Jul 23, 2023·edited Jul 23, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
Thank you, Greg. Oppenheimer is a masterpiece of history and heroism. I am 71 years old and I have thought about the decision to bomb Japan since I was perhaps 15.
Nolan presents this difficult decision from several viewpoints, but firmly comes down to the correct conclusion. Firebombing of Tokyo and other cities had already taken more lives than the two A bombs did.
(conservative estimates suggest that the firestorm caused by incendiary bombs killed at least 80,000 people, and likely more than 100,000, in a single night)
The conflict of creation of A bombs in Oppenheimer is brilliantly presented throughout.
Yes, I also believe the last hour of the movie was too long, and a (realistic) downer. The destruction of such a war hero for monster Joe McCarthy's political ambitions was obscene and shameful.
The UK also shamefully destroyed Alan Turning after he broke the German Enigma codes and essentially won the war in Europe more than any other single scientist.
Yes, another 30 minutes could have been cut to improve the pacing and reduce the run length to 2+ hours. But the abuse that was poured onto Oppenheimer was accurate and terrible and needed to be shown, especially as the GOP is once again charging down the road of fascism.
My husband and I also went to Oppenheimer last night. I understand what you’re saying about the character development and trying to keep track of them all. Interesting that once we got the bomb, our govt failed to protect the scientist who led the project. The scenes with Strauss and Oppenheimer were winners and Remi Malik at the confirmation hearing was perfect! I thought his (Oppen) wife was a scientist also briefly mentioned at start of movie? All in all I enjoyed the movie.
Barbenheimer has given many of us a defense to commit pink on fuschia fashion crimes and combine the look with the best of black and white 50s menswear *hats* and blazers. Don't take this moment from me, Greg. It almost rivals steampunk.
Well, unfortunately I have to disagree with your son. The Barbie movie was easily one of my all-time favorites. I laughed so hard I was afraid I might get kicked out of the theater.
Appreciate the line, “the nerdiest of nerdy men, who in real life looked less like Ryan Gosling and more like Ben Shapiro.“, and the Sunday piece Greg!
Having photographed/animated for defense contractors and the DOD for years, I know too much of the story about the destruction and deaths attributed to the Manhattan Project, and our military intelligence oxymoron for insanity!
Fat Man, Little Boy, The Trinity test, of The Gadget, Las Alamos, Bikini Atoll. Coupled with Operation Paperclip, and our continued use of depleted uranium weaponry, hmm great world we’re denizens of eh?
I’ve listened to the NPR interview about Nolan’s Oppenheimer, that’s enough for this anti-war coloured Kat!
Pearl Harbor, the Manhattan Project, and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki all happened during my lifetime; so I suppose I should care about seeing Oppenheimer. I won’t, for a number of reasons, including medical issues, that have kept my wife and me out of theaters for years now. We do plan to see “To End All War,” the hour-and-a-half documentary, apparently on a similar subject, that we have saved on YouTube. The most remarkable outcome of the nuclear era, to me, is that we have not only avoided destroying each other, but that Japan is now a friendly country. I’m not sure that “time heals all wounds,” but obviously over time a lot can heal. And a lot has.
Ben Shapiro is that person who lives in the neighborhood that you cross the street or hide behind a bush to avoid if you see him coming. He's an annoying crank, and his opinion is modeled on what he thinks what are now Trumpists, want to hear. His biggest problem is he also believes his own bullshit.
"Oppenheimer." I got into a rabbit hole of "Oppenheimer/Barbie" stories yesterday and decided that as ridiculous as it seems on the surface, I was DEFINITELY going to see Barbie. With that settled, I went into Oppenheimer stuff. I bought the "American Prometheus" book, which I thought I had, but didn't. As far as the film, I simply DON'T go to theaters anymore. The last time I did was to see, "Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story" in the summer of 2019, and I couldn't tell you what I saw in a theater before that. If I could be guaranteed an evening with few people in the theater, and far away from me with their popcorn chewing, nachos crunching, drinks spilling, phones lighting up, and TALKING, I might go, but I can't get that guarantee, so no.
But I did decide to finally watch "Tenet" last night. I am more than happy to watch a movie more than once to catch things I may have missed the first time through, but "Tenet" left me completely cold. I didn't care to spend another 150 minutes trying to suss out a plot/story that I really didn't care about in the first place. "Dunkirk" left me much the same way: an overly LOUD disjointed mess of a film. "Tenet" and "Dunkirk" are Nolan's last two films before "Oppenheimer." Before that were masterpieces of filmmaking like "Interstellar," "Inception," The "Batman" trilogy, "Insomnia," and "The Prestige," which is one of my favorite films, and "Insomnia" is highly underrated. So, what happened? I have no idea. I was looking forward to "Oppenheimer," and may even have gone into a theater to watch it, but after reading last night and your column today, Greg, I'll wait until it hits streaming and/or Blu-ray. Tidbits I learned... It's 90 to 120 days from the opening until it hits streaming. There is also NO CGI in the film. People also think it's going to sweep the Oscars.
