Movie Corner: Oppenheimer
5 Stars
Universal Pictures 2023
Biography/History/Drama
By HOWARD MCQUITTER II
To tell the story of Robert Oppenheimer in a book, in film or on stage is to tell the story of a very complicated man. Director Christopher Nolan gives the viewers more than just a caption of Oppenheimer in his new film. The man, J. Robert Oppenheimer, was a physicist, genius, doctorate, father of the atomic bomb, victim of the “Red Scare”. Indeed, I thank Nolan for making a film about a man whose atomic bomb (advanced into the hydrogen bomb, then to the nuclear bomb) changed the entire outlook of modern warfare since 1945.
The film doesn’t start with Oppenheimer’s childhood years, but starts circa 1925 when Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is at Harvard about to graduate with a physics degree. He then does his postgraduate work at Cambridge University only to become frustrated by his overbearing tutor Patrick Blackett (James D’Arcy) who insists that his student stick to lab work rather than work on theory. Oppenheimer, according to rumors, gives him a poisoned apple. Anyway, he didn’t eat the apple.
Oppenhemier’s personality varies from pensive to combative to friendly to aloof. But he is a man during World War II that would be assigned to the famous (or infamous) Manhattan Project on August 13, 1942, presided over by the U.S.… Read the rest “Movie Corner: Oppenheimer”
A Walk in the Park
By DANETTE BILLUPS
As I walk the trail around the park I hear the scrape of the jump rope and patter of feet on the ground. The children giggle as they take turns jumping, in an attempt to have the most consecutive jumps without tiring or becoming entangled in the ropes.
I hear the bouncing of a ball on the basketball court. I see the ball tossed towards the rim, but it did not make it through the hoop. The sound reverberates as the ball bounces off the backboard. A crowd is gathering to watch the game. The leaves rustle as the wind gently gently caresses them. Birds are chirping and ducks are quacking in the pond. Light taps can be heard from the fountain of water springing forth in the middle of the pond.
As I round the curve on the trail, I hear the ever so occasional airplane pass by overhead. A dog barks and the owner jogs along the trail with their furry friend.
Children squeal with glee as they roll down the hill amongst the dandelions. There is another swift breeze of wind, rustling the leaves in the trees as I reach my destination. I turn around, and see all the activity in the park and breathe a sigh of relief.… Read the rest “A Walk in the Park”
Returning: The Final Chapter
Chapter 34: GET ON THE BUS!
By PATRICK CABELLO HANSEL
The bus station for the flight of Angel and Luz and family is not a station per se. It’s not a building, but a stop, where people make passage to a new life, or return to an old one. If you’re thinking: Like Platform 9¾ in Harry Potter? You’re way off. Or maybe, you’re right on. It’s a stop that is visible to everyone but is accessible to few. Put that in your recently legal pipe and smoke it!
To be less cryptic, it’s the corner of Bloomington and Lake Street, where you can board a bus to Des Moines, Kansas City, Dallas, the two Laredos, Monterrey and all points south. It’s the bus of dreams and broken dreams. When our family arrived there, they were met by people they knew: Angel’s father Augusto, Luz’ abuela, Dolores, Luz’ boss, Angel’s boss and Mr. Bussey, recently retired from Roosevelt.
Of course, there were hugs and tears, and the parents asked everyone if they had seen little Lupe. Everyone just nodded toward the bus. Augusto handed Angel two backpacks, and bags with food and juices and gave them the stubs for the luggage already stowed underneath.… Read the rest “Returning: The Final Chapter”
