For cinema enthusiasts, there's nothing quite like experiencing a film in the format the director intended, especially when it comes to the work of Christopher Nolan, known for his high-resolution, action-packed blockbusters. Bay Area moviegoers have a unique chance to watch Nolan's latest film, "Oppenheimer," in the breathtaking 70mm IMAX format, as two local theaters will be part of the limited release.
The AMC Metreon 16 theater in San Francisco and the Regal Hacienda Crossings theater in Dublin are among the 30 theaters worldwide playing "Oppenheimer" as intended. The 70mm format provides an unparalleled immersive experience, thanks in large part to the sheer size of the screen. California offers a relatively high number of theaters screening "Oppenheimer" in IMAX 70mm format, as reported by California.com.
The film, which centers around J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father" of the atomic bomb, was shot using IMAX 65mm and Panavision 65mm film stock, one of the highest resolution cameras available today. The large-format film will offer Bay Area moviegoers an unparalleled sense of immersion with detailed imagery and lifelike scenes, courtesy of its high-resolution and wide aspect ratio. "Oppenheimer" also has a strong California connection, as the titular character was a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley before becoming the director of the Manhattan Project.
Bay Area audiences will be treated to the full experience of "Oppenheimer" on the 70mm screen, with sequences expanding vertically to fill the entire screen, which is a stark contrast to the more common 35mm IMAX screens where the top and bottom parts get cropped. This milestone in cinematic history marks the first time IMAX 65mm has been combined with IMAX black-and-white analog photography, an achievement for which Nolan should be duly proud, as Secret San Francisco observes.
Nolan is no stranger to shooting on high-resolution film, with "Oppenheimer" being the sixth film to utilize IMAX 65mm, following "The Dark Knight" in 2008, "The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012, "Interstellar" in 2014, "Dunkirk" in 2017, and "Tenet" in 2020. Moreover, the director refrained from using computer-generated imagery (CGI) in the making of "Oppenheimer," adding to the visual appeal of the film.
For those lucky enough to secure tickets to these special screenings, moviegoers should try settling in at Row G or beyond to avoid neck strain. The anticipation is at an all-time high, as tickets are selling fast for this limited engagement, showing that the experience will be well worth it for fans of Nolan's oeuvre and cinema lovers alike.
While the AMC Metreon 16 and the Regal Hacienda Crossings theaters are the main attractions for Bay Area moviegoers seeking the full 70mm IMAX "Oppenheimer" experience, it's essential to remember that the film is also available in standard 1:9:1 ratio for those who are unable to attend an IMAX screening.
