Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer': A brilliantly haunting ending that defies biopic convention

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Oppenheimer," has captivated audiences with its brilliance, combining blockbuster elements with a poignant historical narrative. At its heart is a harrowing ending that leaves a lasting impact on viewers, defying traditional biopic conventions. Spoilers Ahead! Before delving into the ending's brilliance, a warning for those who haven't experienced «Oppenheimer» yet—spoilers lie ahead. Throughout the film, a seemingly insignificant meeting between J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and Albert Einstein (Tom Conti) becomes a pivotal moment. Viewed from Admiral Lewis Strauss's (Robert Downey Jr.) perspective, the encounter sparks intrigue, leading him to obsess over its content. The film's unique structure brings clarity to this meeting's significance in the ending. Oppenheimer confesses to Einstein that he believes his work on inventing the atomic bomb has doomed the world. Nightmarish visions of nuclear Armageddon unfold, leaving a haunting impact. Nolan masterfully weaves two distinct storylines—Fission in color, focusing on Oppenheimer's life, and Fusion in black and white, centered around Lewis Strauss's confirmation hearings. Scenes, like the Princeton conversation, are revisited with differing perspectives, adding depth to the narrative.

In a conventional biopic, the ending might have adopted an «objective» view, likely concluding shortly after the Trinity Test with a downbeat epilogue. Nolan's approach, however, is far from conventional. By intertwining political paranoia and intellectual horror, both storylines race toward «the truth.» The film's energy intensifies as Strauss's master plan to discredit Oppenheimer unfolds, keeping audiences engaged throughout its