Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has given us some iconic performances from a wide range of stars. While Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy, there was another star who wasn’t talked about much after the release of the movie- Josh Hartnett. Although a long time has passed after the movie’s release, Hartnett’s performance as Ernest Lawrence still resides fresh in everyone’s mind.
Josh Hartnett has been a part of several box office hits and critically acclaimed movies like Pearl Harbor, Lucky Number Slevin, and Black Hawk Down. However, he couldn’t retain his stardom much like the other stars. Oppenheimer helped the star deliver one of his career’s most nuanced performances as Ernest Lawrence and remind the audience of his acting skills.
Also Read: Robert Downey Jr’s Oppenheimer Inches Ever So Close for an Oscar after Yet Another Best Picture Win
Josh Hartnett stole the show in several scenes of Oppenheimer
Ernest Lawrence was one of the most important personalities in the early career of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Josh Hartnett knew his job very well and stole the show in any of the scenes he was a part of. Despite sharing the screen with an acting powerhouse like Cillian Murphy, the 40 Days and 40 Nights actor didn’t hesitate to deliver outstanding acting skills.
Although Ernest Lawrence was largely absent from the second half of the movie where Oppenheimer’s legal battle for the security clearance was shown, he stole the show in the first half. He was a major character at the Berkeley University segment where Oppenheimer carried out some of the most important research that proved vital for the Manhattan Project. Josh Hartnett delivered such a performance in those sequences that the audiences couldn’t focus on anything else but him.
Unlike idols like Neils Bohr or Albert Einstein who were idols in Oppenheimer’s life, Ernest Lawrence was more of a friend to him. He was an influential figure and had a great impact on his life. Hartnett’s subtle acting and intellectual aura made him look perfect in the role. His part reminded the viewers of a character who had a more balanced life than Cillian Murphy‘s character.
The ardent fans can’t stop praising Josh Hartnett
Many years before Oppenheimer, Josh Hartnett was also approached for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. The 2023 movie also presented a full-circle moment for the Wrath of Man actor who also appeared in 2001’s WWII flick Pearl Harbor as Danny Walker. His performance alongside Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. in another WWII drama couldn’t stop the fans from praising him.
Even though it can’t be said that he was praised enough for his performance, Josh Hartnett’s performance didn’t escape the attention of ardent movie fans. A series of tweets on the internet show how the fans couldn’t get over him.
Says a lot about how captivatingly intense Hartnett is his role that this is one of the conversations that most stuck with me since my first watch of Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/M75j4AerQC
— ChristianV (@GenreFilmAddict) December 24, 2023
The thing is I didn’t get this feeling from his other movies but he’s kinda a big guy, or at least he’s shot that way. He’s usually the biggest guy in the room in whatever scene he’s in
— PeterBergTruths (@Bullittindahead) December 24, 2023
Insane how underused and overlooked Hartnett was for large period of his career, he’s showing so much range and talent with his new films, good to see him on the big screen again.
— Derek “The Farang Shiller” Brocks (@DerekBrocks) December 24, 2023
Hartnett was one of my favorite parts of the movie. He disappeared into that role and stole every scene he showed up in. Alden Ehrenreich did too, honestly.
— Blake (@bcampbell23) December 24, 2023
Outstanding scene and brilliant delivery by Hartnett. And given that the film is filled with stellar performances, that is saying something.
— FLIP 🔥 THE 🔥 GOP (@WatchingWhatYou) December 24, 2023
It can’t be denied that Josh Hartnett is one of the most underrated stars and can pull off some amazing characters. Presently, there are no updates about any of his upcoming projects. It will be interesting to see if the actor bags any role soon, following the success of Oppenheimer.
