My expectations were high for this one. Too high as it turned out. It took me two sessions to finish the movie. On my first try, I called it a day after ~1 hour, because it became too annoying and I wasn't invested in the story at all. Oppenheimer is the typical "let's make an Oscar-movie"-movie. While I am very interested in the subject matter, the way it was conveyed didn't appeal to me at all. The first hour felt like three hours and if this first hour would have been the first episode of a mini-series, I wouldn't have continued watching the show. That said, the second half of the movie is stronger.

Of course, it's a well-done movie, but it has multiple flaws. I didn't like the sound editing at all, a recurring theme of Christopher Nolan movies. Ludwig Göransson's soundtrack is annoying. Most of the movie is accompanied by over-dramatic music that doesn't fit the respective scenes. The quick cuts, flashbacks, ridiculous pretense¹, and oftentimes exaggerated acting was tiresome.

For whatever reason, I'm still handing out three and a half stars, but since I was hoping for a five-star masterpiece, this is a huge disappointment. I found Barbie disappointing as well, so I'm puzzled how "Barbenheimer" could become such a phenom. Maybe I don't get movies anymore.

Movies I have rated higher than Oppenheimer include Elf, Goon, and Mars Attacks!.

Update (March 8, 2024): After further consideration and multiple internal monologues, I’m downgrading this movie to three stars². I just don’t like it and it annoys me that it gets so much positive feedback. It will probably win “Best Picture” in the upcoming Academy Awards and that’s a real shame.

Movies I have rated higher than this now include Pixels, Ted, and Can’t Hardly Wait.

Update (June 23, 2024): I'm lowering this movie's rating from three to 2.5 stars. I simply cannot recommend it with a clear conscience and it shouldn't show up in the Movie Suggester feature on this website, which only lists movies rated three stars or higher.

Movies I have rated higher than this now include Neighbors, Space Jam, and I Love You, Man.