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The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

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Re: The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

#31

Post by macintux »

somenameforme wrote: post #27
holoduke wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be honest I don't know of any good movie last few years. Might be because I am getting old or something.

Uncommonly known factoid: movie ticket sales have been sharply declining for decades. We hit 'peak Hollywood' in 2002. [1] That's especially remarkable when you consider that the population has continued to increase since then. The 'record breaking sales' since then are mostly a product of inflation alongside a mix of price increases. Here [2] is a table of best selling movies, inflation adjusted. No movie made in th…

I’m not convinced you can draw strong correlations between ticket sales and movie quality, or even movie popularity.

DVDs, streaming, high definition TVs…there are a lot of technological improvements that have changed the way we consume media.

Re: The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

#32

Post by heresie-dabord »

mapasj wrote: post #5

I did not like this movie. That must be an unpopular opinion, given all the movie’s success. And specifically what I didn’t like was that the film makers could have gone in many directions in telling a story about Oppenheimer, but chose to make the RDJ villain central to the plot. The conflict in the film felt forced and unnecessary for telling a good story.

> That must be an unpopular opinion, given all the movie’s success.

Maybe not so much unpopular as outside the (lucrative) bubble. [1]

The economic goal of the film/television industry is to make a thing that its audience will watch. Then this result is celebrated (multiple times) until the final event, a sort of Super Bowl where statuettes are thrown for touchdowns.

It's a huge global business, something on the order of $130 b USD. [2]

It's also interesting to read the section, "Largest markets by box office revenue" in the referenced article. [2]

If you enjoy the early era of Hollywood, this film is a treat: https://archive.org/details/hollywoodparty1934originaltheatr...

[1] _ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_United_States#/m...

[2] _ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_industry

Re: The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

#36

Post by joshuacc »

somenameforme wrote: post #27
holoduke wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be honest I don't know of any good movie last few years. Might be because I am getting old or something.

Uncommonly known factoid: movie ticket sales have been sharply declining for decades. We hit 'peak Hollywood' in 2002. [1] That's especially remarkable when you consider that the population has continued to increase since then. The 'record breaking sales' since then are mostly a product of inflation alongside a mix of price increases. Here [2] is a table of best selling movies, inflation adjusted. No movie made in th…

> Here [2] is a table of best selling movies, inflation adjusted. No movie made in the past 25 years, including the endless men in spandex movies, is among them.

The Force Awakens (2015) is #11. Avatar (2009) is #15. Avengers Endgame (2019) is #16. And that’s just in the top 20. Not too bad for a list that covers a century of films, especially when you consider the limited entertainment options available in the first half of that century.

Re: The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

#37

Post by sandspar »

vasco wrote: post #12
tinco wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone with an interest in the history of physics as I'm sure many people here are, I didn't much like the film either. I liked the renditions of the different physicists and the overall arc of the story, but more like I'd be interested in a documentary. What's impressive about the movie is that they managed to create drama, artistry and tension in what's fundamentally something you can't really make a movie abou…

> What's impressive about the movie is that they managed to create drama, artistry and tension in what's fundamentally something you can't really make a movie about because in the end it's just a story of some physicists that successfully accomplished something without anyone really opposing them in any material way. Feynman made it way more interesting in his book without needing to create fake villains! You could m…

Feynman has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance in the movie. During one of the successful tests, there's a brief shot of a cheerful guy playing the bongos.

Re: The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

#38

Post by sandspar »

slily wrote: post #30
tinco wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone with an interest in the history of physics as I'm sure many people here are, I didn't much like the film either. I liked the renditions of the different physicists and the overall arc of the story, but more like I'd be interested in a documentary. What's impressive about the movie is that they managed to create drama, artistry and tension in what's fundamentally something you can't really make a movie abou…

Calling Barbie a better movie because it's easier to watch is something I didn't expect to witness on HN.

There's many definitions of "better movie". Being easier to watch is conceivably one of them.

Re: The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

#39

Post by sandspar »

actionfromafar wrote: post #10
mapasj wrote: post #5

I did not like this movie. That must be an unpopular opinion, given all the movie’s success. And specifically what I didn’t like was that the film makers could have gone in many directions in telling a story about Oppenheimer, but chose to make the RDJ villain central to the plot. The conflict in the film felt forced and unnecessary for telling a good story.

I think Oppenheimer was kept an enigma on purpose. I didn't exactly like the movie but I was somehow very impressed nevertheless. I don't regret seeing it but I might never watch it again.

Even Nolan's worst movies are impressive. That's kind of his genius. He could make a flight to Cincinnati awe-inspiring.

Re: The true, dramatic story of Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Oppenheimer' villain

#40

Post by dwighttk »

somenameforme wrote: post #27
holoduke wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be honest I don't know of any good movie last few years. Might be because I am getting old or something.

Uncommonly known factoid: movie ticket sales have been sharply declining for decades. We hit 'peak Hollywood' in 2002. [1] That's especially remarkable when you consider that the population has continued to increase since then. The 'record breaking sales' since then are mostly a product of inflation alongside a mix of price increases. Here [2] is a table of best selling movies, inflation adjusted. No movie made in th…

Inflation is a real factor but you are leaving out rereleases and more time to make money.

(and ignoring Star Wars VII and the rest of the movies made in the last 25 years (including spandex) that ARE on that list)

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