Nuremberg

 

      Written and directed by James Vanderbilt, this historical drama is based on the events leading up to and during the Nuremberg trials at the end of World War Two. This was the first trial of it's kind to put the captured Nazi high command on trial for war crimes against humanity. There have been many films and TV movies done on the subject. Mr. Vanderbilt's film focuses on the relationship between Hermann Goring and the psychiatrist tasked with determining his sanity.

       Rami Malek stars as the military psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, charged with determining that the Germans are mentally suited to stand trial. Also starring is Russell Crowe as Hermann Goring, second in command to Hitler, Leo Woodall as Sgt. Howie Triest, John Slattery as Commander Burton Andrus, Michael Shannon as Justice Robert Jackson, and Richard E. Grant as David Maxwell Fyfe.

        The film is well cast but Mr. Crowe is the standout with a transformative performance as Goring. Mr. Woodall's character is a secondary role but he is given a monologue late in the film that is remarkable. Mr. Malek's best scenes are with Mr. Crowe as they match wits in a battle for Kelley to understand the man beneath the uniform and his motivations. Mr. Shannon shines in the courtroom scene when questioning Goring on the stand and they engage in their own battle of wits.

         This is a dialogue heavy film that does drag at times but the score by Brian Tyler helps to move the story along. When actual footage of scenes from various concentration camps are shown as evidence, the film takes a heavy emotional turn that many viewers may find hard to watch.

         What Mr. Vanderbilt does very well is bridge the rise of the Nazi party to contemporary events in the world today. Mr. Kelley, in his book about his part in the trials, warned the world that it could happen again but, at the time, he was dismissed and his book deemed a failure. It is no longer in print.

         There is a sobering quote at the end of the credits, "The only clue to what man can do is what man has done"- R.G. Collingwood.