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Oppenheimer is a 2023 American biographical drama film directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Nolan and Kai Bird. The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who led the Los Alamos Laboratory and oversaw the Manhattan Project that developed the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The film opens in the 1930s as a young Oppenheimer is teaching physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is approached by officials from the U.S. government who are interested in his knowledge of atomic physics and recruiting scientists to work on a top secret project. Oppenheimer agrees to join the Manhattan Project and moves to Los Alamos, New Mexico where he assembles a team of the top physicists and mathematicians of the time. This includes figures like Richard Feynman, Edward Teller, Hans Bethe and Oppenheimer's brother Frank.

At Los Alamos, Oppenheimer oversees the massive effort to design and build the first atomic bombs. The film depicts the challenges and breakthroughs along the way as the team works to split the atom and unleash the immense power contained within. Oppenheimer drives them hard, insisting they make rapid progress to beat the Nazis who he fears are developing their own bomb. The stress of the project takes a toll on Oppenheimer who smokes and drinks heavily. His relationship with his wife Kitty suffers but she understands his devotion to the cause.

In July 1945, the first atomic bomb is successfully detonated during the Trinity test in the New Mexico desert. Oppenheimer famously recalls a line from the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." He is wracked with guilt over unleashing such destructive power into the world but also relieved the project was a success before Nazi Germany.

In August 1945, Oppenheimer and his team watch in dismay as their devices are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, horrified by reports of the carnage and radiation poisoning. While many celebrate having forced Japan's surrender and ending WWII, Oppenheimer sees it as a dark turn for humanity now faced with nuclear annihilation. He tries to persuade officials to place the nuclear program under civilian rather than military control.

The final part of the film depicts the security hearing in 1954 where Oppenheimer's loyalty is questioned. The FBI claims some of his associates may have communist ties. Oppenheimer argues he simply tried to help allies who fought fascism. In the end, his security clearance is revoked, effectively ending his career. The film closes with Oppenheimer sadly leaving the Los Alamos facility, warning those in power to be prudent with the terrifying force they now wield over the globe.

With its epic scope, all-star cast, and dramatic historical narrative, Oppenheimer promises to be one of the most ambitious and riveting films of Nolan's career. His adept direction combined with the acting chops of Cillian Murphy in the lead role is sure to provide a powerful look at one of the most consequential scientific figures of the 20th century.

Oppenheimer is a 2023 drama with a runtime of 3 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4 and a MetaScore of 88.