I am FASCINATED by this era in American history. I've read books, seen documentaries, was a huge fan of the two-season show, "Manhattan." It's unfortunate that Nolan seems to be continuing down Dunkirk-Tenet Road, instead of returning to what made him great in the first place. People are constantly changing, I guess. Lame.
Right this very minute I have fuschia high waisted wide leg office pants, white ruched short sleeve with bows on each arm/shoulder and silver beads on the bows. Vionic magenta and fuschia (with leather) sneakers and a black/white tweed golf cap.
I have the gingham fuschia/white crop pants for next week. It's so on....just sucks how hot it is. Have to do vests not jackets if outside.
Thank you, Gail. The last hour is the hardest, but Oppenheimer was surprisingly strong during these hard years. And in the end, a kind of justice was served.
Jul 23, 2023·edited Jul 23, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
Yes, shameful. But the A bombs still did not convince the military government to surrender. The Emperor had to step in, a very unusual occurrence, to agree the surrender. If the military government had had its way, millions more would have died. A hard truth.
So many times, These jewel like pieces help me to understand feelings I’ve not understood before. My kid said today, after leaving a terrible job, standing in my house with his teenage girls; “I feel like I’m on the edge of a big adventure.” “I’m just starting out.” Until I read this piece I didn’t even remember this happened just today. He was all smiles. At that moment, I felt so disembodied, sad, horrified for him. He just turned 50. He could probably tell me lots about Oppenheimer. He knows a lot. He was smiling and happy after a great visit. He knows a lot about a lot. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him about the black flag I reported flying through Tucson. For me, the bomb is so real. A thesis title I did was “The Bomb Is Always Exploding.” (See my home X page) But many people don’t get it. My son “gets the bomb’s presence,” But he is almost starting his life over after not dying after caring for covid patients in the hospital. He wants to live now. My feeling now was not enough people understand what is always exploding on a daily basis, to prevent this escalation of energy we are experiencing now; fascism, unrest, created poverty, cruelty being the point. I’m sorry, I’m off my own topic at this point. The only way I can get through this is to center myself and keep getting through the next moment. Community really really helps. Eloy knows this; thus he will destroy it. I will see this movie…if I can find a reason. Thx Greg. I might not post much here, but I read.
Optimists invent airplanes; pessimists invent parachutes. 😉
Thank you, Greg. Oppenheimer is a masterpiece of history and heroism. I am 71 years old and I have thought about the decision to bomb Japan since I was perhaps 15.
Nolan presents this difficult decision from several viewpoints, but firmly comes down to the correct conclusion. Firebombing of Tokyo and other cities had already taken more lives than the two A bombs did.
(conservative estimates suggest that the firestorm caused by incendiary bombs killed at least 80,000 people, and likely more than 100,000, in a single night)
The conflict of creation of A bombs in Oppenheimer is brilliantly presented throughout.
Yes, I also believe the last hour of the movie was too long, and a (realistic) downer. The destruction of such a war hero for monster Joe McCarthy's political ambitions was obscene and shameful.
The UK also shamefully destroyed Alan Turning after he broke the German Enigma codes and essentially won the war in Europe more than any other single scientist.
Yes, another 30 minutes could have been cut to improve the pacing and reduce the run length to 2+ hours. But the abuse that was poured onto Oppenheimer was accurate and terrible and needed to be shown, especially as the GOP is once again charging down the road of fascism.
My husband and I also went to Oppenheimer last night. I understand what you’re saying about the character development and trying to keep track of them all. Interesting that once we got the bomb, our govt failed to protect the scientist who led the project. The scenes with Strauss and Oppenheimer were winners and Remi Malik at the confirmation hearing was perfect! I thought his (Oppen) wife was a scientist also briefly mentioned at start of movie? All in all I enjoyed the movie.
Barbenheimer has given many of us a defense to commit pink on fuschia fashion crimes and combine the look with the best of black and white 50s menswear *hats* and blazers. Don't take this moment from me, Greg. It almost rivals steampunk.
Well, unfortunately I have to disagree with your son. The Barbie movie was easily one of my all-time favorites. I laughed so hard I was afraid I might get kicked out of the theater.
I love that you're not fan-boying all over the place, and not from a contrarian's place, but from a movie lover's.
Appreciate the line, “the nerdiest of nerdy men, who in real life looked less like Ryan Gosling and more like Ben Shapiro.“, and the Sunday piece Greg!
Having photographed/animated for defense contractors and the DOD for years, I know too much of the story about the destruction and deaths attributed to the Manhattan Project, and our military intelligence oxymoron for insanity!
Fat Man, Little Boy, The Trinity test, of The Gadget, Las Alamos, Bikini Atoll. Coupled with Operation Paperclip, and our continued use of depleted uranium weaponry, hmm great world we’re denizens of eh?
I’ve listened to the NPR interview about Nolan’s Oppenheimer, that’s enough for this anti-war coloured Kat!
