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Anyone see Oppenheimer? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I didn’t see much info about it prior to watching, went with some friends. A large part of the movie is about his possible communist affiliations, and his defaming. It wasn’t insanely anti-communist, but it definitely operated under the assumption communism equals bad. Anyone else have some thoughts on it?

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (4 children)

It could have been way worse. Although it feels like their portrayal of Oppenheimer's involvement with the Party consists of...well...coming to house parties, drinking wine, and hitting up women, while more serious stuff was purely mentioned indirectly through dialogue. I feel like they could have balanced more aspects of his life a bit by showing, not just telling (that he sent money to Spain, what he thinks about revolution), his affair with Communist ideas through discussions of theory or ongoing politics.

Overall, it was pretty surface level, but it did highlight how ridiculous the anti-Communist sentiment was at that time (albeit in a slightly weird way), without embracing that sentiment---while the Party was portrayed as seemingly useless (drinking, dining, having sex in a dimly lit bourgeoisie house), the accusations Oppenheimer received seem way more serious than his involvement. I'm sure the audience can feel the injustice and futility at the part where Oppenheimer and Co. tried to fight their way out after the Soviet espionage card was played by the stern men in suit.

Liberal/10, but I nevertheless enjoyed it. 3 hours went past quickly. I feel there was enough wiggle room to form your own opinions on the matter.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I was curious if he was actually more friendly to communism than portrayed or not. It did seem like he was sympathetic to the cause, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he downplayed it after going through all those interrogations.

I don’t know enough about the CPUSA at the time, but I’d imagine they did more than drink and dance. I did like the way they portrayed the hiding of knowledge as problematic, and that sharing discoveries is how innovation really happens, not markets monopolising patents

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