Christopher Nolan’s latest pulse-pounder tells the story of renowned World War II scientist J Robert Oppenheimer in a race to save the world
In August 1945, the US Air Force dropped two atomic bombs on Japan that obliterated communities and left over 200,000 dead. So horrific was the impact, that it remains the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict today. The man responsible for spearheading the research and creation of the weapon was Jewish American theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, who is the subject of director Christopher Nolan's new blockbuster. The film, which charts the journey of a man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it, enjoys an exclusive IMAX release this month in just 30 cinemas worldwide. Only three of those are in the UK, including the Leicester Square Odeon and Vue at Manchester Printworks, plus a special immersive run at London's Science Museum.
Oppenheimer's ID badge from the Los Alamos Laboratory, circa 1940s © Los Alamos National Laboratory
Based on the 2005 biography, American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin, Oppenheimer follows the 'Father of the Atomic Bomb', with a particular focus on his role in the Manhattan Project during World War II. This lethal programme saw the first successful atomic bomb detonation in the New Mexico desert in 1945, which subsequently led to the physicist's greatest triumphs and tragedies.
Nolan wrote and filmed Oppenheimer especially for IMAX 70mm, ensuring viewers receive unprecedented detail and clarity in a mesmerising show. Coming in at an impressive three hours, the movie stars the director's regular collaborator Cillian Murphy in the lead, alongside a star-studded cast that also includes Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Rami Malek and Robert Downey Jr. Showing for two weeks only at the Science Museum's Ronson Theatre, one of the biggest screens in the UK, make sure you don't miss your chance to see this action-packed drama on the (epicly) big screen.
By Dani Silver
Oppenheimer runs Friday 21 July – Thursday 3 August. Times vary. From £18.50. Science Museum, SW7 2DD. sciencemuseum.org.uk
Read our Oppenheimer review.