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A notable achievement of director Christopher Nolan in Oppenheimer is his apparent refusal to take a definitive moral side. The movie functions more as an observational canvas than a didactic judgment. Nolan seems intent on showing how human interactions—and the complex web of truths, lies, and motivations—can be inherently corrosive. People’s actions, driven by both ambition and fear, lead to unforeseen and often tragic consequences.
This neutrality invites viewers to reflect on the multifaceted nature of morality and human decision-making. Nolan refrains from portraying Oppenheimer as a hero or villain outright; instead, he presents a character who is a genius, deeply troubled, and morally ambiguous. The film underscores that human beings are rarely, if ever, purely good or evil.