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Oppenheimer
[Blu-ray 4K]
Blu-ray ALL - Canada - Universal Pictures Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (23rd November 2023). |
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The Film
 This past summer a viral marketing phenomenon caught hold, it would be an epic battle for box office dominance between the real life story of the father of the atomic bomb... and a girl's doll brought to life. As I previously mentioned in my review for "Barbie" (2023) "Barbenheimer" would sweep the world and both movies benefitted with some of the biggest box office numbers since before the pandemic. People finally found a good enough reason to pack theaters, in part due to the viral marketing meme but mostly because both these films where worth going out for, for different reasons of course. Christopher Nolan has, over the last few years, established himself as the most in-demand film director of his generation. Delivering banger after banger such as visionary mind-bending classics like "Inception" (2010), "Interstellar" (2014), and redefining the super-hero genre with his "Dark Knight" Trilogy (2005-2012) of Batman films he once again proves his mastery of cinematic storytelling with his latest venture, "Oppenheimer." In this ambitious film, Nolan delves into the complex and morally charged story of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), the brilliant physicist often referred to as the "father of the atomic bomb." based on the book "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, the film comes at you from a dual perspective, from the time Oppenheimer was recruited and funded by the U.S. Government to develop an ultimate weapon before the Nazis, and the aftermath in which he is ostracized as a communist and a Congressional spotlight is placed on the flawed scientists told in black and white, while the former storyline is vivid color. Nolan's signature style is on full display, as he weaves together a narrative that seamlessly blends nonlinear storytelling with intense character development that moves at an incredibly fast-pace. Nolan has a unique knack at crafting scenes filled to the brim with expositional dialogue seem urgent and engaging, making the three hour runtime fly by. The film's pace is matched with the narrative's urgency of capturing the development and ethical dilemmas faced by Oppenheimer and his team as they race against time to develop the world's first atomic weapon. Cillian Murphy delivers a tour de force performance that's truly transformational, having lost an incredible amount of weight to play the role, he changed his appearance and stepped into the role wholeheartedly. There's no doubt that he will earn an Oscar nomination for it. Murphy managed to capture the internal struggles of a man torn between his scientific brilliance and the devastating consequences of his creations. You will be mesmerized by his turn and glued to the intense close-ups. The supporting cast is equally impressive, Robert Downey Jr. in particular as Lewis Strauss reminds us that he's more than just an Iron Man, he's a nuanced actor that brings gravitas to any picture. Downey without a shadow of a doubt delivers the finest performance of his career and should also be included in any Oscar conversations. He's magnetic, charismatic, duplicitous, conniving, all rolled into one. Emily Blunt, Alden Ehrenreich, Jason Clarke, Kenneth Branagh, Benny Safdie, David Krumholtz, Josh Hartnett, Florence Pugh, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, and Matt Damon among many others round out the incredible cast. One glaring criticism I have is that the women in Oppie's life felt drastically underwritten. Nolan's visual prowess is once again on display, with breathtaking cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema that captures both the grandeur of scientific discovery and the haunting aftermath of the bomb's deployment. Shooting on a few formats but primarily Panavision Super 70mm which allowed the film to be screen in IMAX 70mm across its theatrical exhibition. A beautiful big format picture that allows viewers to feel like their part of the movie. Ludwig Göransson's evocative score enhances the emotional resonance, building tension and contemplation throughout the film combining to create an incredible technical achievement in image and score that will likely stay with the viewer long after the film has ended. What sets "Oppenheimer" apart is Nolan's exploration of the moral and existential questions surrounding the development and use of nuclear weapons. The film doesn't shy away from the ethical implications of Oppenheimer's work, forcing the audience to confront the consequences of scientific innovation in the pursuit of power and the central figure of the film is a conflicted and flawed man, and there are plenty of moments Nolan tries to create sympathy for a man who was responsible for creating the worst weapon in all of human kind and one that was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of people. It's kind of hard to do... While some may find Nolan's nonlinear storytelling and complex narrative structure challenging, those willing to engage with the film will be rewarded with a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant experience. "Oppenheimer" is a testament to Nolan's ability to tackle weighty themes without sacrificing the entertainment value that has become synonymous with his name. In the end the film stands as a compelling addition to Nolan's filmography, showcasing his continued dedication to pushing the boundaries of storytelling and challenging audiences to contemplate the profound impact of human ingenuity.
Video
Presented in shifting ratios of 2.20:1 and 1.78:1 for the IMAX scenes, this 4K transfer is presented in 2160p 24/fps using HEVC compression and enhanced with HDR10. Universal has given "Oppenheimer" the full 100GB disc for the film only and every bit of bandwidth is used to deliver the most impressive image that is easily the best reference quality 4K image ever presented on a home video format. Shot on several different film formats from 35mm to 70mm and each format looks brilliant here. IMAX 70mm has a resolution of 18K so downscaling to 4K still looks breathtaking. The level of detail will astound you, the textures of the film stock are replicated accurately. Colors are vibrant and brilliant, black levels are deed, the black and white sections of the film also pop with a vibrancy that seems impossible. Furthermore, contrast is balanced well. I can't recommend this disc enough, simply put; this is the best transfer for a modern film I've ever seen and I hope you have a top-notch home theater to be able to take it all in.
