Entertainment
2023: In ‘Oppenheimer,’ Christopher Nolan Builds A Thrilling, Serious blockbuster For Adults
NEW YORK – Christopher Nolan has never been one to take a simple or obvious approach when developing a film.
He shoots the big-format film with large, bulky cameras to achieve the best cinematic look possible. He favors actual effects to computer-generated ones and real locales to soundstages — even if it means recreating an atomic explosion in the fierce winds of the New Mexico desert in the middle of the night for “Oppenheimer,” which will be released on July 21.
Despite internet speculation, they did not launch a nuclear weapon.
Regarding the biography that inspired Nolan’s latest picture, Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s gripping, linear narrative “American Prometheus” was merely the starting point from which Nolan built a captivating maze of suspense and drama.
It’s why, in his two decades in Hollywood, Nolan has established himself as a franchise unto himself — the rare auteur writer-director who creates intellectually fascinating and lucrative pictures, grossing more than $5 billion at the box office. That mix is one of the reasons he can lure Oscar winners and movie stars not only to star in his films but also to appear in only a few scenes.
“We’ve all been so intoxicated by his films,” Emily Blunt, who plays J. Robert Oppenheimer’s wife, Kitty, stated. “That examination of large ideas in an interesting manner does not occur. It simply does not happen. That depth, the material’s depth, and yet on this vast epic scale.”
Nolan saw intriguing opportunities to experiment with genre and form in the enormous and complicated story of the brilliant theoretical physicist who directed the Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic weapon during WWII. There was espionage, romance, home strife, courtroom drama, damaged egos, political maneuvering, communist fear, and the burden of developing something that could kill the world.
Christopher Nolan has never been one to take a simple or obvious approach when developing a film.
And then there was the man, revered by many but despised by many, who, after becoming an icon in American society, saw his reputation and sense of self decimated by the institutions that constructed him.
“It’s such an ambitious story to tell,” Matt Damon, who plays General Leslie Groves Jr., remarked. “When I read the script, I had the same reaction I had when I read ‘Interstellar,’ which was, ‘This is great.'” ‘How in the world is he going to pull this off?'”
It’s also not so dissimilar to Nolan’s previous works. In his book about the director, reviewer Tom Shone wrote, “Looked at one way, Nolan’s films are all allegories of men who first find their salvation in structure only to find themselves betrayed or engulfed by it.”
Cillian Murphy was cast to play Oppenheimer, a role that Nolan assigned to Cillian Murphy. Murphy had already appeared in five Nolan films, including the Batman trilogy, “Dunkirk,” and “Inception,” but this would be his first time in the starring role, which he had secretly desired.
“You feel a responsibility, but then a great hunger and excitement to try and do it, to see where you can get,” said Murphy, who worked closely with Nolan for six months before filming. “It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it.” When you’re on a Chris Nolan set, there’s this kind of frisson, this enthusiasm about the possibilities for what you’ll achieve.”
It would be a demanding part requiring some physical modification to match that notoriously slim silhouette. Oppenheimer was a complex, paradoxical figure who evolved from a somewhat awkward youth to become a renaissance man with equal passion for the Bhagavad Gita, Proust, physics, languages, New Mexico, philosophical problems about disarmament, and the ideally blended martini. On the other hand, Murphy knew he was in good hands with Nolan.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/oppenheimer-trailer-tout-050823-38591a027bde4b37ac4ff5441396af1c.jpg "2023: In ‘Oppenheimer,’ Christopher Nolan Builds A Thrilling, Serious blockbuster For Adults")
Christopher Nolan has never been one to take a simple or obvious approach when developing a film.
“He’s the most natural director with whom I’ve ever worked.” And the notes he offers to actors are extremely impressive. “It’s quite stunning how he can gently bring you to a different place with your performance in such a subtle, low-key, understated way,” Murphy remarked. “It can have a significant impact on how you look at a scene from one take to the next.”
To depict Oppenheimer’s subjective experience, Nolan scripted the film’s major timeline in the first person.
“We want to see everything through Oppenheimer’s eyes,” Nolan explained. “That’s a huge challenge for an actor to take on because they have to worry about the performance, the truth of the performance, but also keep that open to the audience.”
The other timeline is more objective and focuses on Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), a founding member of the Atomic Energy Commission and proponent of creating the more devastating hydrogen bomb.
“Oppenheimer” is Nolan’s first R-rated film since 2002’s “Insomnia,” which he is comfortable with after years of working exclusively in PG-13. It corresponds to the material’s gravity.
“We’re dealing with the most serious and adult story you could imagine — very important, dramatic events that changed the world and defined the world we live in today,” said Nolan. “You don’t want to compromise in any way.”
