Screenplay was originally four hours, cut down to three to maintain artistic control
Judging by how closely the published screenplay follows the final film, the trimming obviously happened well before the start of production.
In fact, although I can't find it now, I remember reading an article in which Mr. Bird recalled asking Mr. Nolan about whether a certain quote uttered by Mr. Oppenheimer had made it into the screenplay, and Mr. Nolan responded that although he had originally included it, he had cut it to save time.
Though a four-hour director's cut is never happening (because the footage literally doesn't exist), perhaps years/decades down the line, I hope that Mr. Nolan publishes the original four-hour screenplay.
Screenplay was originally four hours, cut down to three to maintain artistic control
Judging by how closely the published screenplay follows the final film, the trimming obviously happened well before the start of production.
In fact, although I can't find it now, I remember reading an article in which Mr. Bird recalled asking Mr. Nolan about whether a certain quote uttered by Mr. Oppenheimer had made it into the screenplay, and Mr. Nolan responded that although he had originally included it, he had cut it to save time.
Though a four-hour director's cut is never happening (because the footage literally doesn't exist), perhaps years/decades down the line, I hope that Mr. Nolan publishes the original four-hour screenplay.
Likewise, I'd be very interested to see what he initially penned that he felt had to be cut later, just from a perspective of what Nolan thought was superfluous or unnecessary for telling Oppenheimer's story in three hours that he originally believed wasn't. But I'd wager I would still think a four-hour screenplay would be too short (at least compared to having a nine-hour trilogy for the whole nuclear saga, but it is what it is ).
As a side note, I'm a bit amused by Tyson harping on the fact that McCarthy wasn't mentioned by name in the film... except he was, multiple times, to set the background of the hearings. And the film even goes out of its way to explain why that "self-promoting clown" isn't involved in the hearings.
Screenplay was originally four hours, cut down to three to maintain artistic control
Judging by how closely the published screenplay follows the final film, the trimming obviously happened well before the start of production.
In fact, although I can't find it now, I remember reading an article in which Mr. Bird recalled asking Mr. Nolan about whether a certain quote uttered by Mr. Oppenheimer had made it into the screenplay, and Mr. Nolan responded that although he had originally included it, he had cut it to save time.
Though a four-hour director's cut is never happening (because the footage literally doesn't exist), perhaps years/decades down the line, I hope that Mr. Nolan publishes the original four-hour screenplay.
Likewise, I'd be very interested to see what he initially penned that he felt had to be cut later, just from a perspective of what Nolan thought was superfluous or unnecessary for telling Oppenheimer's story in three hours that he originally believed wasn't. But I'd wager I would still think a four-hour screenplay would be too short (at least compared to having a nine-hour trilogy for the whole nuclear saga, but it is what it is ).
As a side note, I'm a bit amused by Tyson harping on the fact that McCarthy wasn't mentioned by name in the film... except he was, multiple times, to set the background of the hearings. And the film even goes out of its way to explain why that "self-promoting clown" isn't involved in the hearings.
Neil is inaccurate (and an alleged predator) and in the process he also missed the interesting bit of nuance this added to Strauss's character. He might be shamelessly utilising the anti-communist paranoia to get back at a person he had a petty grudge against, but even he knows better than to involve Joe McCarthy in anything.
Oppenheimer filmmakers Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas join in a discussion with Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer, about the challenges of turning complicated history into film. A highly acclaimed box-office smash, Oppenheimer is based on a historical biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin. The filmmakers and the author reveal the creative process of bringing Oppenheimer from the page to the screen. Nolan and Thomas’ films, including Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception, and The Dark Knighttrilogy, have been worldwide hits, garnering 11 Oscars and 36 nominations. Bird, who is director of the Leon Levy Center for Biography at the CUNY Graduate Center, has written many acclaimed books, including Hiroshima’s Shadow and The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter.
Presented with the Leon Levy Center for Biography.
A video of this event will be posted a few days later on our YouTube Channel.
“Oppenheimer” is also continuing to play exclusively in theaters into the fall, in a time when even the biggest movies are often released in homes after just 45 days. Though its opening weekend companion, “Barbie,” is newly on video-on-demand, “Oppenheimer” won’t be available to watch at home until late November, Thomas said.
“Oppenheimer” is also continuing to play exclusively in theaters into the fall, in a time when even the biggest movies are often released in homes after just 45 days. Though its opening weekend companion, “Barbie,” is newly on video-on-demand, “Oppenheimer” won’t be available to watch at home until late November, Thomas said.
Should be a condition for awards, or just a general obligation. Streaming is hurting cinema. Reading the next Linklater would be on Netflix depressed me, even though Roma and The Irishman are two of my favourite movies from the last decade.
What should be normal for every film is now an exception that a director has to write in his contract and hope he has enough power that the studio will accept.
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