"Fat Man and Little Boy" tells of the development of the first two atomic bombs, with "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" used as their code names. The story is personalized by focusing on General Leslie R. Groves (Paul Newman), the ultra-hard-nosed officer put in charge of the nuclear program, and the brilliant scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Dwight Schultz), the man he selected to supervise the brain trust that created these bombs.
Time is allowed for some detours into the private lives of Oppenheimer and Michael Merriman (John Cusack), one of the people on the team. And, although some of this material can get melodramatic, the film stays on track fairly well, with the most fascinating scenes involving the team as they constantly float ideas and struggle to implement them. Groves will have his hands full dealing with these individuals, especially Oppenheimer, who'd been spending time with a mistress (a briefly seen, but memorable Natasha Richardson) who is a card-carrying Communist. The whole process, spanning MANY months with a deadline always looming, does take its toll on the well-being of some of the people involved.
There is a *steady* supply of familiar and reliable actors in supporting roles, too many to really list here, but those in the principal roles do quite well, especially Newman. He has an incredibly commanding presence as the military man who stubbornly insists on this whole process eventually coming to fruition. There is also great drama as some of the men on the project - like Merriman - come to debate the morality of what they are doing.
Overall, this is well done entertainment that does offer some food for thought as well as a portrait of the clash between differing world views.
Seven out of 10.
Time is allowed for some detours into the private lives of Oppenheimer and Michael Merriman (John Cusack), one of the people on the team. And, although some of this material can get melodramatic, the film stays on track fairly well, with the most fascinating scenes involving the team as they constantly float ideas and struggle to implement them. Groves will have his hands full dealing with these individuals, especially Oppenheimer, who'd been spending time with a mistress (a briefly seen, but memorable Natasha Richardson) who is a card-carrying Communist. The whole process, spanning MANY months with a deadline always looming, does take its toll on the well-being of some of the people involved.
There is a *steady* supply of familiar and reliable actors in supporting roles, too many to really list here, but those in the principal roles do quite well, especially Newman. He has an incredibly commanding presence as the military man who stubbornly insists on this whole process eventually coming to fruition. There is also great drama as some of the men on the project - like Merriman - come to debate the morality of what they are doing.
Overall, this is well done entertainment that does offer some food for thought as well as a portrait of the clash between differing world views.
Seven out of 10.