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A 1986 thriller with liberal dashes of [[Black Comedy]] and [[Gallows Humor]] plus just a touch of [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness|hard science fiction]]. Belongs to the same genre as ''[[War Games]]'', as both films feature bright high school kids who almost single-handedly cause an international nuclear crisis. Although less high-spirited and possibly more [[Anvilicious]] than ''[[War Games]]'', ''[[The Manhattan Project]]'' is still good fun.
A 1986 thriller with liberal dashes of [[Black Comedy]] and [[Gallows Humor]] plus just a touch of [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness|hard science fiction]]. Belongs to the same genre as ''[[WarGames]]'', as both films feature bright high school kids who almost single-handedly cause an international nuclear crisis. Although less high-spirited and possibly more [[Anvilicious]] than ''[[WarGames]]'', ''[[The Manhattan Project]]'' is still good fun.


Paul Stephens (Christopher Collett) is a [[Teen Genius]] and [[High School Hustler]] from Ithaca, New York (best known as being the home of [[Ivy League|Cornell University]]). His divorced mother (Jill Eikenberry) starts dating nuclear scientist Dr. John Mathewson (John Lithgow), who runs the lab at "Medatomics", ostensibly doing research in nuclear medicine. The Medatomics lab, however, is just a cover story for Mathewson's real work, which is refining plutonium to previously unheard-of purities for use in nuclear weapons.
Paul Stephens (Christopher Collett) is a [[Teen Genius]] and [[High School Hustler]] from Ithaca, New York (best known as being the home of [[Ivy League|Cornell University]]). His divorced mother (Jill Eikenberry) starts dating nuclear scientist Dr. John Mathewson (John Lithgow), who runs the lab at "Medatomics", ostensibly doing research in nuclear medicine. The Medatomics lab, however, is just a cover story for Mathewson's real work, which is refining plutonium to previously unheard-of purities for use in nuclear weapons.
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* [[Brainless Beauty]] / [[Decoy Damsel]]: the act Jenny puts on as she distracts the security guards with a self-inflicted flat tire while he pulls off his plutonium theft caper. Throughout the rest of the movie, however, she's actually quite sharp.
* [[Brainless Beauty]] / [[Decoy Damsel]]: the act Jenny puts on as she distracts the security guards with a self-inflicted flat tire while he pulls off his plutonium theft caper. Throughout the rest of the movie, however, she's actually quite sharp.
* [[The Caper]]: The plutonium theft is played thus.
* [[The Caper]]: The plutonium theft is played thus.
* [[California Doubling]]: Averted. The film is set in Ithaca, New York, which is in the middle of [[New York State]] about halfway between New York City and Buffalo. While not filmed in Ithaca itself, it was still filmed largely in Upstate New York.
* [[California Doubling]]: Averted. The film is set in Ithaca, New York, which is in the middle of [[New York State]] about halfway between New York City and Buffalo. While not filmed in Ithaca itself, it was still filmed largely in Upstate New York.
* [[Casual Danger Dialog]]: Dr. Mathewson when the bomb {{spoiler|suddenly begins counting down to detonation}}.
* [[Casual Danger Dialog]]: Dr. Mathewson when the bomb {{spoiler|suddenly begins counting down to detonation}}.
{{quote|'''Dr. Mathewson''': "Gentleman, we've got a little...wrinkle here."}}
{{quote|'''Dr. Mathewson''': "Gentleman, we've got a little...wrinkle here."}}
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* [[Ivy League]]: The film is set in Ithaca, New York, the home of Cornell University. Although the school is never shown in the film, Paul mentions that his father used to be a professor of architecture there.
* [[Ivy League]]: The film is set in Ithaca, New York, the home of Cornell University. Although the school is never shown in the film, Paul mentions that his father used to be a professor of architecture there.
* [[Keeping Secrets Sucks]]: By the end of the film, {{spoiler|Dr. Mathewson has come around to this point of view, and plans to publish his work on purifying plutonium.}}
* [[Keeping Secrets Sucks]]: By the end of the film, {{spoiler|Dr. Mathewson has come around to this point of view, and plans to publish his work on purifying plutonium.}}
* [[No Name Given]] / [[Who Is This Guy Again?]]: Actor [[Six Feet Under|Richard Jenkins]] receives billing only as "Radiation Controls Officer - Medatomic Labs". The character actually does have a name: Miles Wilson. Each part of his name, however, is only said once, and even then said in different parts of the movie. He is never actually referred to in the film as "the Radiation Controls Officer".
* [[No Name Given]] / [[Who Is This Guy Again?]]: Actor [[Six Feet Under|Richard Jenkins]] receives billing only as "Radiation Controls Officer - Medatomic Labs". The character actually does have a name: Miles Wilson. Each part of his name, however, is only said once, and even then said in different parts of the movie. He is never actually referred to in the film as "the Radiation Controls Officer".
* [[Not So Different]]: Dr. Mathewson's actions toward Paul implies that the boy reminds him a lot of himself when he was younger.
