One has to wonder why Christopher Nolan came to the decision that “Oppenheimer” would be his first R-rated movie in 20 years.
As much as I really liked “Dunkirk,” that war film could have probably benefited the most from an “R,” especially since, by the looks of it, the “Oppenheimer” rating is mostly due to nudity.
In an interview with “The Guardian,” star Cillian Murphy talks about the sex in “Oppenheimer” and there’s even mention that the film includes “prolonged full nudity” between Murphy and Florence Pugh’s characters. The love story aspect “is as strong as I’ve ever done,” adds Nolan.
Pugh, who plays Oppenheimer’s ex-fiancee, says that there are complicated scenes with Emily Blunt, who plays his wife, “that were pretty heavy”. Murphy adds: “I’m under strict instructions not to give away anything.”
As mentioned, this will be Nolan’s first R-rated movie in over 20 years, the last time that happened was with 2002’s “Insomnia.” Before that, “Memento” also garnered the same rating.
I always hoped Nolan would go back to R-rated filmmaking. There are some who complained that “Dunkirk” could have benefited from such a rating. This is absolutely great news and there should be no complaints about it — Nolan is swinging for the fences here.
It also signifies that Nolan most likely had the creative freedom to do whatever he wanted with his latest epic, which clocks in at 3 hours and was partly shot in black and white.
Murphy will play the “father of the atomic bomb” J. Robert Oppenheimer. A man who, despite inventing the deadly weapon, wanted to place International controls on his dangerous invention, post-Hiroshima.
I can't tell you what it is — but most of our readers can figure it out. There's a social embargo until the 22nd, and reviews aren't permitted to run until 48 hours before release.