LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘Oppenheimer’ has been released in cinemas to great critical acclaim and is doing outstanding business worldwide. Meanwhile, the cast and crew members of the film are sharing their behind-the-scenes experiences in candid chats.
While most stars are sharing the stupendous experiences they gained while filming with the costars, Matt Damon spoke about a “real problem” he encountered on the sets. Talking to People, the ‘AIR’ actor elaborated on his filming experience with Cillian Murphy, who plays the titular physicist J Robert Oppenheimer.
Does Matt Damon not get along with Cillian Murphy?
Reflecting on the 57-day-long schedule of the film, Damon said, “It’s a real problem when you’re doing scene work with Cillian. Sometimes you find yourself just swimming in his eyes.” While Damon did not have any skirmish with Murphy, he found himself often lost in the depths of Murphy’s expressive deep eyes. Damon has not been the only one to be transfixed by Murphy’s eyes. Emily Blunt, who plays an important role in the film, said, “It’s like that ‘Ocean Eyes’ song by Billie Eilish. We just hum it all day.”
Murphy - in his characteristic somber manner - said to his co-stars, "They’re not even that blue!"
Emily Blunt further compared the shooting schedule at New Mexico with a “summer camp.” She said, unlike the rest of the cast members, Murphy seldom participated in group activities because of his monumental work pressure and strict diet, which consisted of just almonds.
Blunt recalled, “We were all in the same hotel in the middle of the New Mexican desert,” before adding, “We only had each other. Me and Matt were roommates and we were like, ‘Let’s go to have dinner.’” However, she added, “Murphy did not attend because the sheer volume of what he had to take on and shoulder is so monumental.” Damon added, "He couldn't. His brain was just too full." Murphy responded, "You know that when you have those big roles, that responsibility, you feel it's kind of overwhelming."
'Never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor'
Blunt and Damon are not the only ones to appreciate Murphy’s dedication to his work. Marvel superstar Robert Downey Jr also heaped praises on the Irish actor. Downey Jr, who plays the Atomic Energy Commission chairman Lewis Strauss in the film, said to People, “I have never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor in my career. He knew it was going to be a behemoth ask when Chris called him. But I think he also had the humility that is required to survive playing a role like this.”
He further added an anecdote saying Murphy once didn’t take a three-day weekend because he had to learn Dutch. The ‘Iron Man’ star reminisced Murphy saying, “Oh, I have to learn 30,000 words of Dutch. Have a nice time,” before adding, “But that’s the nature of the ask.”