* [[Not So Different]]: Dr. Mathewson's actions toward Paul implies that the boy reminds him a lot of himself when he was younger.
* [[Oedipus Complex]]: There are a few jokes about this between Paul and his mother. Jenny even suggests this as Paul's motivation to be distrustful of Mathewson.
* [[Oedipus Complex]]: There are a few jokes about this between Paul and his mother. Jenny even suggests this as Paul's motivation to be distrustful of Mathewson.
* [[Product Placement]]: Alberto's VO5 shampoo, which looks suspiciously like the liquid in which the highly purified plutonium is kept. Also, to a lesser extent, Duracell batteries.
* [[Product Placement]]: Alberto's VO5 shampoo, which looks suspiciously like the liquid in which the highly purified plutonium is kept. Also, to a lesser extent, Duracell batteries.
* [[Punch Clock Villain]]: The FBI Agent who says to Paul, "Sorry about before, kid. Nothing personal. Just doing my job."
* [[Punch Clock Villain]]: The FBI Agent who says to Paul, "Sorry about before, kid. Nothing personal. Just doing my job."
* [[Reluctant Mad Scientist]]: Possibly Dr. Mathewson. He enjoys the challenge of purifying plutonium for its own sake, and does not seem to have an issue with his work being used to develop increasingly powerful nuclear weapons. Later on, Lt. Col. Conroy forces him to face the cold moral and ethical realities and responsibilities of what he does for a living.
* [[Engineer Exploited For Evil]]: Possibly Dr. Mathewson. He enjoys the challenge of purifying plutonium for its own sake, and does not seem to have an issue with his work being used to develop increasingly powerful nuclear weapons. Later on, Lt. Col. Conroy forces him to face the cold moral and ethical realities and responsibilities of what he does for a living.
* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: Paul plans to unveil a fully working home-made 70 kiloton nuclear bomb at a New York science fair and win first prize. He doesn't expect any interference from the authorities whatsoever. Even when he's caught by government agents, he acts like it's a social call.
* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: Paul plans to unveil a fully working home-made 70 kiloton nuclear bomb at a New York science fair and win first prize. He doesn't expect any interference from the authorities whatsoever. Even when he's caught by government agents, he acts like it's a social call.
{{quote|'''Paul''': Hi Dr. Mathewson!
{{quote|'''Paul''': Hi Dr. Mathewson!
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** Right before settling a [[Wire Dilemma]], Mathewson asks, "Anyone want to make a bet?" In a real-life incident of [[Gallows Humor]] at the Trinity test, a number of scientists wagered on exactly how powerful the explosion would be. Wagers ranged from a dud, to 18 kilotons (the winning wager by physicist I. I. Rabi), to destruction of the entire state of New Mexico, to ignition of the atmosphere and the incineration of the entire surface of the Earth.
** Right before settling a [[Wire Dilemma]], Mathewson asks, "Anyone want to make a bet?" In a real-life incident of [[Gallows Humor]] at the Trinity test, a number of scientists wagered on exactly how powerful the explosion would be. Wagers ranged from a dud, to 18 kilotons (the winning wager by physicist I. I. Rabi), to destruction of the entire state of New Mexico, to ignition of the atmosphere and the incineration of the entire surface of the Earth.
** There are also Shout Outs to two other movies dealing with the threat of nuclear weapons:
** There are also Shout Outs to two other movies dealing with the threat of nuclear weapons:
*** ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still]]'' (the 1951 original) is playing on the TV while Paul and Jenny are planning the plutonium theft.
*** ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951 film)|The Day the Earth Stood Still]]'' (the 1951 original) is playing on the TV while Paul and Jenny are planning the plutonium theft.
*** When Paul figures out that Dr. Mathewson helps build nuclear weapons, he starts referring to the scientist as "[[Dr. Strangelove]]" behind his back.
*** When Paul figures out that Dr. Mathewson helps build nuclear weapons, he starts referring to the scientist as "[[Dr. Strangelove]]" behind his back.
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: Arguably to [[War Games]].
* [[Spiritual Successor]]: Arguably to [[WarGames]].
* [[Tailor-Made Prison]]: Invoked by Mathewson as the potential consequences of Paul's pet project.
* [[Tailor-Made Prison]]: Invoked by Mathewson as the potential consequences of Paul's pet project.
{{quote|'''Mathewson''': They don't care how old you are, how cute you are. They're gorillas; they can ''hurt'' you. Don't you get it? You try to tough it out with them, they'll lock you in a room somewhere and ''throw away the room.''}}
{{quote|'''Mathewson''': They don't care how old you are, how cute you are. They're gorillas; they can ''hurt'' you. Don't you get it? You try to tough it out with them, they'll lock you in a room somewhere and ''throw away the room.''}}
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Films of the 1980s]]
[[Category:Films of the 1980s]]
[[Category:The Manhattan Project]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manhattan Project, The}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
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