Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan)

Their Communist (or rather Socialist) sympathies were more in line with what the principles of Marxist theory offered the ordinary man rather than sympathy with the likes of the USSR. Most people of that era who were gravitating toward Socialism did so because the ideas expressed within promised a different and better way of life for the majority, as opposed to the previous set ups that existed. It's why Socialism/Communism/Marxism became very popular throughout Europe during the 20's and 30's, especially with people of a certain social strata. People like Jews, for example, who had often been the target of traditional and casual "othering" for centuries. Europe was also very class based and if you were unfortunate enough to be born into a certain class, your life was a hell of a lot harder than it was for people born into more fortunate circumstances. Marx and his ideas offered a way out of that trap.

It's hard for us now to understand why people would be drawn towards Marxist ideals during the early part of the 20th Century because, in comparison, we have things relatively good and the chance for social mobility is far more flexible now than it was back in the late 19th/early 20th Centuries. Previously, and until the end of WWII really, it didn't matter how smart you were or what you knew, you would have found yourself blocked off from opportunity simply on the basis of who you were. And while that certainly still happens today, it's nowhere near as bolted on as it was back then.

Oppenheimer's own family moved from Prussia in the late 1800's. His parents experienced casual difficulties there because they were ethnic Jews, despite the fact that his father made a good name for himself in the rag trade, which was a traditional avenue of work for Jews at the time. They were secular, in that they didn't observe or practice, but they were still on the end of antisemitic attitudes that were part and parcel of Europe at the time. He and his wife moved to New York in 1888 and had Robert in early part of the 1900's. Right from the beginning of his life, his parents had instilled in him what could be broadly called called "Socialist" beliefs. He was sent to school at The Ethical Culture School, which had teachers like Lewis Hines, who was responsible for documenting the hardships and appalling conditions that the working classes of the period faced. He was also part of the movement that brought about US child labour laws in the 30's. It was people like Hines and Oppenheimer's father who instilled him with his "socialist" beliefs, although up until his 20's he was pretty much apolitical in practice.

The trouble is, today, when people talk of Communism/Socialism/Marxism there's a tendency to think of Stalin and the dictatorial regime he helmed. Whereas, back in the early 20th Century, most people of a socialist bent were people who wanted to see the eradication of slums and institute rights for workers, etc. Oppenheimer, and indeed a lot of the intelligentsia of the period, would have been of that orientation rather than looking to the USSR as a model society or as something to be emulated. The 1920's and 30's marked a turbulent period where both working class people and intellectuals were viewing Communism as a way forward, especially in Europe, and with the rise of Fascism in Italy and Germany, their fervour only became more solidified. Oppenheimer during this time began to become more and more interested in politics and even gave money to organisations that were helping people to get out of Germany. But how "Communist" he actually was, whatever that is supposed to mean, remains a matter for debate. But, from what I've read of the man, I don't think he had any real amour for the USSR or Stalin and in his own words, considered himself more of a "fellow traveller" than any kind of party follower.

Sounds like a job for Ethan Hunt.

I’ve never had the opportunity to see an IMAX movie. Changing ratios on Disney+ don’t interest me.

I saw GRAVITY in China on a giant screen but it wasn’t IMAX.

Never been pushed to experience it and just decided it will happen when it happens but I read part of an interview with Cillian Murphy and I think I will go out of my way to see this film in IMAX. I have been told that a lot of IMAX scenes and films are made IMAX in post but Murphy said the whole movie was filmed in IMAX (as best I understood it anyway).

I know Cineworld has an IMAX screen and I can’t figure out which Odeon branches have it and while Googling saw a Reddit entry that claimed the only true IMAX screen is in Belfast.

Can someone advise me as to what is BS and what is true and where are the IMAX screens here?

Thanks

Also Oppenheimer is getting an R rated release in the US - I assume this is becasue they are going to show the aftermath in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

I don’t remember getting a notification of your reply so sorry try for not acknowledging sooner.

I don’t understand why you posted that first paragraph but thank you for confirming there is no IMAX here.

No Problem Spon.

The point of the first para is that what really matters is the quality of the film and not the aspect ratio it's shown at. Sure, a bigger screen can add to the effect. But a dull movie is still a dull movie even if it's being projected to the size of a block of flats.

Personally, I've never given a toss about IMAX or 3D or any of that stuff. I'd happily just go and watch a good picture in a bog standard cinema.

Jesus, a lot of my favourite films I first watched on a 4:3 CRT. It didn't really alter the experience that much.

I genuinely dislike that shifting AP nonsense. Shoot your damn film in a ratio and stick with it. I really have no time for movie shot in 2.35:1 which then, all of a sudden, moves to an IMAX ratio. Annoyed the hell out of me in 'Dunkirk' and that was a pretty harmless example. I mean I really couldn't care less about the director's "vision" in that respect. All of that is a lot of old blarney.

Wes Anderson does that sometimes, where he'll shoot in 1.33, then 1.85 and the 2.35 in the same film. Drove me nuts when I went to see 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'.

Bloody irritating if you ask me.

As for IMAX, it's a bit of a gimmick. That's why it's trumpeted. See it in IMAX!!!! yet there's no real IMAX here.

As I said though, if the film is any good, you won't care if it's in IMAX or not.

When I saw it in the pictures, the AR shifted and I saw it every time. On the Blu ray, it's not as noticeable.

Honestly, I just don't see the point.

I can't remember specific examples in Dunkirk myself (was it done to differentiate the different timelines maybe?), but remember certain moments where he does the same thing in Interstellar. The spaceship launch is all in IMAX for instance.

I don't quite understand the push of ATMOS labelling outside an ATMOS theatre... like, I thought the point is that the theatre itself has 64 speakers positioned all around the space, each with their own specific dedicated sound mix, so there's incredible specificity to where each piece of sound is coming from around you. Gravity in an ATMOS theatre (my first time hearing ATMOS) is one of the coolest most immersive experiences I've had in a cinema I think.

It mostly happens during the aerial scenes IIRC.

Haven't watched this yet, but from a couple of Twitter clips this looks like a good interview with Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon. Half hour long...

Haven’t looked forward to going to the cinema so much since Dunkirk for the second time

Taking my son to this Friday lunchtime and from the reviews so far he will never forget it

What a **** **** joke. Checked Odeon Limerick for screen times and it doesn't have a single showing on screen 1. Barbie gets those honours. You'd think they'd throw in a screen 1 showing every couple of days even but no.

Was going to ask this myself but it appears Cineworld have an Imax and 4Dx whatever that is :p

thanks, I memory from years ago was that Dublin didnt have one or was only a "fake" one, but saw an advert on a bus for the movie with IMAX in the ad

I see Omniplex has a MAXX screen, looks to be about as good as I'll get.

The digital Imax in Cineworld is a decent option for Ireland. I've gone to London to see a few things in Imax there, and it doesn't compare obviously.

I had thought Lighthouse had it in 70mm too but I must have been confused. I'll have to go to the IFI so.