weird compelling film topic atom bombs created los alamos nm usa used japan latter part world war ii huge course deeply disturbing films plot takes lot heavy issues actors carry much creative tension never seen film much interested admit read book smoking bed conversations bruce robinson robinson wrote story screenplay think film better expected reading robinsons point view conversations it see thought got derailed think paul newman pretty good somehow bottom miscast hes hollywood one point big meanlooking guy storms newmans office striking presence immediately thought playing character newman playing lead plays head scientist also fairly good somehow brilliant enough portray huge angst goes part  immense responsibility creation ultimate machine death destruction one effective characters seems composite personality played john cusack oddly affecting throughout end character whose fate really hits home made think vividly fate  japanese people hiroshima nagasaki