7 compelling movies and shows of ‘Oppenheimer’ star Cillian Murphy available on OTT in India

Irish actor Cillian Murphy is set to play the titular role in the highly-anticipated Christopher Nolan film, Oppenheimer. Despite being revered as one of the finest actors of this generation, Murphy has largely shied away from the Hollywood spotlight. However, the Peaky Blinders star could soon become a household name if Nolan’s upcoming biopic on Robert J Oppenheimer smashes box office records as is being predicted by industry pundits. Murphy has managed to impress us in a variety of indie films across genres including The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Breakfast on Pluto, and Anthropoid among others. For today’s List Hai Toh Hit Hai, we have curated a list of films starring the light-eyed Irishman available on streaming platforms in India. Perhaps, you can chase Oppenheimer with these if you’re a bonafide Cillian Murphy fan.

The Dark Knight trilogy

Cillian Murphy has collaborated with Christopher Nolan on several occasions since he auditioned for the role of Batman in Batman Begins. While the actor lost out on the big role to Christian Bale, Nolan was so impressed with Murphy’s performances that he cast him as the villain Jonathan Crane aka Scarecrow. He has subsequently appeared in all three instalments of The Dark Knight trilogy and is the only Batman villain to do so. Incidentally, he is also the first actor to play a live-action version of the Scarecrow for film or television. We bet you didn’t know that.

Inception

Cillian Murphy’s role in Inception is probably one of his most memorable roles. The 2010 film was Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious film at the time — and one that had been Nolan’s pet project for several years. Murphy stars as Robert Fischer, the heir to a vast business empire. His character happens to be the target of an elaborate heist orchestrated by a team led by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Dominick Cobb, who specialises in infiltrating people’s minds. Upon release, the film became a global sensation – featuring an ensemble cast of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Ken Watanabe, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine.

Dunkirk

The 2017 World War II drama Dunkirk is yet another Nolan film starring Cillian Murphy, in a pivotal role. The film is based on true events surrounding the evacuation of English, French, and Belgian soldiers from the coastal town of Dunkirk, France, after German troops launch a heaving offensive on land, air, and water. Murphy slips into the role of a British soldier who is rescued by a civilian boat. He essays a complex character, who is terrified, conflicted, and traumatised. The film boasts of a star-studded ensemble of Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Barry Keoghan, Michael Caine, and Fionn Whitehead among others in prominent roles. The film was lauded for its character development, visual effects, and sound design which enhances the screenplay almost tenfold.

Red Eye

It is alleged that Cillian Murphy flew from Ireland to Hollywood just days before his wedding so that he could convince Red Eye director Wes Craven to cast him as the villain. The rest, as they say, is history. Murphy plays an eerie and unforgettable antagonist in the thriller Red Eye, opposite Rachel McAdams. The film’s plot revolves around a woman who is kidnapped on a flight and is blackmailed into aiding in a political assassination. The film is certainly not as exemplary as some of the other titles on this list, but it makes for an engrossing watch, featuring excellent performances by both Murphy and McAdams.

Sunshine

Filmmaker Danny Boyle, who is best known for Slumdog Millionaire, teamed up with Cillian Murphy for the 2007 sci-film Sunshine. The duo previously worked together in the cult classic zombie film 28 Days Later. Sunshine is set in the year 2057 when a group of astronauts are sent to outer space to reignite a dying Sun. The film also features starring roles by Chris Evans and Rose Byrne.

A Quiet Place Part II

Cillian Murphy played the lead role alongside his Oppnehimer co-star Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place Part II. Helmed by John Krasinski, the star and director of the first film, the plot follows the Abbott family as they fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic world where deadly creatures hunt humans, tracking them merely by sound. Murphy’s character Emmett essentially replaces Krasinski’s character in the film, adding more nuance to the story. He is also expected to reprise his role in the third film, scheduled for a 2025 release.

Peaky Blinders

The last one on this list is the critically-acclaimed BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders. The TV series needs little introduction as it is widely regarded as among the best in the genre. Set in post-World War I Birmingham, England, the story pivots around the Shelby crime family and their leader Tommy Shelby, played to perfection by Murphy. The series chronicles their rise to power in England, dethroning crime syndicates far more powerful and influential than themselves. Created by Steven Knight, the series features an ensemble cast of Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, the late Helen McCrory, Joe Cole, Sam Neill, Annabelle Wallis, Tom Hardy, Finn Cole, Natasha O'Keeffe, Adrien Brody, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sam Claflin among others. The series features a riveting storyline, complex characters, stunning visuals, and compelling performances by its cast. This is one binge-worthy series that should definitely be on your wishlist.

Well that's all we got for this episode, until the next time it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

Written by Ryan Gomez

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