★★★★★

starring: russell crowe, rami malek, leo woodall, and michael shannon

​

REVIEWER: Lyall carter

A WWII psychiatrist evaluates Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg trials, growing increasingly obsessed with understanding evil as he forms a disturbing bond with Hermann Göring.

They don’t make them like they used to is a line that gets trotted out pretty regularly when it comes to cinema these days. And in the case of Nuremberg it kind of rings true - I can’t remember the last time that a film quite like this has had the silver screen treatment - historical drama with a big cast and a great looking production to boot. But it’s a welcome return to the big screen for a film like this which was once regular Oscar fare many moons ago. A towering achievement in performance and storytelling, Nuremberg is a compelling yet horrifying courtroom thriller with an Oscar worthy performance from Russell Crowe at its very core. One of the best films of the year. 

The Allies, led by the unyielding chief prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), has the task of ensuring the Nazi regime answers for the unveiled horrors of the Holocaust while a US Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with former Reichsmarschall Herman Göring (Russell Crowe).

Nuremberg begins following a couple of narrative threads - the capture and incarceration of Göring, the appointment of psychiatrist Douglas Kelley to assess Göring, and the process to prosecute the Nazi’s led by US lawyer Robert Jackson. Even if you have some general knowledge of the Nazi’s and their crimes, Göring will grow on you throughout this first act despite it all. We witness his humanity - his health challenges, his deep concern for his estranged family, and his humour - he’s even charming. As an audience we are really witnessing events from Kelley’s perspective as he gets won over by the force of Göring’s personality. 

But as the story progresses and we witness the horror of the Nazi’s 'final solution to the Jewish question', shown through horrifying newsreels, we begin to discover that we, the audience, have all, just like Kelley, been duped and outplayed by Göring. This is all down to the strength and nuance of Crowe’s performance. It’s truly masterful up there with his incredible performances in A Beautiful Mind and Inside Man. Come award season he’s got to be in the mix for this.

And what plays out in the final act is one of the best cat and mouse courtroom games ever played by two acting juggernauts in Crowe and Shannon. It’s electrifying as they go back and forth, getting one up on each other. There is running through this whole film the thematic sense that even though we try our darndest, humanity forgets too easily the lessons of the past. Perhaps Nuremberg will be the wake up call we need. 

A towering achievement in performance and storytelling, Nuremberg is a compelling yet horrifying courtroom thriller with an Oscar worthy performance from Russell Crowe at its very core. One of the best films of the year. 

★★★★★