Oppenheimer: A Score So Good It Made Me Question Everything (Theory Time!)

Okay, so I just saw Oppenheimer (finally!) and I'm completely floored. Not just by the movie itself, which was intense, but by Ludwig Göransson's score. Like, seriously, that man is a genius. It wasn't just background music; it was telling the story. And that got me thinking... what if the score isn't just supporting the narrative, but actively shaping our perception of Oppenheimer himself, you know? Specifically, think about all the scenes where the violins are practically screaming, especially during those tense moments with Groves and the Trinity test build-up. It's this frantic, almost unbearable sound that builds and releases, mirroring Oppenheimer's own internal turmoil. What if Göransson is subtly using the music to make us sympathize with him, even when he's making questionable choices? Maybe imbuing the soundtrack with this almost tragic, heroic quality shifts our perception, making us see him more as a complex, flawed individual wrestling with impossible choices rather than just a scientist who unleashed hell on earth. I mean, Nolan is a master of manipulating perspective, right? And he clearly trusts Göransson implicitly. Could the score be a deliberate tool to obfuscate the "truth" of Oppenheimer? To present him in a more favorable light, even if subconsciously? I'm not saying it's propaganda or anything that extreme, but I do think the score is actively working to influence how we feel about this incredibly complicated man. I'd love to hear other people's thoughts, especially on specific musical cues that stood out to them. And maybe I'm just overthinking things because I'm obsessed with scores but I felt like I needed to post my theory before it left my head lmao.