Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown November 30, 2023

We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty, and to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." I suppose we all thought that, one way or another.

"One of the best movies of the century", touts Oppenheimer's cover. And I'd have to agree. Set aside the script, the atypical structure of the story (Nolan loves a nonlinear plot, doesn't he?) and what some have argued is a much-too-early climax and a deflating third act. This is cinematic spectacle at its finest. Rich, nuanced, inventive, stunning and electrifying. It thumps the chest long before the atomic bomb flash is followed by silence... silence... silence... and then inevitability, the altering of an entire planet and the rise of an enormous threat that all but promises the extinction of the human race. Add to that a stellar cast, outstanding performances, a stirring score, incredible production design and authenticity, beautiful cinematography and... how many more commas and adjectives does an Oppenheimer reviewer need to cover his bases? Nolan is by no means a perfect filmmaker, despite his perfectionism. Nor are his films ever perfect. But he shoots for the stars (sometimes literally), with a keen eye for elaborate storytelling and character work, a commitment to traditional film stock and practical fx, and ambition. Most of all, ambition. Like Oppenheimer, Nolan is a mad genius; a master of his craft that I suspect constructs his art without fully realizing exactly what he's unleashed on the world of cinema.

From Martin Liebman's standard Blu-ray review: Oppenheimer marries one of history's most momentous moments with one of cinemas most masterful magicians. Christopher Nolan's film transcends the typical Biopic and in many ways strives to transcend the film medium, pushing both technical boundaries and narrative barriers to build one of the most spectacularly assembled films of all time, a picture of robust cinematic excellence but just as vital one that aims to tell, and accomplishes in telling, a story of timeless significance that explores the human psyche within the realm of vast intelligence and the vast consequences of pushing the boundaries of human and scientific understandings of the way things work and how that profound knowledge can be used in applications beyond measure. Even today, many decades removed from the film's setting, brilliant minds in many fields continue to ponder the ramifications of the transcendent events depicted in Oppenheimer, making this a film of timeless relevance for its thematic elements and not simply its awe-inspiring technical merits.

Brilliant physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) seeks beyond the established theories and laws in his field. He posits new meanings and ponders new ways of looking at things and yearns to one day see his theories proved in practice. When war in Europe breaks out and it is revealed that Nazi scientists have achieved nuclear fission, Army General Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) recruits Oppenheimer to build upon the Nazi breakthrough and build an atomic bomb. As the Manhattan Project gets underway and bears destructive fruit, Oppenheimer finds himself haunted by the power not so much of his own making, but that he has through his greater understanding of the laws of science unleashed upon the world.

What Nolan has achieved with Oppenheimer is nothing short of a movie miracle. He has made a character, and a story, of great scientific depth, extreme emotional intricacy, of grand historic importance, and of tremendous sociopolitical ramifications and built an intimate film that still manages to feel grand in scope. He has taken inaccessible jargon, a complex mind, and incredibly deep and profound scientific elements and made them all accessible without losing any of the technical depth and grandiose narrative components that are a result. The film is long without feeling sluggish. It's a technical marvel, too, a film of great visual power and delight, a treat for film fans but more so a picture that demonstrates a command of the medium's most incredible powers without playing in a way that is showy or stuffy. This is truly the stuff that cinema legends are made of, and while Nolan unquestionably poured his heart and soul into every detail, there is an effortlessness to the movie's structure, visual appeal, story, and pace that keep it fresh and forward moving for the duration.

Much of what sets the film apart is the classic approach to its structure. It's clearly differentiated by three distinct acts with purposeful storytelling, narrative construction, character progression, and visual distinctiveness all at harmonious work. The contrast between the color and black-and-white segments offers viewers a sense of narrative cohesion despite the shifting presentation elements. The film's flow is also seamless in its shifting aspect ratios. The film medium is used to great impact to both define and amplify the film's elegance and grace. The practical visual effects and precise editing and sound engineering further bolster the sense of retro realism at work in the digital age. The movie does everything right.

