Paul Giamatti is one of number of actors who if their name is attached, I am curious. He's given us a lot of great things in the past: Billions (at least the first few season), John Adams, Private Parts, Sideways and many others. While he is good, very good in fact here, the story itself is one very long, somber slog that fails to "lift up the spirits" as many main-stream critics alluded to. There are moments where comedy (even black comedy) could come into play but peters out. Exapmple Dominic Sessa's character nearly gets into a bar fight when Giamatti takes him to a resturant, but the scene abruptly ends. There is nothing funny here. Any chance moment for our two main characters could bond is gone. The same thing happens at the party. It starts off amusing, but then drives right into deep depression with Da'Vine Joy Randolph's character mourning again over her son's death in Vietnam. Finally we get to meet the boys father which suddenly channels the movie Awakenings. Odd script choices. Really a downer all the way through. Worth the watch for Giamatti, but that's about it.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Oppenheimer
(I) (2023)
For an "Oscar" picture, Very Disappointing
29 February 2024
I know I am in the "unwashed" minority, and I do not care. This is a combination of a bad editing, terrible sound design and a director given a blank check to do whatever he wants. How is it that at the most important moments of dialogue we are given percussion of ridiculously loud soundtrack music that drowns everyone out? I wanted to appreciate the performances, but it was impossible due to all the distracting acoustics. And don't get me started on the jumps to black and white. Better Call Saul did similar time jumps in color vs B&W sequences, and did it WAY better. I get the feeling the Oscar buzz is more of an apology tour to Nolan for not giving him anything on his better achievements with the Dark Knight trilogy. A total shame. Not best picture quality.
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