this be a weird and compelling film . the topic and about the atom bomb create at los alamo and nm in the usa and use on japan during the latter part of world war ii and be huge and and of course deeply disturb . the film plot take on a lot of heavy issue and the actor have to carry much of the creative tension . i have never see the film and or be much interested in it i have to admit and until i read the book smoking in bed represent conversation with bruce robinson . robinson write the story and screenplay . i think the film be good than i expect from read robinson point of view in the conversation about it and but i can see how he think it get derail . i think paul newman be pretty good and but be somehow at bottom and miscast . he too hollywood . at one point and a big and mean look guy storm into newman office and have such a striking presence and i immediately thought he should be play the character newman be play . the other lead and who play the head scientist and be also fairly good and but somehow not brilliant enough to portray the huge angst that go with the part the immense responsibility for creation of an ultimate machine of death and destruction . one of the more effective character seem to be a composite personality and play by john cusack . he be oddly affect throughout and and in the end and be the character whose fate really hit home and who make me think most vividly of the fate of more than 200 and 000 japanese people in hiroshima and nagasaki .