Of course, it is the lead performance that absolutely solidifies the film as an instant classic. Murphy is at his best in the lead part, inhabiting the title character with a profound depth and soulful effortlessness that captures not just a look or a character flow but rather transfers a total, soulful extension of himself into the character. The work is beyond exemplary not only in speech, physical mannerisms, and eye contact but also in the way he captures both the mind and soul of a man who changes the world and both internally and externally deals with the extreme knowledge that brought him there and the knowledge of what the world would become in the aftermath. It's a full character study and one of the best screen works in some time. Murphy is surrounded by a litany of great actors who, in secondary and tertiary roles, also deliver spot-on wonderful performances, but it clearly Murphy who dominates the film, and rightly so.

Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Oppenheimer's 2160p video encode is, no exaggeration, one of the finest -- if not the finest -- 4K presentations I've had the pleasure of viewing, much less reviewing. Featuring stunning color and black and white cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema (my favorite IMDB name ever), the film is awash with warm hues, rich primaries, lifelike skintones and deep, inky black levels. Alternating between lush romantic scenes and cold courtrooms, the photography is beautiful, and the 4K HDR10 master, created from a native 8K scan of the 65mm negative, is as impressive as anyone could hope for. Detail is unbelievably crisp and clean, with razor sharp, halo-free edge definition, exceedingly refined textures and revealing, pixel-perfect delineation. There isn't any crush or banding to speak of either. The image is so clean, so filmic that it defies expectation and bests nearly every 4K release I've seen. Close-ups of faces are especially striking, as every hair, pore and imperfect bit of fabric has been captured down to the subtlest detail. The costumes appear well-worn and lived in, another benefit of the high resolution presentation, as it only serves the realism Nolan is so carefully crafting on screen. The black and white photography is equally remarkable. Gradients of gray are smooth, fine textures are on point (perhaps even more so than in the scenes filmed in color), and the filmmakers' thematic intentions are all the more apparent thanks to the complete lack of distraction in image quality.

Ignore the softness that fisheyes and surrounds tighter shots (if it even bothers you). It's as it was intended, forging a discomfort and claustrophobic pressure that squeezes in around Oppenheimer and others when being questioned, and it's wholly a product of the cameras and lenses being utilized in smart, meaningful fashion. Ignore the hot contrast that sneaks in from time to time. It's always associated with dreams, Oppenheimer's imagination or flashes of atomic explosions, whenever and however Nolan and Hoytema dictate. Contrast is strong and consistent, without flaw, as is the ever so slight grain field that lends the presentation a sense of class and period comfort. Also try to ignore the shifting aspect ratio, which, with practice, can go unnoticed. I've always had trouble sinking into a film when the aspect ratio suddenly jumps from one format to the next (can't studios and filmmakers offer an option to watch a movie with and without shifting aspect ratios?) But again, none of it is the fault of the encode. This is, by far, one of the best looking video presentations on the 4K market. This is the kind of disc you toss in to wow your friends and neighbors when demo-ing your system. I highly recommend purchasing this release on the basis of its image quality alone, and that's saying something. Particularly when the film it's presenting is such a standout piece of cinema. Universal has delivered a flawless transfer.

Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 4K UltraHD Blu-ray release of Oppenheimer doesn't offer a Dolby Atmos or comparably advanced audio experience. Rather it includes the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track as its 1080p BD counterpart. Don't let that give you pause, though. Reviewer Martin Liebman gave the 5.1 lossless experience a perfect score, and it deserves as much, even if some 4K consumers long for Atmos audio on every title. From Liebman's standard Blu-ray review:

As is the standard for Christopher Nolan films, audio is presented in a 5.1 lossless format rather than the now (somewhat, especially for major new releases) standard Atmos format. Despite the comparative lack of channels, this is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless audio at its peak. Even without the extra channels, there is a sense of total stage fill and complete listener immersion into the material. It's seamlessly engaging and uses every inch of soundstage real estate to deliver everything from subtle ambient support to devastating surround content at prominent volume and extreme subwoofer support with full-on gusto and perfect structure. The audio balances lifelike cues and movie thrilling elements to perfection. Clarity to all elements, from score to explosions and everything in between, is faultless. Front stretch is just as impressive as the back reach, and music is seamlessly integrated throughout the entire listening area. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and centered for the duration. 5.1 proves to be plenty here, and even the most discerning of audiophiles should find no fault here.

Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 3-disc 4K UltraHD release of Oppenheimer includes the same special features as its standard edition counterpart, housed on their own Blu-ray disc. Reviewer Martin Liebman awarded the supplemental package a perfect score, which is warranted. But I couldn't help but remove half a point. Why? I so desperately want Christopher Nolan to record an audio commentary for one of his films. This one would have been fascinating. Ah well, the remaining featurettes and documentaries amount to nearly four hours of material.

• The Story of Our Time: The Making of Oppenheimer (HD, 73 minutes) - This excellent production documentary, divided into seven parts, delivers a rather thorough, largely comprehensive overview of the film's genesis, development, shoot and post-production.
  
  
  • Part 1: Now I Am Become Death (HD, 7 minutes) - Filmmaker Christopher Nolan helms the first part of this longer look behind the scenes, touching on the evolution of culture and its response to atomic energy and threats over the years, his experience as a young man, and a bit of the kitchen sink. More a catch-all, or at best an introduction to what will follow, this is nevertheless a solid supplemental starting point.
  • Part 2: The Luminaries (HD, 11 minutes) - Oppenheimer, his compatriots and colleagues, and his adversaries are brought alongside the cast in this overview of the performances and more subtle touches brought to the screen.
  • Part 3: The Manhattan Project (HD, 17 minutes) - Nolan's use of IMAX cameras and photography is explored in welcome detail, offering cinephiles more than a glimpse into his process and the benefits to his methods and madness.
  • Part 4: The Devil of the Details (HD, 17 minutes) - Next up is a careful examination of the film's production design, from the locations to the sets, props, historically accurate recreations and more. A period piece lives and dies by its authenticity, and Oppenheimer has it in spades.
  • Part 5: Walking a Mile (HD, 6 minutes) - Completing the actors' transformation into their characters are the masterfully designed costumes, make-up (which is more involved than the layman suspects) and hair. Not the most exciting of featurettes but one that continues to add depth to an already comprehensive collection of special features.
  • Part 6: Can You Hear the Music? (HD, 7 minutes) - A look at the film's intense, hair-raising score. This is one, in particular, that I wish was much longer but the fact that it's included and smartly produced is worth a lot.
  • Part 7: We Can Perform This Miracle (HD, 7 minutes) - Cast and crew praise Nolan and the steadiness of his hand at the helm, his eye for cinematic clarity, and his penchant for sinking his teeth into any challenge.
• Innovations in Film: 65MM Black and White Film in Oppenheimer (HD, 8 minutes): Physical film, its legacy and the benefits of its use are brought front and center in this welcome featurette. Its use doesn't bring ease, nor does it make editing a cinch. Quite the opposite. But Nolan's enthusiasm for the appearance and texture of film stock over digital photography is laid bare, and his argument for its use is compelling.
• Meet the Press Q&A Panel (HD, 35 minutes) - Nolan is joined by moderator Chuck Todd, author Kai Bird, Interstellar consultant, physicist and author Kip Thorn and physicist Carlo Rovelli for a science-forward Q&A panel.
• To End All War: Oppenheimer & The Atomic Bomb (HD, 87 minutes): This newly produced documentary film from director Christopher Cassel digs into the nitty gritty of Oppenheimer's life, the development of the atomic pan, the Los Alamos laboratory and project, Russia and other nation's race to achieve their own destructive weapons, and much more. A terrific and informative piece that only enhances the feature film.
• Trailers (HD, 14 minutes) - A number of promotional trailers are included, among them a teaser, two trailers, an IMAX exclusive trailer, and a five-minute opening look trailer.

Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While it doesn't offer Atmos audio or any additional special features beyond its standard Blu-ray counterpart, don't mistake such things as a detriment. Universal's 4K UltraHD Blu-ray has the clear edge over the film's standard edition release. The 4K image alone is so astonishing it warrants the extra cost, as the uptick in video quality is one of the most perceptible I've seen. And then there's the tour de force at the center of it all: Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, a unique biopic that bucks traditional genre tropes to create an enigmatic drama that asks far more questions than it answers. Divisive? Yes, especially when it comes to the film's arguably anticlimactic third act. However, those who come for the character work rather than the spectacle will not be disappointed.