The premise of “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s biopic, is straightforward: tell the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” But, as with the director’s other movies, the execution is far from simple.
Here’s a guide to help you keep track of the real-life characters and events of the movie.
J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy)The American theoretical physicist (played by Cillian Murphy) spearheaded the development of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project.
Born in New York City in 1904, Oppenheimer spent his undergraduate years at Harvard before moving to Cambridge, England, for graduate work in physics.
After receiving his doctorate in physics at a German university, Oppenheimer accepted professorships at the University of California, Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology, helping to pioneer work in an American school of theoretical physics.
Persons:
“ Oppenheimer, ” Christopher Nolan’s, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer, Patrick Blackett
Organizations:
Manhattan, Harvard, University of California, California Institute of Technology
Locations:
American, New York City, Cambridge, England, Berkeley