Cillian Murphy Watched AMADEUS and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA To Prepare For OPPENHEIMER Role

In preparation to take on the heavy role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s historical epic Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy watched two classic films to help him prepare to take on such a demanding role.

During an interview with the Independent, it was revealed that Murphy turned to films such as director David Lean’s 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia and director Miloš Forman’s 1984 film Amadeus. He explained that he was looking for ways to help him “connect with and find the truth” of Oppenheimer “in every moment” of the film, and these movies helped him with that. 

Lawrence of Arabia helped “in terms of the scale and the life-story aspect” and he watched Amadeus “because of Salieri and Mozart, that kind of competitive relationship” they had. That relationship was echoed in Oppenheimer’s dealings with Robert Downey Jr.’s philanthropist character Lewis Strause, who was an increasingly obstructive figure in Oppenheimer’s life in the years following his creation of the bomb.

I’m very familiar with those films and it’s not hard to see why he went to these movies for inspiration. I love these movies and I know most people have watched Lawrence of Arabia, but I know so many people that have yet to watch Amadeus, and if you haven’t it’s a must watch!

Amadeus is a highly fictionalized account of the lives of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. Set in Vienna, Austria, during the latter half of the 18th century, the film revolves around the rivalry between Mozart, a youthful prodigy with a prolific body of work but a reckless lifestyle, and Salieri, a contemporary composer ridden with jealousy of Mozart's talent despite his own success and recognition. Narrated in flashback by an elderly Salieri confessing to a young priest, the film explores themes of obsession, envy, and the divine nature of genius, culminating in a tragic end for Mozart and remorseful reflection for Salieri. Despite its historical inaccuracies, it’s a great movie!

Lawrence of Arabia provides a dramatized account of the real-life British archaeologist, military officer, and diplomat T.E. Lawrence's experiences in the Arabian Peninsula during World War I. It narrates his emotional struggles with the violence of war, his own identity, and his divided allegiance between his native Britain and his newfound comrades within the Arabian desert tribes. It's a sprawling, ambitious film and is often regarded as one of the greatest films in the history of cinema.