How Christopher Nolan made 'Oppenheimer'

Jeffrey Kluger and Christopher Nolan go back—a little bit at least. When Nolan’s film Interstellar appeared on the cover of TIME in 2014 , it was Jeff, TIME’s resident expert on space and science, who sat down with Nolan and the film’s cast. He wanted to understand how they created a film dedicated to a band of astronauts and scientists who must find an alternative home for humanity before it's too late.

Jeff and Nolan got together again earlier this year to unpack Nolan’s film dedicated to a real-life band of scientists and their leader, J. Robert Oppenheimer.

We at TIME feel a special connection to the film, given that not one but two TIME magazine covers play important roles in Nolan’s plot. 

Oppenheimer, up for a leading 13 Oscar nominations, is a big movie and yet its biggest strength, as Jeff writes, may be its ability to create a sense of proximity.

“I would say this is one of the more intimate projects I’ve worked on with Chris,” cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who has collaborated on four of Nolan’s films including Oppenheimer, told TIME.

Read Jeff’s piece to find out Nolan did it. 

As ever, let us know how we are doing. Email me at [email protected].

Sam