![]() Instead, Oppenheimer's chief legacy is as "a key leader in the early nuclear age," particularly in developing the world's first atomic bombs. "If Oppenheimer hadn't become scientific director of the Manhattan Project, he would possibly be remembered as someone who contributed towards getting the United States more 'on the map' as a place to get a theoretical physics education," Alex Wellerstein, science historian at the Stevens Institute of Technology and expert on the history of nuclear weapons, told Salon by email. "He did not spend enough effort on his other scientific contributions to really develop them into their full forms - others did, and some of them became pretty important, but he never seemed interested in that." Oppenheimer's lifelong left-wing ideals caught up with him, compelling him to make peace with his conscience over creating a weapon that could destroy mankind To learn the reality about the man and the science behind "Oppenheimer," Salon spoke with experts on both. Fortunately for fans of both, "Oppenheimer" delivers in telling the truth about the story of the Manhattan Project, at least as much as can be expected of a Hollywood blockbuster. It is a fitting metaphor for the movie as a whole: "Oppenheimer" unpacks the delicate balance between science and ideology, between wonderful ideas and their oft-devastating real-world consequences.įor such an ambitious endeavor to work, however, scientific and historical accuracy are key. ![]() They pursue economic laws for moral and political ends in the former case, and immutable scientific laws to acquire knowledge in the latter.Īs Oppenheimer and Tatlock spar and flirt, figurative sparks fly that are no less real than the literal ones we see as Oppenheimer leads a team that develops the world's first atomic bombs. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is discussing physics with psychiatrist and Communist reporter Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh), who notes that Marxists and physicists alike seek knowledge of the laws that govern the universe. ![]() In the process, he destroyed himself.Įarly in the immense three-hour running time of "Oppenheimer," there is a quiet little moment that captures the essence of this epic movie about the invention of nuclear weapons. ![]() His story is all the more important, though, because Oppenheimer spent his remaining years opposing the militarization of the very weapons he invented. Oppenheimer's story is relevant on its own merits simply because of the man's most famous invention, which changed history. "His contribution to history is a pretty complex one." ![]()
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