Much of the filming occurred in New Mexico, notably at the real Los Alamos laboratory, where hundreds of scientists, technicians, and their families worked for two years to construct the weapon. To help bring this world to life, Nolan enlisted the help of many of his frequent behind-the-scenes collaborators, including his wife and producer Emma Thomas, cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema, composer Ludwig Göransson, and special effects supervisors Scott Fisher and Andrew Jackson, as well as some newcomers like production designer Ruth de Jong and costume designer Ellen Mirojnick.
“It was a very focused set — also a fun set, not too serious.” “But the work was serious, and the sweating over the details was serious,” Blunt explained. “Everyone needs to, or wants to, match Chris’ excellence.”
When it came to recreating the Trinity test, Oppenheimer’s chosen moniker for the first nuclear blast, art and life became inextricably linked.
“We wanted to put the audience right there in that bunker,” Nolan explained. “That meant really attempting to make these things as beautiful, frightening, and awe inspiring to the people at the time.”
Christopher Nolan has never been one to take a simple or obvious approach when developing a film.
Though no genuine nukes were used, many real explosions were employed to simulate the blindingly light atomic fire and mushroom cloud.
“To do those safely in a real environment out in the nighttime desert, there’s a degree of discipline, focus, and adrenaline, and just executing that for the film that echoes and mirrors what these guys went through on the grandest scale in a really interesting way,” Nolan explained. “I felt like everybody had that very, very tight sense of tension and focus around all of those shooting nights.”
The weather also “did what it needed to do, as per history,” Murphy added as the wind swirled about the stage.
“I’m rumoured to be extremely lucky with the weather, but this is not the reality. “It’s just that we decided to shoot regardless of the weather,” Nolan explained. “It was essential, central to the story in the case of the Trinity test, that this big storm rolls in with tremendous drama.” That it did. That truly brought the scenario to life.”
“The extremeness of it put me very much in the mindset of what it must have been like for these guys,” he added. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere.”
Then there’s the sensation of viewing “Oppenheimer.”
“When you’re making a movie, you feel like you’re on the inside looking out,” Blunt explained. “Seeing it reflected at you, especially one of this magnitude, is overwhelming.” It was so strong that I thought my armor would break.”
The aim is that when “Oppenheimer” hits theatres, audiences will be just as invested and will seek it out on the biggest screen possible. The picture is playing at IMAX theatres across the country, which is unusual for serious, R-rated films during the popular summer season. This, however, is the fundamental Nolan impossibility. As more and more auteurs have had to compromise — to either go smaller or link up with streamers to receive the kind of funding they once had at studios, as Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese have had to do this year — Nolan has continued to make his films on the biggest scale.
“Each of his films has been revolutionary in their own way,” Murphy says. “It’s an event every time he releases a film, and rightly so.”
SOURCE – (AP)
(VOR News) – The “Merc with a Mouth” will return to the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine this weekend, and his contribution to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe extends beyond his R rating.
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” the third standalone feature film featuring Ryan Reynolds as the regenerative reprobate, is expected to gross between $160 million and $180 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office.
The movie has already surpassed the greatest number of ticket pre-sales in 2024, according to data provided by Fandango. It is anticipated that it will break numerous records during its opening weekend.
Most noteworthy among these accomplishments is the most successful premiere for an R-rated film in history, as well as the largest domestic opening of 2024.
Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has achieved the highest opening of the year with a total of $154.2 million, as per the data provided by Comscore.
Additionally, the first “Deadpool” film has achieved the highest début for any R-rated feature film with a total of $132.4 million.
Mike Bowers, the president and CEO of Harkins Theatres, a theatre corporation located in Arizona, stated, “I am confident that this will be the largest R-rated film to ever be released if it is released.” Furthermore, it is already one of the most successful presale films in the annals of our company.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” was initially rated R because of its trailer.
It is also the 34th Deadpool & Wolverine film to be released under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner. The two Deadpool films that preceded it, both of which were rated R, were produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
The reintroduction of the X-Men and Fantastic Four into the broader Marvel catalogue was the consequence of Disney’s acquisition of the corporation in 2019.
Similar to other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is benefiting from the enthusiasm of its audience.
Audiences are anxious to view the film during its opening weekend in order to prevent spoilers. Disney has maintained the confidentiality of the majority of the film’s content, and only a limited number of press screenings have been conducted prior to the film’s release.
Bowers anticipates that individuals will continue to return for additional viewings in the weeks following the film’s premiere.
He made the observation that “this is a film that there is so much happening, so many jokes and funny sequences that no one is going to be able to eat just one, you know, they’re going to be back.”
Ellis Jacob, the president and chief executive officer of Cineplex, the largest cinema theatre operator in Canada, echoed Bower’s viewpoint. Jacob asserted that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is replete with Easter eggs and that viewers will revisit the film to attempt to locate them all.
Furthermore, he stated that a substantial number of moviegoers are purchasing tickets for premium screenings, such as IMAX, Dolby, and ScreenX, which are more expensive.
