4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Review: Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER

Home » 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Review: Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER

Dec 02, 2023 Posted by Kyle Nolan in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Christopher Nolan’s Oppeheimer tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who led the effort to build the first atomic bomb, which was unleashed on Japan to bring a swift end to the second World War. The film follows a three act structure, with the first act looking at the early life of brilliant physicist Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) as he studies abroad, before returning to the U.S. to start the nation’s first Quantum Mechanics programs at Caltech and Berkeley. It also explores his romantic relationships with communist party member (Florence Pugh) and eventual wife Kitty (Emily Blunt).

Once the U.S. military learns that Nazi scientists have achieved nuclear fission, it becomes a race between the nations to see who can be the first to weaponize this technology and build an atomic bomb, as this will most certainly determine the outcome of the war. Oppenheimer is approached by General Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) to head up the Manhattan Project, though he is wary that his past connection to the communist party may be an issue. Oppenheimer recruits top scientists and builds a small town in Los Alamos where they can live and work long with their families during the three year effort.

The final act follows the post-war scrutiny of the project and the aftermath for the characters. Oppenheimer wonders about this power he has unleashed upon the world—it was supposed to be a force to end all wars, but will it ultimately cause more suffering? Despite this three-act structure, the film is told in a nonlinear way, contently jumping back and forth in time, particularly to the post-war “present”, which is the focus and culmination of the final act. Oppenheimer is being questioned about his loyalties and his work, and Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), the commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), is being questioned by a Senate oversight committee. Straus is like the Salieri to Oppenheimer’s Mozart. He finds himself jealous of Oppenheimer’s knowledge and skills, and constantly feels like he’s not getting the respect and notoriety he should.

I really enjoyed the first two acts of the movie. The first provides an interesting look into Oppenheimer’s studies and way of thinking, while the second act is quite exciting, running the gamut of genres from western as they build this small town, to heist movie as Oppenheimer recruits his team, plots out how to tackle this problem of building a bomb, and overcomes obstacles, to tense action movie as the film builds the final test of the Trinity bomb. There’s also a bit of a spy movie feel when it’s suggested that there could be a Nazi spy in the ranks at Los Alamos. The passage of time is creatively demonstrated via the use of two fishbowls containing marbles, showing how much plutonium/uranium has been refined for the bomb.

I found the third act to be quite slow, and a bit of a letdown after all the buildup and culmination of the second act. The movie could have just ended after the second act and it would have been satisfying. Instead, things switch into more of a black and white courtroom/political drama. I don’t think much of this final act was really needed—it almost felt like it could have been its own separate movie, exploring a different aspect of Oppenheimer’s life rather than extending things for another 45 minutes.

The 3-hour epic features a stellar cast that includes many recognizable faces, such as Alden Ehrenreich, Scott Grimes, Jason Clarke, Tony Goldwyn, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Conti, David Krumholtz, Matthias Schweighöfer, Josh Hartnett, Alex Wolff, Josh Zuckerman, Michael Angarano, Emma Dumont, Florence Pugh, Matthew Modine, Dane DeHaan, Josh Peck, Benny Safdie, James Urbaniak, Rami Malek, Casey Affleck, James Remar, Gary Oldman, and many more. While it is wonderful to see so many stars in one film, this is also one of its drawbacks. Oppenheimer has so many characters, all of whom are based on real people, that it often becomes difficult to keep track of who is who, especially if they only appear in a scene or two.

Universal’s 4K release looks and sounds amazing. The video is pristine, with a clean and clear picture that provides an excellent level of detail in textures and faces. The film is constantly shifting aspect ratios between a more cinematic 2.20:1 and the IMAX ratio of 1.78:1—the latter used primarily for close-ups. I did not find this distracting or jarring at all, with scenes flowing between these two ratios very naturally. Nolan also makes use of both black and white and color, with the black and white used for the “present” storyline involving Lewis Strauss. The movie is shot on film, and impressively all effects were done practically. The result looks quite beautiful.

Surprisingly, this release doesn’t offer a Dolby Atmos audio track, instead going with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track instead. That said, the audio track is still quite immersive, providing clear dialogue throughout, a stellar score, and a sound that often rumbles the room.

The release includes 4K and Blu-ray movie discs as well as a Blu-ray bonus disc, which are placed on a tray in a standard 4K keepcase, along with an embossed carboard slipcover, and an insert containing both a code to redeem for a 4K MA digital copy of the film. The supplemental material consists of an extensive 7-part making of documentary, an interesting look into the IMAX innivations, a Meet The Press panel with the filmmakers, and another extensive documentary on the life of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer. I wish Nolan would record commentaries for his films.

