I hadn’t planned to see this film, but upon recommendation, I bought a ticket. With Russell Crowe and Rami Malek, I knew Nuremberg would be an actors film. And it was.
If you’ve seen Stanley Kramer’s 1961 film, Judgement at Nuremberg, these films share very little in common, the story focus is on different aspects of the Nuremberg tribunal. Like Judgement at Nuremberg, this film is bolstered by quality performances, and though the ending is not in doubt, it’s the unfolding of the story and the lives you see exposed that holds your interest to the very end. In both films, we see lives that of those participating in the tribunal that are changed and forever marked.
Based on Jack El-Hai’s non-fiction book “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist” (2013), the plot explores the relationship between U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Malek) and Hitler’s crafty, charismatic second-in-command Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Crowe). James Vanderbilt directs from his own script.
Nuremberg is about the first trial, 21 senior Nazis officials were tried for their “war crimes.” Nothing like this had ever taken place and the eyes of the world were focused on this event. “If we just shoot these men, we make them martyrs,” notes U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Prosecutor Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon). “I’m not going to let that happen.” Herman Göring was the highest ranking Nazi on trial. Crowe does a remarkable job at the narcissistic and manipulative Göring, while transmitting his charm, and his arrogance. Also in the strong cast are Leo Woodall, John Slattery, and Colin Hanks.
Malek is sort of all over the place as the Army psychiatrist assigned to Göring and the others; his job was to maintain the mental fitness of Göring and the other Nazi inmates until their disposition was determined, and also to make sure none of them commit suicide. Well, that fails pretty early on as one of the prisoners accomplishes the deed. Malek’s doctor is played by Göring and even becomes fond of Göring’s family. He is asked by the American Justice Jackson (Michael Shannon) to funnel confidential information from his conversations with Göring, which at first he refuses.
Nuremberg has a run time of 148 minutes, which actually passes quickly. Sadly, I do not believe this film will be seen by many people in the theater during its run. Perhaps the streaming platforms will reach the masses.
What saddens me more is how disconnected younger generations are from the Holocaust and the Third Reich. Evil existed in ways it’s hard to fathom today, but it happened. Never again, but we have to work to keep that from happening. Is this a perfect film? No. Is it worth seeing? Absolutely. See this film and then talk to others about it. Never again.
Further reading: Nuremberg Trials
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