Oppenheimer won an Oscar as the best picture for 2023. It was popular internationally as well as the United States. Perhaps it is because I have seen so many movies about the bomb that my reaction was jaded. My reaction was just the opposite of the Oscars. I flunked it on what I consider to be basic technical issues. No. 1 - Continuity. The story line was so jumbled that I never knew where I was or when or who the characters were. To me it was just a big jumble, so I gave up after 30 minutes of struggle.

Of course, the individual who was the basis of the film was a complicated figure with lots of drama in his story. The Red Scare tried to destroy him, and so it dimmed his place in history. There were lots of characters who played significant roles in the story, and their physical appearance in the film added to the confusion. Too many eggheads.

I just went back and reviewed the complete list of Oscar winners. I was surprised how many I disagreed with or had never heard of. I guess that I’m just not part of the same mindset as those in the movie industry. I often can’t judge why I like a film or not. It usually is some visceral reaction that I can’t quantify with a rating. The storyline is only one factor that also include professional quality of the actors, sets, scenery, and musical score that contribute to the popularity of a film. There is even a separate category for “art” films.

The popularity of the Oscar Awards night on television has been declining for years. Going to the movies isn’t the big event that it used to be, and watching movies on TV can’t match the experience. Folks just aren’t as engaged anymore. The Awards night of elaborate productions, videos of stars, performances, and comedian hosts are a difficult mix to maintain people’s interest over three hours.

The strikes last year reduced the number of entries in the contest, and the event itself doesn’t carry the same impact outside the industry. I watch a movie on TV nearly every evening as my primary means of entertainment. Part of that is due to my financial limitations of what I can afford. Going out to dinner and the theater or a concert has become too expensive. I’ve also had to limit my travel since a single night in a tourist hotel costs as much as a complete vacation used to cost. I search Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Turner Classic Movies, and PBS Passport sometimes in vain. I’ve never been a fan of blood and guts and gratuitous violence, so I guess that puts me outside the mainstream anymore. The Middle Ages seem to have become the most popular historical period for movies since they focus on continuous wars.

The subject of Oppenheimer was an interesting person who I think deserved a better presentation of his story.

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