Audio
Three audio tracks are included in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround, French DTS 5.1 surround, and Spanish DTS 5.1 surround. Before I get into the audio, I know what you're thinking; how does this not have an Atmos track? Or a DTS:X track? Honestly I've thought about this too and I don't really have an answer for you other than Nolan obviously preferred this DTS-HD track for home video. Now, despite not having a higher-end track like Atmos or DTS:X doesn't take away from the fact that this is a massively detailed, complex, and immersive audio experience. Dialogue makes up the forefront of this track, but it's deeply layered with surround activity that will give your speakers a complete workout, from the subtle moments to the massive ones this track is beautiful. I have no complaints, just like the image the audio is reference quality. Optional subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired, French, and Spanish.
Extras
DISC ONE: 4K UHD This disc features the film in 4K 2160p 24/fps and nothing else. DISC TWO: BLU-RAY This disc features the film in standard HD 1080p 24/fps and nothing else. DISC THREE: BLU-RAY This disc houses the extras, the first one is "The Story of Our Time: The Making of Oppenheimer" documentary with a "Play All" option (72:25) and presented in seven parts and features interviews with key cast and crew: - "Now I Am Become Death" (7:17) takes a look at the genesis of the project, on the real threat of nuclear war that faced a generation, and on adapting the book into the script and the beats of the story. - "The Luminaries" (11:27) takes a look at the real people that are featured and on the cast chosen to play these characters, the actors comment on their interpretation of these character and on bringing them to life onscreen, as well as their motivations and intentions. - "The Manhattan Project" (16:41) takes a look at Nolan's dedication to shooting as much in camera as possible to capture the realism of the film, on how the crew shot in IMAX 70mm format and on why it was neccessary for this project, as well as a look at the two different time frames in which one was shot in color and the other in black and white, which had its own challenges because Kodak had to create 65mm black and white film specifically for Nolan as well as all the other formats used. - "The Devil of the Details" (17:21) takes a look at the detail and research it took to recreate Los Alamos as a working set, a look at making the "bomb", and on the real locations used in the filming. - "Walking a Mile" (6:28) takes a closer look at the costume design, on how it helps create a world, on the level of detail to capture different timeframes, and on the scope and challenges they faced while designing. The clip also delves into the make-up and hair process. - "Can You Hear the Music?" (6:48) takes a look at how the film pushed the boundaries of film and on pushing musical boundaries when creating the score for the film. - "We Can Perform This Miracle" (6:49) takes a closer look at Nolan and the collaboration with his crew, on shooting the Oval Office set and the time crunch they faced in getting it all set up and ready it for shooting. "Innovations In Film: 65mm Black-and-White Film in Oppenheimer" featurette (8:21) this clip takes a look at shooting on film stock as apposed to digital, on how film has texture, on how it captures light, the tangible elements that film brings to a project. The feature delves into the process of developing 65mm black and white film and on working with Kodak to make it possible. The process was arduous process since 65mm black and white film does not exist today, they had to figure out how to process 65mm film, and the challenges of innovating around the format. It also delves into the process of color timing so that both the film exhibition and the digital exhibition looked identical so no matter what version you watched in cinema it looked as the filmmakers intended. "Meet The Press Q&A Panel: Oppenheimer" featurette (34:46), NBC's "Meet the Press" held a Q&A and features Christopher Nolan, the author of the book Kai Bird, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Kip Thorne, the Director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Dr. Thom Mason, Theoretical Physicist Dr. Carlo Rovelli and moderated by Chuck Todd. "To End All War: Oppenheimer & The Atomic Bomb" documentary (87:18) examines the real-life events depicted in the film and takes a closer look at the man behind the project, the creation of the bomb, its impact on the war, and on the world in general. A fascinating historical document on innovation that changed the balance of power. A series of five theatrical trailers are included with a "Play All" option (14:11), they are: - Teaser trailer (1:11) - Theatrical trailer 2 (2:04) - Theatrical trailer 3 (3:11) - "IMAX Exclusive" Theatrical trailer (2:40) - "Opening Look" Theatrical trailer (5:07)
Packaging
Packaged in a 3-disc keep case with first pressings including a cardboard slip-case. The Canadian release sadly omits the digital copy that the US release includes.
Overall
Nolan's magnum opus is a must buy in 4K if only from a technical level, one another level it's an engaging drama that captures its audience and doesn't let got for three hours. The extras are excellent and well curated, I just wish Nolan could have provided an audio commentary, or perhaps even historian commentary.
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