 "‘Nuremberg’ Movie Review: Russell Crowe has nailed the role of Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring")
Director: James Vanderbilt
Language: English and German
Cast: Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Leo Woodall, Colin Hanks, John Slattery
Nuremberg is much more than a history lesson. The film literally plays with your brain and makes you think, re-think and analyse its relevance in today’s world. In today’s world we have many Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) and most importantly the film very loudly and clearly talks about the importance of the prisoners’ mental health. It is an urgently important story told in the most brilliant possible way.
The film is much more than a courtroom drama or a psychological thriller. Rather it explores what justice truly needs - courage, empathy and the strength to face humanity’s darkest truth. It plays with your psyche and helps you to deal with it. And every character here has a solid back-story. The Nuremberg tribunal was the first international trial of its kind, establishing important legal precedents for individual responsibility and international criminal law.
Nuremberg movie will take you through the historic trails that brought Nazi leaders before the world’s judgment, changing the meaning of justice. Directed by James Vanderbilt and starring Rami Malek, Russell Crowe , and Michael Shannon, the film moves beyond courtroom proceedings to confront the moral weight of truth. The film also makes you believe that even a negative and hugely inhuman, mean and arrogant character like Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) has a softer and weaker side and that was the job of the psychiatrist, Dougles Kelly (Rami Malek) to tap. And in this process of understanding Hermann, Dougles (Rami Malek) started reflecting on his own life and also understanding the weaknesses of Hermann.
In several sessions with Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), Dougles (Rami Malek) realises how difficult it is to penetrate his head and understand what is playing inside it. It has been 80 years since the infamous Nuremberg tribunal set up an international law and put the Nazis on trial for unthinkable malicious acts in war. But even today what we learn from it is relevant as hell. The barbaric atrocities done by the Nazis can never be forgotten.
The way the story is told is unique. We have seen plenty of courtroom dramas in the past, but the way Army psychologist Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley played by Rami Malek has done the act of using Hermann Göring’s weakness by penetrating deep into his head, is absolutely brilliant. The two Oscar-winning actors have done an absolutely magnificent job in narrating the story and getting into the skin of the characters.
As we are gradually forgetting the lessons that humankind had learnt through World War II, Nuremberg is hugely important and the need of the hour for every individual globally to watch and understand. We often forget what we have read in our history books, but cinema being one of the most powerful mediums of human realisation, it is the need of the hour for every individual to watch the film carefully and understand the message it is trying to deliver.
Going back to history the whole Nuremberg Tribunal was a series of military tribunals, primarily the International Military Tribunal (IMT), held in Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II to prosecute prominent Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace. It was initiated by Allied powers (the U.S., France, the UK, and the Soviet Union).
The film is a must-watch mainly because it shows how high-ranking political and military officials are accountable for their actions during the war. But definitely what rules the Nuremberg movie is the stunning and immersive performances of both Oscar winning actors Russell Crowe and Rami Malek. A big, big shoutout to both these actors for performing real life charters closest to reality and delivering a message in the most subtle possible way!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
WATCH the trailer of ‘Nuremberg’ here:
Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a 'Rotten Tomatoes' certified critic. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it's a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.