Why Oppenheimer was special: RDJ on Nolan's genius
Experience the power of Nolan's newest film, Oppenheimer, as the cast lauds its brilliance With a release date of July 21st, you won't want to miss this captivating and thought-provoking masterpiece
Robert Downey Jr. shares his experience of filming Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated biopic, Oppenheimer, and why it was such a unique experience. Nolan, who is known for pushing the boundaries of filmmaking with his use of IMAX technology, takes on the challenge of portraying the complex historical figure of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the creator of the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy stars as Oppenheimer himself, alongside an impressive cast that includes Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek and the renowned Downey. Downey discusses his experience of working with Nolan in an IMAX-focused behind-the-scenes featurette, where he explains how Nolan’s approach to shooting made the film stand out from the rest. Check out Downey’s thoughts on the matter in the space below (around 1:38 of the clip):
Oppenheimer’s Cast Has Been Effusive In Their Praise Of Nolan
As I sat in the backseat of the vintage ‘47 Packard, balancing an IMAX camera on my lap, I couldn't help but feel transported back to the golden age of cinema. The close proximity of the lenses as they zoomed in on the action woke me up and reminded me of the artistry that goes into creating truly great films.
In addition to Downey's positive remarks, his co-star Pugh also expressed her admiration for the Oppenheimer filming experience. In an interview with BBC Radio 1 in April, she described the set as having an incredible atmosphere.
The experience of working with Christopher Nolan was absolutely thrilling in a unique way. It was incredible to witness his dedication to the art of filmmaking and his passion for traditional methods. The entire crew was motivated and worked incredibly hard to earn his approval. The atmosphere on set was amazing, and everyone was proud to be a part of it, without any weirdness or awkwardness. Alden Ehrenreich, who is also a part of Oppenheimer, has spoken highly of his experience with Nolan and his team, describing it as "terrific" and defining it as a different kind of quality. Additionally, Cillian Murphy, another Oppenheimer actor, has praised Nolan's script for the biopic, stating that it is the best script he has ever read in an interview with Rolling Stone UK.
According to the director of Oppenheimer and his cast, the admiration is mutual. In 2022, Nolan praised star Robert Downey Jr., stating, "Watching him lose himself in that performance, and completely lose himself in a character in this way, was just an incredible reminder of just what an amazing actor he is." While it remains to be seen how audiences will receive Oppenheimer in its much-hyped box office showdown with Barbie, the words of the cast and director suggest that it will be a memorable and immersive experience.
