“I did read the Bhagavad Gita in preparation for the film…it was very inspiring. It was a consolation to Oppenheimer” — Cilian Murphy, who plays the titular role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenhiemer, shared this while talking about preparing for the film that chronicles the fascinating story behind the Manhattan Project, a US government research and development undertaking for producing the first nuclear weapons, in an interview with Sucharita Tyagi for PVR INOX on Friday.

Apart from Murphy, Nolan, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt sat down for the interview and opened up about the movie ahead of its release on July 21.

Oppenheimer is a cautionary tale against rampant use of AI

Murphy describes the film as a “cautionary tale” against rampant use of technology like AI. “The way people talk about AI now and are comparing it to the splitting of the atom, I don’t know….I hope we can harness it for good. The film has a lot of relevance to our relationship with technology today,” he said.

Echoing Murphy’s sentiment, Nolan pointed out the pitfalls of technology in modern world and scientific research. “AI, for example, which they literally refer to our time right now as the Oppenheimer moment. They are looking for an Oppenheimer story to try and see what they should be thinking about in terms of the responsibility of technology…. I think Oppenheimer’s story — don’t know if it offers any easy answers but — raises troubling and important questions that they should all be paying attention to.”

Why Cilian Murphy read Bhagavad Gita to prepare for his role

When Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist in charge of the Manhattan Project, witnessed the detonation of a nuclear weapon for the first time on July 16, 1945, he uttered one of the most striking lines from the Bhagavad Gita to mark the terrible beauty born on that day — “Now I am become death, the destroyer of the world.”

Citing this well-known incident, Murphy revealed that he read the Bhagavad Gita to understand the complex psychology of Oppenheimer. "I did read the Bhagavad Gita in preparation for the film. I thought it was an absolutely beautiful text. Very inspiring. It was a consolation to him; he kind of needed it. It provided a lot of consolation to him all his life," the Peaky Blinders actor said.

How IMAX technology enriched Oppenheimer

Nolan opened up about his experience of using IMAX technology for vast landscapes and shooting action sequences. “For Oppenheimer, the Trinity test — the level of immersion really bringing the audience to that first experience of atomic fission, IMAX would be very important to that,” he said.

The filmmaker also pointed out how the use of IMAX cameras was integral to portraying scenes in a more intimate way. “Trying to get into Oppenheimer’s head… We have to see things from his point of view. And IMAX and the large screen turn out to be very important in bringing….his viewpoint and thought process.”

On his part, Murphy said that he got “used to” working in front of giant IMAX cameras because of his prior experience of working with Nolan. “They make a terrific racket but you get used to it, really,” he said, adding, “It was unusual to use IMAX cameras for those interior landscapes but he really wanted to do that.”

Matt Damon, who plays Leslie Groves in the film, said when he started his acting career the cameras were bigger than IMAX cameras. His co-star Emily Blunt, who plays Oppenheimer’s wife in the film, was all praise for cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema. “There’s something extraordinary about Hoyte van Hoytema, who shot the film. He is such a big personality but when he has the camera on his back he just disappears… Chris disappears… the whole set was so focused,” she said.

Cast members on working with Nolan

Both Murphy and Damon were effusive in Nolan’s praise as they talked about being directed by him. “There is a good shorthand and trust above all is the most important thing we have. He is continuing to refine and improve his work all the time. It’s kind of astonishing,” said Murphy.

Damon, too, appreciated Nolan’s brilliant awareness of his craft and his technique. “I think he is refining brilliant technique. He has every tool in the toolbox. He’s just brilliant,” the Interstellar actor said.