John Carpenter Believes Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-Winning Movie Is Overrated

Legendary horror director John Carpenter has opened up about his thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, claiming the movie’s praise is overrated. The 2023 film stars Cillian Murphy as its titular historical figure, showcasing his life from before his involvement in the Manhattan Project until much later. It has garnered critical acclaim, later going on to win Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards.

Speaking with Last Donut of the Night, Carpenter revealed that, despite how many positive reviews Oppenheimer has, he himself thought the movie’s praise was overrated. The horror director said it was an “alright” movie, but that it didn’t measure up for him given the level of hype there was surrounding it. He also revealed one movie he thought was a fantastic 2023 release. Check out what Carpenter had to say below:

I don’t want to talk about things that I haven’t enjoyed. I liked Maestro a great deal. I thought that was terrific. Oppenheimer was OK. It was alright. Everyone’s praising it as the movie of the century—I don’t know about that.

Is John Carpenter Right About Oppenheimer’s Praise?

Given how successful Nolan’s biopic was, it seems Carpenter is in the minority when it comes to his opinion on the movie. While it won seven of the 13 Oscar nominations it received, Oppenheimer succeeded at the box office too, earning $974.3 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Couple this with high praise from critics and audiences alike, and it’s clear most moviegoers found the film to be a cinematic highlight of the year. This makes the horror movie director an outlier when compared to the general public.

However, there are some unique elements to Oppenheimer that could be off-putting to viewers looking for a more streamlined story. The story of the titular character’s life is not always told in chronological order, with a plethora of flash-forwards to his hearing with the Personnel Security Board after the atomic bomb was developed. Because of how often the story jumps throughout its three-hour runtime, it doesn’t feel presented like a typical movie. There’s a specific artistry Nolan attached to it that may not appeal to every viewer.

Even though it’s understandable why Carpenter may not have the same high praise for Oppenheimer as other viewers, it doesn’t negate how beloved the movie is for many audience members and critics alike. Its success is also undeniable, with both high earnings and multiple Oscar wins reflecting something no criticism can take away from it. Although the horror director’s praise is reserved for other movies last year, such as Maestro, Nolan’s biopic was still a key release that will still be remembered for a long time to come.

Source: Last Donut of the Night