Additionally, Marvel has collaborated with movie theatres to grant licenses for items such as collector popcorn tubs and drink containers, which the theatre operators anticipate will be in high demand.
Historically, concessions have been the most profitable revenue source for movie theatres, and the presence of limited-edition products can result in even greater sales of food and beverages.
” Deadpool & Wolverine” is an essential Marvel release.
Shawn Robbins, Deadpool & Wolverine the inventor and owner of Box Office Theory, announced that Disney had “slowed down the pace” and had scheduled fewer films in the series that has dominated the global box office for over a decade. Box Office Theory is also associated with Robbins.
He stated that Disney is making an effort to correct the course after a series of theatrical errors and poor box office performance, as well as a flood of streaming content that overwhelmed even the most devoted fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Robbins pointed out that “in the end, despite the fact that this is a Marvel movie, it may be viewed equally as a midsummer action comedy that stars personalities and brands that are loved by both die-hard fans and casual viewers.”
The fact that Reynolds and Jackman have both made a name for themselves in Deadpool & Wolverine popular culture and have maintained a cordial relationship through interviews and social media makes them an ideal pairing.
Likewise, there is genuine curiosity regarding the first R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and whether it will retain the qualities that made the first two Deadpool films and [Jackman’s 2017 Wolverine film] Logan so successful.
SOURCE: CNBC
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Turner Sports hopes to continue its long-standing relationship with the NBA.
On Monday, Warner Bros. Discovery informed the league that it will match Amazon Prime Video’s $1.8 billion annual bid. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been broadcast on TNT since the network started in 1988.
“We studied the offers and accepted one of them. This will allow fans to continue to experience our unequaled coverage, including the greatest live game productions in the business and our legendary studio shows and talent, as we build on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years,” WBD stated. “We submitted our matching paperwork to the league today.” We are looking forward to the NBA completing our new contract.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
The NBA Board of Governors approved the league’s 11-year media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday at its meeting in Las Vegas. WBD received all three contracts on Wednesday, beginning the five-day clock for deciding whether to match.
The new deals, for $76 billion, will begin with the 2025-26 season and entail a game being shown or streamed nationally every night during the second half of the season.
The Prime Video package would have offered games on Thursday night after it finished carrying NFL games. The other nights were Friday and Saturday.
TNT would air games on Thursday, with the other nights being streamed on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav warned at an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”
Warner Bros. Discovery and the league could not negotiate an agreement during their exclusive bargaining period, which ended in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have recently announced that they intend to match one of the agreements.
“During our four-decade collaboration with the NBA, we have consistently provided exceptional coverage for basketball fans. WBD stated that they behaved in good faith to offer strong proposals that were fair to both parties throughout exclusive and non-exclusive negotiations to maintain their long-standing collaboration. “Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.”
NBC and WBD would alternate broadcasting one of the conference finals series. ESPN and ABC will continue to broadcast the league’s top package and will host conference finals and the NBA Finals each year.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, Amazon’s offer contained a mechanism for paying many years in advance into an escrow account, which many thought would be difficult to match. However, WBD has informed the league that it has the financial resources to do so.
“The Ringer’s” Bill Simmons originally mentioned the Amazon provision on “The Town” podcast.
People talked to the AP anonymously because they were not at liberty to discuss such serious topics.
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
WBD pays $1.4 billion per season under the existing nine-year contract, which expires after next season.
WBD is making a large financial investment, but it is necessary. Without the NBA, it would have struggled to charge its present subscriber fees to cable and satellite companies.
Retaining the NBA would also ensure that the popular “Inside the NBA” show will continue. Charles Barkley was dismissive of WBD’s negotiation position and did not believe it would match. Barkley revealed at the end of this season that he planned to retire following the next season.
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
BERLIN — An American man who made threats against Taylor Swift on social media was seized before her first concert in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and will be held in custody until her gigs there end, authorities said Thursday.
swift | AP news Image
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
According to police, the accused stalker, a 34-year-old whose name has not been disclosed, had a ticket to Taylor’s concert at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins-Arena on Wednesday. They stated that he was detained at event admission checks because an early assessment could not completely rule out a risk.
According to police, the man threatened Taylor and her partner on social media. They say he was detained after receiving tips from the event’s organizers.
The American superstar will perform in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as part of her Eras tour. According to authorities, a local court has ordered that the suspected stalker be detained until Saturday.
They went on to say that Swift and the audience were always safe. The event drew approximately 60,000 people on Wednesday evening and went off without incident.
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
Before the concerts, Gelsenkirchen temporarily renamed the town “Swiftkirchen” and honored the singer on a “Walk of Fame” dedicated to local luminaries.
Taylor has plans to perform in two more German cities after Gelsenkirchen: Hamburg and Munich.
SOURCE | AP
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