at the Florence Pugh scenes I’ve read that there’s FF nudity in this movie. Is it just some BS gratuitous crap or does it actually serve some function? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/31 "2023-07-22T18:54:53Z")
This is on my wish list to watch at home – not going to the theater to see it. Christopher Nolan does good stuff. I did, however, at my son’s urging, see both _Interstellar_ and _Dunkirk_ in IMAX. My son, a big Christopher Nolan fan, saw both in film IMAX (not digital IMAX), the _Dunkirk_ showing at TIFF where Nolan was in attendance and took questions afterwards, extolling the virtues of actual 70mm film IMAX. Digital IMAX is very good and uses two synced projectors each displaying an interlaced half of the scan lines, but nothing can beat the laterally imaged 70mm film. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/32 "2023-07-22T19:10:23Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > I’ve read that there’s FF nudity in this movie. That’s incorrect. You see Pugh topless, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/33 "2023-07-22T19:21:15Z")
Just saw it and thought it was a great movie. What a fantastic cast! (I kept thinking to myself, “Is that _really_ Josh Hartnett?”) The non-linear story telling, 3-hour running time and a whole lot of characters to keep track of may not appeal to some, but I think Nolan did a fantastic job. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/34 "2023-07-22T20:11:52Z")
Just got back from seeing this in standard format (all nearby IMAX were sold out.) I thought it was excellent. For 3 hours with a LOT of dialogue it did not feel overlong to me. Cillian Murphy was excellent, as was most of the cast. My only (slight) criticism is that I was more interested in the bomb race part of the plot, but they spent a lot of time on the political aspects. They weren’t _bad_, but I was less interested in those parts. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/35 "2023-07-23T00:52:24Z")
Just saw it in IMAX with a group of teenagers and they all loved it. You could tell the entire sold-out audience was with this movie all the way, gasping and laughing at the appropriate moments, applauding at the end. Cillian Murphy has got to be a lock for Best Actor, right? Somehow Christopher Nolan managed to make a summer blockbuster out of a three-hour history lesson in which a major part of the plot involves the Senate confirmation hearing of a Secretary of Commerce nominee. That, and a lot of scenes of guys sitting at tables and discussing science and politics. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/36 "2023-07-23T00:56:19Z")
Yeah, the nudity isn’t FF but there’s definitely an element of shock to one of the two sex scenes. It does serve the plot, however. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/37 "2023-07-23T01:06:32Z")
Another “just watched it” here. I saw it on a standard screen, although after the curtains parted and the screen was illuminated, it widened to fill the entire back wall; don’t recall ever having seen that. Maybe this was the cheapie IMAX version or something(?). I’ll preface with saying that I really enjoyed this and would recommend to anyone who is interested in the subject or is just a cinephile and loves good performances. If you’re intimidated by the 3 hr. run time, I’ll reiterate what others have said; it absolutely doesn’t _feel_ like 3 hours. That being said, if you wait to stream, I honestly don’t think you’ll miss much, audio/visual wise. I am absolutely happy to be convinced otherwise, if anyone wants to tell me which parts were especially awesome in larger format. A must see for any Cillian Murphy fans, and holy cow, I did not recognize Robert Downey Jr. for a good 10 sec. when he first showed up. So good to see him “acting” (no offense to Ironman fans). I don’t want to say too much until more folks have had a chance to see it, so I just have a few non spoilery thoughts: As a Big Bang Theory fan, I wondered if the fellow playing bongos in two scenes was supposed to be Richard Feynman I tried to match up the scientists’ names with the names of Sheldon’s cats. Matt Damon as Groves, the Director of the project was . . .odd. I love MD but somehow he, or the way his part was written, didn’t fit. Was Kitty O. known as a bitch? Until 2/3 of the way through, she seems quite cruel to her children ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/38 "2023-07-23T09:51:40Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I wondered if the fellow playing bongos in two scenes was supposed to be Richard Feynman 100%. And the window glass thing was real, too. There was a quick scene earlier when he’s being recruited (I don’t think his name came up, but you can tell from the accent). Excellent movie. I’m glad it took a relatively hands-off approach to the moral questions, since it is a morally complex topic with no easy answers. Although I knew that Oppenheimer had is security clearance revoked, I had no idea of Lewis Strauss or any of the other backstory there. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/39 "2023-07-23T16:32:01Z")
I’m on holiday at the moment and can’t find an english language showing on a big enough screen to do it justice but when we get back the whole family is going to see it together. The general buzz and the overall feedback both here and by word of mouth suggests it is something worth seeing. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361/40 "2023-07-23T20:13:58Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Was Kitty O. known as a bitch? Until 2/3 of the way through, she seems quite cruel to her children She was a scientist in her own right (botanist/biologist), but was unhappy being relegated to being nothing more than a wife/mother during the Los Alamos years. Apparently, she became an alcoholic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppenheimer-2023-christopher-nolan-film/987361.md?page=3)