What’s Included:

Film: (3::00:22)

2160p / Mixed 2.20:1 and 1.78:1
Dolby Vision / HDR10
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, Spanish 5.1 DTS Digital Surround
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Blu-ray:

1080p / Mixed 2.20:1 and 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, French 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, English DVS (Descriptive Video Service)
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Digital (code may not be valid after 1/31/2025):

4K Digital Copy (Movies Anywhere compatible)

Extras:
Bonus Material can be found on the Special Features Blu-ray Disc. Select from:

The Story Of Our Time: The Making Of Oppenheimer (1:12:25)
Extensive seven-part making of documentary. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, archival clips, and interviews with director/writer/producer Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, producer Charles Roven, director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema, production designer Ruth De Jong, executive producer Thomas Hayslip, IMAX consultant David Keighley, film loader Bobby Pavlovsky, costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, first assistant camera Keith Davis, editor Jennifer Lame, visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson, special effects supervisor Scott Fisher, visual effects producer Mike Chambers, IMAX camera technician Scott C. Smith, researcher Lauren Sandoval, supervising art director Samantha Englender, stunt coordinator George Cottle, executive director of the Los Alamos Historical Society Elizabeth Martineau, IAS communications and PR manager Lee Sandberg, IAS CEO Janine Purcaro, makeup department head Luisa Abel, composer Ludwig Göransson, and stars Matt Damon (“Leslie Groves”), Cillian Murphy (“J. Robert Oppenheimer”), Emily Blunt (“Kitty Oppenheimer”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Lewis Strauss”), Florence Pugh (“Jean Tatlock”), Benny Safdie (“Edward Teller”), Kenneth Branagh (“Niels Bohr”), Tom Conti (“Albert Einstein”), Josh Hartnett (“Ernest Lawrence”), David Krumholtz (“Isidor Rabi”), Gustaf Skarsgård (“Hans Bethe”), David Dastmalchian (“William Borden”), Matthew Modine (“Vannevar Bush”), Alden Ehrenreich (“Senate Aide”), Dylan Arnold (“Frank Oppenheimer”). Play All, or select from:
- 01. Now I Am Become Death (7:17)
  The cast and filmmakers discuss their own connection to the source material, and what makes them passionate about the film, the different genres explored by the film, and more.
- 02. The Luminaries (11:27)
  The cast and crew discuss figuring out how to portray Oppenheimer, and the massive ensemble cast/characters—all of whom are based on real people.
- 03. The Manhattan Project (16:41)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about shooting on IMAX, distinguishing the two different storylines, creating black & white IMAX film, creating the special and visual effects using practical methods only, and more.
- 04. The Devil Of Details (17:21)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about recreating Los Alamos in painstaking detail, shooting in the real locations, and more.
- 05. >Walking A Mile (6:28)
  The cast and filmmakers discuss finding the look of the characters using costumes, hair, makeup and prosthetics.
- 06. Can You Hear Music? (6:48)
  A look at creating the film’s score.
- 07. We Can Perform This Miracle (6:49)
  The cast and filmmakers discuss working with Christopher Nolan, and how the team came together in a crisis to build the Oval Office set, and in general to make the best movie possible.
Trailers (14:11)
Play All, or select from:
- Teaser (1:11)
- Trailer 2 (2:04)
- IMAX Exclusive Trailer (2:40)
- Trailer 3 (3:11)
- Opening Look (5:07)
Innovations In Film: 65mm Black and White Film in Oppenheimer (8:21)
FotoKem employees and director of photography Hoote Van Hoytema discuss the benefits of using film rather than shooting digitally, creating, processing and cutting 65mm black and white film for the movie, making the digital version as close as possible to the IMAX analog version, and more. Includes interviews with supervising digital colorist Kostas Theodosiou, chief color scientist Joseph Slomka, project supervisor Andrew Oran, senior digital finishing producer Steven Celniker, supervising lab color timer Kristen Zimmerman, and 65mm negative cutter Simone Appleby.
Meet The Press Q&A Panel: Oppenheimer (34:46)
Chuck Todd moderates this conversation with writer/director Christopher Nolan, author Kai Bird (American Prometheus), and physicists Dr. Kip Thorne, Dr. Thom Mason and Dr. Carlo Rovelli. Panel took place on July 15, 2023.
To End All War: Oppenheimer & The Atomic Bomb (1:27:18)
Documentary on the life and work of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, using archival footage, recreations, and interviews with authors, historians, educators, filmmakers, and more. Includes interviews with daughter of Los Alamos scientist Ellen Bradbury Reid, co-author Kai Bird (American Prometheus), senior historian at Los Alamos National Laboratory Alan Carr, author Jennet Conant (109 East Palace). Columbia University History professor David Eisenbach, Filmmaker Jon Else (The Day After Trinity), author Gregg Herken (Brotherhood of the Bomb), theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku, writer/director Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Science educator Bill Nye, grandson Charles Oppenheimer, author Richard Rhodes (The Making of the Atomic Bomb), Nuclear security expert Dr. Mareena Robinson Snowden, Nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein, and more.

Final Thoughts:

My Rating

Film:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Recommended
Must Own For Fans

Oppenheimer is a sweeping 3-hour epic that takes a look at the man behind the atomic bomb, and how it came about. While I wasn’t as blown away (no pun intended) as some others by this movie, I did thoroughly enjoy the first two acts—I found the final act to be a bit too slow and almost like a separate unnecessary film. However, the movie features a stellar cast and performances, and Universal’s 4K release looks and sounds excellent and includes hours of interesting bonus material. This is certainly a must own for fans of the film, and definitely worth checking out for everyone. There’s no doubt this will be a darling come Oscar time.