Cillian Murphy Reveals the One Movie He Believes Is a True Masterpiece
Cillian Murphy has never been the type of actor who looks for easy answers. When he prepares for a role, he often searches far beyond the script. That was especially true when he played J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s film, a performance that later earned him an Oscar.
Instead of only studying science and history, Murphy found inspiration in music. In an interview with MTV Movies, he explained that David Bowie played a big role in shaping how Oppenheimer would look on screen. Murphy said he wanted the character to feel physically fragile and extremely thin, much like the real man. To help with that idea, Nolan sent him photos of Bowie during his Thin White Duke era.
Murphy focused on Bowie’s sharp silhouette and striking fashion choices. He was fascinated by how Bowie could look so emaciated but so fu*king cool. That mix of weakness and confidence became a guide for Oppenheimer’s clothing and posture. The long trousers and narrow frame helped give the character a haunting presence that stayed with audiences.
Away from acting, Murphy is a serious movie lover. He often talks about the films that shaped his taste long before he became famous. During a video interview with the French outlet Konbini, Murphy and Nolan browsed through a collection of DVDs and shared personal favorites.
One film stood out immediately for Murphy. He chose the 1995 French drama La Haine and spoke openly about how much it meant to him. He said he was obsessed with the movie when it first came out and still feels the same way today. Murphy even revealed that he recently showed the film to his kids and said they were completely blown away by it.
He described La Haine as a masterpiece that hasn’t aged at all. He praised its black-and-white visuals and powerful music, and admitted that he owned a La Haine t-shirt and a collector’s box set years before his own acting career took off.
In the present day, Murphy is busier than ever. Earlier this year, he surprised fans with a brief return to the horror world in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which arrived in theaters in January. That appearance sets up a much larger role for him in the next film of the series.
The most anticipated project, though, is his return as Tommy Shelby. The movie Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is scheduled to hit select theaters on March 6 before landing on Netflix on March 20. Set during World War II, the film stars Barry Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson, and Tim Roth alongside Murphy.
He has also stepped behind the scenes as a producer on the drama Steve, where he plays a school headteacher struggling with both his job and his personal life. Whether he is drawing from rock legends or classic cinema, Murphy continues to bring deep passion to everything he does.
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