Pearl Harbor, the Manhattan Project, and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki all happened during my lifetime; so I suppose I should care about seeing Oppenheimer. I won’t, for a number of reasons, including medical issues, that have kept my wife and me out of theaters for years now. We do plan to see “To End All War,” the hour-and-a-half documentary, apparently on a similar subject, that we have saved on YouTube. The most remarkable outcome of the nuclear era, to me, is that we have not only avoided destroying each other, but that Japan is now a friendly country. I’m not sure that “time heals all wounds,” but obviously over time a lot can heal. And a lot has.
Ben Shapiro is that person who lives in the neighborhood that you cross the street or hide behind a bush to avoid if you see him coming. He's an annoying crank, and his opinion is modeled on what he thinks what are now Trumpists, want to hear. His biggest problem is he also believes his own bullshit.
"Oppenheimer." I got into a rabbit hole of "Oppenheimer/Barbie" stories yesterday and decided that as ridiculous as it seems on the surface, I was DEFINITELY going to see Barbie. With that settled, I went into Oppenheimer stuff. I bought the "American Prometheus" book, which I thought I had, but didn't. As far as the film, I simply DON'T go to theaters anymore. The last time I did was to see, "Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story" in the summer of 2019, and I couldn't tell you what I saw in a theater before that. If I could be guaranteed an evening with few people in the theater, and far away from me with their popcorn chewing, nachos crunching, drinks spilling, phones lighting up, and TALKING, I might go, but I can't get that guarantee, so no.
But I did decide to finally watch "Tenet" last night. I am more than happy to watch a movie more than once to catch things I may have missed the first time through, but "Tenet" left me completely cold. I didn't care to spend another 150 minutes trying to suss out a plot/story that I really didn't care about in the first place. "Dunkirk" left me much the same way: an overly LOUD disjointed mess of a film. "Tenet" and "Dunkirk" are Nolan's last two films before "Oppenheimer." Before that were masterpieces of filmmaking like "Interstellar," "Inception," The "Batman" trilogy, "Insomnia," and "The Prestige," which is one of my favorite films, and "Insomnia" is highly underrated. So, what happened? I have no idea. I was looking forward to "Oppenheimer," and may even have gone into a theater to watch it, but after reading last night and your column today, Greg, I'll wait until it hits streaming and/or Blu-ray. Tidbits I learned... It's 90 to 120 days from the opening until it hits streaming. There is also NO CGI in the film. People also think it's going to sweep the Oscars.
I am FASCINATED by this era in American history. I've read books, seen documentaries, was a huge fan of the two-season show, "Manhattan." It's unfortunate that Nolan seems to be continuing down Dunkirk-Tenet Road, instead of returning to what made him great in the first place. People are constantly changing, I guess. Lame.
Right this very minute I have fuschia high waisted wide leg office pants, white ruched short sleeve with bows on each arm/shoulder and silver beads on the bows. Vionic magenta and fuschia (with leather) sneakers and a black/white tweed golf cap.
I have the gingham fuschia/white crop pants for next week. It's so on....just sucks how hot it is. Have to do vests not jackets if outside.
Hmmmm
Greg, many months ago i sent you the Bohr/Heisenberg film.
I watched it twice.
The "bomb" is likely never going to get squeezed down
into a 2 to 3 hour film.
Technology is a failure.
"The advent of agriculture was the beginning of the decline of "Manunkind"
Jared Diamond
Humans are a failed experiment
Your pals
Hunter/gatherers
Cal and Amoukar
Thank you, Gail. The last hour is the hardest, but Oppenheimer was surprisingly strong during these hard years. And in the end, a kind of justice was served.
Yes, shameful. But the A bombs still did not convince the military government to surrender. The Emperor had to step in, a very unusual occurrence, to agree the surrender. If the military government had had its way, millions more would have died. A hard truth.
Yes, even in the film, Oppenheimer was extremely distant and detached.
I’m more of a realist than pessimist so I’d invent both the airplane and parachute 🪂
So many times, These jewel like pieces help me to understand feelings I’ve not understood before. My kid said today, after leaving a terrible job, standing in my house with his teenage girls; “I feel like I’m on the edge of a big adventure.” “I’m just starting out.” Until I read this piece I didn’t even remember this happened just today. He was all smiles. At that moment, I felt so disembodied, sad, horrified for him. He just turned 50. He could probably tell me lots about Oppenheimer. He knows a lot. He was smiling and happy after a great visit. He knows a lot about a lot. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him about the black flag I reported flying through Tucson. For me, the bomb is so real. A thesis title I did was “The Bomb Is Always Exploding.” (See my home X page) But many people don’t get it. My son “gets the bomb’s presence,” But he is almost starting his life over after not dying after caring for covid patients in the hospital. He wants to live now. My feeling now was not enough people understand what is always exploding on a daily basis, to prevent this escalation of energy we are experiencing now; fascism, unrest, created poverty, cruelty being the point. I’m sorry, I’m off my own topic at this point. The only way I can get through this is to center myself and keep getting through the next moment. Community really really helps. Eloy knows this; thus he will destroy it. I will see this movie…if I can find a reason. Thx Greg. I might not post much here, but I read.