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Notes -
Los Alamos was the only part of Oppenheimer that really worked for me (minus the colossal cinematic cocktease of the Trinity test), because Nolan is interested in concepts and bored by people. The entire last hour of the movie was an exercise in tedium. Who gives a shit if Opp loses his security clearance?
Exactly. It's not like the prevention of nuclear proliferation hinged on whether or not he lost his security clearance. That's what didn't work for me. Why's the rest of his life important? What's the takeaway? Don't associate with communism, otherwise you'll lose your security clearance?
The movie should've focused solely on the Manhattan Project and the immediate reaction to the dropping of the bombs. Or maybe the race between the two sides, getting more of the German and/or Japanese perspective.
The takeaway is that evil meddling anti-communist politicians drove out the brave, wonderful philosopher-scientists who just wanted to give peace a chance.
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