Florence Pugh and Cillian Murphy inOppenheimer(2023).Photo:Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures
Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures
WARNING: Spoilers forOppenheimerbelow.
Cillian Murphyhad no issues filming the sex scenes inOppenheimer, though he admits it wasn’t the most comfortable experience.
The Irish actor, 47, spoke withGQabout portraying Manhattan Project physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the newly released explosive biopic fromChristopher Nolan. In the interview, he was asked about whether he felt his sex scenes withFlorence Pughwere needed to tell the story.
“I think they were vital in this in this movie,” Murphy answered. “I think the relationship that he has with [Pugh’s character] Jean Tatlock is one of the most crucial emotional parts of the film. I think if they’re key to the story then they’re worthwhile.”
But, he clarified, “Listen, no one likes doing them, they’re the most awkward possible part of our job. But sometimesyou have to get on with it.”
Oppenheimeris rated R for “some sexuality, nudity and language.” It’s the first of Nolan’s films to include sex scenes; the director is known for movies like theDark Knighttrilogy,Inception,Tenet,Dunkirk,Interstellarand more, many of which feature Murphy in supporting roles.
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Florence Pugh and Cillian Murphy inOppenheimer(2023).Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
Asked in an interview withInsiderpublished last month about whether he was nervous how audiences might react to sex scenes in the movie, Nolan, 52, said, “Any time you’re challenging yourself to work in areas you haven’t worked in before, you should beappropriately nervous and appropriately carefuland planned and prepared.”
“When you look at Oppenheimer’s life and you look at his story, that aspect of his life, the aspect of his sexuality, his way with women, the charm that he exuded, it’s an essential part of his story,” he added.
“[Christopher] knew that those scenes would get the movie the rating that it got. And I think when you see it, it’s so f—-ing powerful. And they’re not gratuitous. They’re perfect. And Florence is just amazing,” Murphy said.
In the blockbuster, Pugh portrays Jean Tatlock, the titular scientist’s mistress. And perThe Hollywood Reporter, places with strict censorship laws, like the Middle East and India,edited in a CGI dresson Pugh for her nude scenes. (In one unedited scene, Jean is topless as she sits across from Oppenheimer in a hotel room. However, in the altered version, she is covered with a computer-generated black dress.)
Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh at the U.K. premiere ofOppenheimerin London on July 13, 2023.Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Gareth Cattermole/Getty
THRadded that nudity is forbidden in cinema in the Middle East and in India, and children under 12 years old are expected to have a parent present for projects with a UA rating.
SinceOppenheimer’s release on Friday, Indian officials have also spoken out about Pugh and Murphy’s sex scenes in the historical drama, calling them“a scathing attack on Hinduism.“On Saturday, Save Culture Save India (SCSI) Foundation’s Uday Mahurkar expressed his feelings toward the film on social media.
“It has come to our notice that the movieOppenheimercontains a scenewhich make a scathing attack on Hinduism. As per social media reports, a scene in the movie shows a woman makes a man readBhagwad Geetaaloud while getting over him and doing sexual intercourse. She is holdingBhagwad Geetain one hand, and the other hands seems to be adjusting the position of their reproductive organs,” Mahurkar penned to Nolan in part, in a lengthy Twitter post.
He went on to say that “TheBhagwad Geetais one of the most revered scriptures of Hinduism,” and those who practice it “do not know the motivation and logic behind this unnecessary scene on life of a scientist.”
Mahurkar was not alone in his disapproval.Varietystated that India’s minister for information and broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, called for Pugh and Murphy’s intimate moments to be removed from the film.
Oppenheimeris in theaters now.
source: people.com
