Nuremberg
The days that followed the end of the Second World War were ones filled with joy and jubilation, but there was also an unnerving uncertainty over what was to happen next to prevent such an awful war from happening again. The Allies were victorious and the fighting was over, but vast numbers of the enemy remained, and the question leaders faced was what to do with them. Should they be automatically sentenced to death for their crimes? Or should they be allowed to rebuild their lives from the ashes? The answer came sooner than expected, and the world was to be gripped by a new event: the Nuremberg trials.
What director James Vanderbilt presents here is relatively true to fact. With the Nuremberg trials set to begin, a US Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), is flown into the city to analyse the minds of some of Hitler’s closest and most powerful generals, who have waved the white flag and are awaiting trial at the Palace of Justice. He soon discovers he has a task on his hands merely keeping many of the captives alive, but in one, Hitler’s second-in-command, Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), he finds one of his most interesting patients to date.
Anchored by Malek and Crowe, the movie consists of countless scenes of dialogue between the two characters as they pick away at each other’s minds and intentions, something the viewer can bask in as they watch these two Academy Award-winning actors battle it out. Crowe fills every scene with charisma, quality and in stature, chewing the scenery as the stoic fallen Göring. He shows little vulnerability as he seduces Kelley, practically befriending him in the process, so he delivers letters to his family. On the other hand, Malek portrays Kelley as compassionate and easily misled, but also a perfect representation of the so-called “moral high ground” the Allies felt they represented at the end of the war, making the story a more complex dance than simply good versus evil.
The performances might be a bit self-indulgent on the part of both actors, but nevertheless, Nuremberg remains incredibly gripping. The storytelling is unhurried because, in this instance, it is allowed to be. If you know the true events of the Nuremberg trials, you know what is coming, and Vanderbilt is aware of this factor, so builds the anticipation throughout. No holds are barred when the film reaches its third act as the prosecution, led by Michael Shannon (Robert H Jackson), reveals the true horrors of the concentration camps, hiding nothing as the audience is subjected to some of the worst crimes of humanity, committed by the Nazis.
The filming of Nuremberg is slick and glossy, while the sets are brilliantly crafted to replicate the postwar desolation of Germany. With such a star-studded cast, it is difficult not to be transfixed by the drama that unfolds, made even more disturbing by the fact that most of it is true. While it will undoubtedly lure history buffs to cinemas, Nuremberg stands as a movie worthy of all audiences, as it acts as a poignant reminder of a truly dark and unstable time.
Guy Lambert
Nuremberg is released nationwide on 14th November 2025.
Watch the trailer for Nuremberg here:
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