We’re just a week out from the theatrical debut of Oppenheimer, and by the looks of things so far, the phrase “Christopher Nolan‘s magnum opus” holds exactly as much weight as one would think. Indeed, from the monstrous ensemble cast to the history-making technological decisions employed by the filmmaker, all the stops look to have been pulled out for this epic biopic.
That should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Nolan’s work, of course. The Interstellar mastermind has something of a reputation for the extraordinary effort he puts into each and every shot and script; effort that tends to culminate in a tendency to shy away from using CGI whenever possible.
And indeed, the rumor that an actual nuclear bomb was detonated on the Oppenheimer set for the filming of the Trinity test – the codename for the first-ever detonation of a nuclear weapon – is one that would have only ever cropped up with Nolan’s involvement.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter conducted prior to the Screen Actors Guild strike, Nolan revealed his feelings on the rumor, suggesting that the rumor speaks charmingly to his distinctive renown, even if that particular rumor was a tad unnerving at the same time.
It’s flattering that people would think I would be capable of something as extreme as that on the one hand, but it’s also a little bit scary.
It is true, however, that the Trinity test scene — as is the case with the entire movie — did not utilize any CGI; the explosions we’ll all be seeing on screen next week were created using real explosives. So, while Nolan wasn’t quite so committed to realism to the point of seeking out a real atomic bomb, the distance he did go is nothing short of unprecedented, as Nolan’s endeavors tend to be in general.
Oppenheimer is due in theaters on July 21.
Published: Jul 14, 2023 10:38 am