James Vanderbilt’s Nuremberg is old-fashioned in a complimentary way, a handsomely mounted, sophisticated indie, and the ultimate dad movie of this time of year. Think of it as a satisfying full plate of compelling history, with helpings of courtroom tension and ethical dilemmas, and actors tearing into heavy dialogue like a juicy steak the target demographic likes to eat. The plot, A World War 2 psychiatrist evaluates various Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg trials, goes down a rabbit hole trying to understand “the banality of evil” as he forms an unsettling bond with Hermann Göring, a Nazi war criminal, at the first International Military Tribunal in history.
The performances are what elevate the drama beyond a standard historical biopic, making it a must-see for theatrical audiences. Russell Crowe is phenomenal as Nazi Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, a very gruff, truly villainous figure in a commanding supporting role. “Just because a man is your ally does not mean he is on your side,” he quips, setting up the stakes and reminding people of the current times. Intense cross-examination by Michael Shannon and Russell Crowe is a showcase for two actors at the top of their game, with Shannon’s sharp delivery and Crowe’s unsettling magnetism. My only issue was Rami Malek, who was fine but inconsistent, a little over-the-top, unwelcome, and felt too stylistically separate from the rest of the movie. He took me out of it when the stellar supporting cast grounded me in realism.
See Also: ‘The Girl With The Needle’ Review: Stark Drama Both Beautiful And Horrific
You think you’ve seen this before, but not like this dramatic and emotionally compelling moment as Göring (Crowe) walks in with a group to the trial, from the pounding on the walls to the bulbs flashing as he enters the courtroom. The trial itself is harrowing, with footage going through the concentration camps. By confronting the war crimes directly, Nuremberg reminds viewers of the unimaginable brutality behind every legal argument and every evasive answer from the defendants trying to escape the reality that the trial wouldn’t allow them to do. These moments present the grim reality that this was the first global reckoning of industrialized genocide. War crimes past and present were on my mind during the court scenes. Nuremberg is gripping, with terrific acting, uplifted by emotional moments, and, most importantly, surprisingly well-paced for a two-and-a-half-hour movie.
Nuremberg is now playing in theaters nationwide.
