Christopher Nolan has proved himself a master of filmmaking, “Oppenheimer” his latest project is a prime example of that. Although when it comes to writing complex female characters, Nolan still has some ways to go. “Oppenheimer” aims to change that perception.
Nolan is known for his stunning way of exploring the wonders of the universe of his films, as well as his refusal to use CGI. Another common theme in his films is their massive budget, the well written story, a talented cast of actors and of course cinematography and score that is to die for.
However, when it comes to female characters in Nolan’s films, they are usually there simply to be killed off or used for outdated tropes, simply put, it has been pointed out in the past that Nolan does not always write female characters that well. Except in the case of films such as “Interstellar’, “Memento”, “Inception” and “The Prestige”.
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
We see two very different leading female characters in the cast of Oppenheimer, first, Florence Pugh’s Jean Tatlock, Robert Oppenheimer’s lover who introduced him to the communist party. she endured a long battle with clinical depression which ultimately resulted in her killing herself. Pugh had to play a very intense role in the film, apart from shooting a love scene with Cillian Murphy. Most of her scenes were very emotional. In an interview with Indiewire, Pugh spoke about Nolan’s approach to the film and how she pushed herself beyond her limits in this film.
“It’s one of the biggest movies I’ve made. Chris’ approach is similar to indie movie-making. I loved stretching any size of role, any obscure character” throughout her varied career, saying, “There are things where I don’t know how I mustered the courage, but I pushed myself off the cliff and hoped the wings came out.” – Florence Pugh
The next and possibly a change of pace in the Nolanverse is Emily Blunt as biologist Katherine Kitty Oppenheimer, wife to J. Robert Oppenheimer played by Cillian Murphy. Kitty is a well written, well rounded character that breaks the mould, something that Blunt aknowledgened in an interview with GamesRadar+. Blunt called her onscreen counterpart “layered” and ”exquisite” and confessed that this role is one she liked the most in her career.
“I mean – it’s one of the best parts that anyone has ever written for me. Not that he wrote it for me, but he wrote an exquisite part that is so layered. Even though she’s not a huge part, it packs a punch. I was so excited by her. And the thing that I love is that he wasn’t concerned with her being likeable, it was just a very real interpretation of the character. When you read about her in the book, they say that ‘Kitty didn’t do small talk, she only did big talk’ which is so symbolic of the character.” – Emily Blunt
Blunt also aknowledged the previous criticisms of Nolan’s female characters, however she goes on to say that the way Kitty was handled very well in the “Oppenheimer” script.
“I really remember reading that and thinking, ‘
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
that’s it, she’s so clear’. Usually I think women in movies have to be sort of quite likeable and warm, but she wasn’t either of those things, and he was unafraid of that and writing her as such. I just loved her.” – Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt delivers such an incredibly layered performance in what was a film dominated by male actors, Blunt shines in all her scenes as Robert Oppenheimer’s wife as a sometimes sweet and intense character who is constantly supportive and sometimes delivering a dose of truth that he very much needs. This can be seen particularly during his hearing when she tells him to fight back and when he finds out Jean has died which causes him to break. Kitty then has to remind her husband that the world needs him, and he does not get to weep.
Kitty is a well developed and well written character. It was a breath of fresh air to see a female character who was not simply around for her husband’s well being but who is not afraid to do as she wishes and to tell people what she feels.
Since the film does focus mainly on the history of building the atomic bomb, and highlights the many male scientists and military personnel who were part of Oppenheimer’s story, it of course stands to reason that in history, women would be sidelined. However in the film, women play an important part in the story, both when it comes to Kitty as Oppenheimer’s partner and when it comes to the trope of Jean’s death driving Oppenheimer.
Nolan has delivered some great films and great characters over the years, “Oppenheimer” will definitely be remembered as one of his best films, and a film that has now changed the perception of his treatment of female characters for the better.
The other female star in the film is Olivia Thirlby (Y: The Last Man) as Lilli Hornig and the rest of the cast stars Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later), Robert Downey Jr. (Avengers: Endgame), Kenneth Branagh (A Haunting in Venice), Matt Damon (The Martian), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), Alden Ehrenheich (Solo – A Star Wars Story), Jason Clarke (First Man), Josh Hartnett (Black Mirror), Dane DeHaan (The Staircase), Jack Quaid (The Boys), Benny Safdie (Good Time), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Casey Affleck (A Ghost Story), James Remar (Black Lightning), Matthias Schweighöfer (Army of Thieves) and Gary Oldman (Slow Horses).
“Oppenheimer” earned $33 million on it’s opening day, with a projected $77 million weekend. This would make this Nolan’s third-biggest domestic debut behind “The Dark Knight Rises”.
Watch the trailer here:
Watch Oppenheimer in cinemas now.
This piece is a personal opinion and is not that of TWE.
Fangirl and Writer with a huge passion for entertainment.
