There has already been a lot of research done on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And many movies, TV shows, and documentaries have been made on this incident. But Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer does not depict the two tragically violent events that ended World War II. Why?
Because Nolan’s script was written in the first person and J. Robert Oppenheimer himself, was not there.
Also, one of the most devastating Nuke bombing lines in Oppenheimer, according to Christopher Nolan, was added at the last minute, on the day of filming. Although the director wrote the entire script for the three-hour epic, he admitted in a recent conversation with The New York Times that one small scene was improvised by a cast member.
And, according to Nolan, it was simply too good to be left out of the final product.
The director reasoned out that James Remar, who acted as the character of the U.S. Secretary of War in the movie, had the idea for one of the film’s most terrifying and shocking lines.
Why Christopher Nolan Permitted An Actor To Improvise In Oppenheimer
In an interview with The New York Times, Christopher Nolan revealed that James Remar had the idea for one of the movie’s most terrifying and shocking lines. The latter portrayed Henry Stimson, the American secretary of war in Oppenheimer.
In the scene, Stimson and other government representatives consult with J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) about where to drop the atomic bombs on Japan.
Stimson excluded Kyoto as a potential target in one shocking passage because he and his wife had spent their honeymoon there.
It was a stomach-churning scene as he casually prioritized his own interests over the plight of thousands of people. Nolan, who is renowned for his complexly plotted Hollywood blockbusters, told the New York Times:
“Remar kept talking to me about how he learned that Stimson and his wife had honeymooned in Kyoto. And that was one of the reasons that Stimson took Kyoto off the list to be bombed.”
He further added:
“I had him crossing the city off the list because of its cultural significance, but I’m like, just add that. It’s a fantastically exciting moment where no one in the room knows how to react.”
The Star-Studded Cast Of Oppenheimer Was Up For The Challenge
The biographical drama Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Kenneth Branagh, and Robert Downey Jr., tells the tale of renowned physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer and his involvement in the creation of the atomic bomb.
Christopher Nolan‘s creative process is actually fascinating. Since Oppenheimer is the first biopic the renowned director has undertaken, it stands to reason that the way the research was conducted was so significant for Oppenheimer.
For his research, Nolan was fortunate to have a stellar cast on his side. The 53-year-old filmmaker said this elsewhere in the interview (with NY Times).
“Each actor was coming to the table with research about what their real-life counterpart had been. They had tons of homework to do. [Laughs] They had a great resource with ‘American Prometheus.’ They then did their own research and what it meant for me, which isn’t something I’d ever really been able to do in the past.”
The cast’s own research, according to Nolan, allowed the director to do something he had never “really been able to do in the past” and create a more realistic setting. To quote him:
“So, for example, with the scene in the section classroom with all the scientists, we would be able to improvise the discussion. The script is there, but they could come into it with passion and knowledge based on all of their own learning.”
Nolan had a team of researchers providing pivotal information about everything from the story’s facts to the specifics of his costume. As a result, the director appreciated the value of letting actors explore the innermost truths of their personas before directing them.
For the unversed, both critics and viewers have given Oppenheimer nothing but positive reviews.
The movie is currently playing in theaters.
Source- The New York Times
