Great essay Michael-so glad you write to find out what you think! Is anyone else concerned that our public is being taught history through the lens of Hollywood sensationalismwhile most have not explored the real history? True that school history books are also written from a Eurocentric angle, but most people do not seem to remember their high school history very well. It is a weird way for history to be reinvented. This film is not a documentary. I hope people study some documentaries about the actual events and people involved in the Manhattan Project as a comparison since Hollywood has a way of warping the truth to make it more PC and exciting. I think of the invented Kevin Costner character in Hidden Figures. They made him the star so that Hollywood could make a "better movie" even thought it is presented as almost a documentary. It is not exactly propaganda, but it does promote the viewpoint of the filmaker above the reality, and it did diminish the women.
Now do Barbie. It also has its “2001 A Space Odyssey” moment, albeit much more “in your face”. I saw Barbie and enjoyed it (definitely could’ve shortened several scenes), and am planning to see Oppenheimer. My kids (the two youngest, who are teens) did the Barbenheimer double feature, and surprisingly liked both, even though they said that half of Oppenheimer went over their heads.
"Have you know shame, sir?” typo?
Great essay Michael-so glad you write to find out what you think! Is anyone else concerned that our public is being taught history through the lens of Hollywood sensationalismwhile most have not explored the real history? True that school history books are also written from a Eurocentric angle, but most people do not seem to remember their high school history very well. It is a weird way for history to be reinvented. This film is not a documentary. I hope people study some documentaries about the actual events and people involved in the Manhattan Project as a comparison since Hollywood has a way of warping the truth to make it more PC and exciting. I think of the invented Kevin Costner character in Hidden Figures. They made him the star so that Hollywood could make a "better movie" even thought it is presented as almost a documentary. It is not exactly propaganda, but it does promote the viewpoint of the filmaker above the reality, and it did diminish the women.
Now do Barbie. It also has its “2001 A Space Odyssey” moment, albeit much more “in your face”. I saw Barbie and enjoyed it (definitely could’ve shortened several scenes), and am planning to see Oppenheimer. My kids (the two youngest, who are teens) did the Barbenheimer double feature, and surprisingly liked both, even though they said that half of Oppenheimer went over their heads.
This is great
Thanks, Parker!