Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Nuremberg Review: Russell Crowe Riveting as Hermann Göring
This movie is about a famous trial after a big war where people who did bad things were put on trial.
One of the main people on trial is a man named Hermann Göring, who was a top leader for the bad guys.
A movie star, Russell Crowe, plays him and is really good at showing how tricky and selfish Göring was.
Another actor, Rami Malek, plays the doctor who talks to Göring to figure out why he did what he did.
The movie shows shocking pictures from the war, and Göring pretends he doesn't care.
The doctor wants to write a book about why people do bad things, but the movie is more about showing off the scary trial itself.
Some parts of the movie are really good, especially the acting, but some people think it gets too caught up in looking flashy instead of really digging into the sad story of the war.
Russell Crowe delivers a riveting performance as Hermann Göring, Hitler's second-in-command, in the film 'Nuremberg'.
The film is based on Jack El-Hai’s book 'The Nazi and the Psychiatrist', exploring the minds of Nazi leaders during their trials.
Rami Malek plays Major Douglas Kelley, the US Army psychiatrist tasked with evaluating Göring and other Nazi officials.
The movie intersperses scenes of the trial, including the playing of concentration camp footage, with the interactions between Göring and Kelley.
Despite strong performances from Crowe and Michael Shannon, the film is criticized for an uneven tone, occasional naivete in its portrayal of Kelley, and blunt dialogue.
- Who
- Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring, Rami Malek as Major Douglas Kelley, Michael Shannon as Justice Jackson, Robert E Grant, Leo Woodall, Colin Hanks.
- What
- A film adaptation of Jack El-Hai’s book 'The Nazi and the Psychiatrist' exploring the minds of Nazi officials during their trials, with a focus on Hermann Göring and his psychiatrist.
- When
- Post-WWII, during the Nuremberg trials.
- Where
- Nuremberg, during the trials.
- Why
- To explore how the horrors of the Holocaust came about by examining the psychological state of Nazi leaders.
Traditional Portrayals of Nazis
Nuremberg's Adaptation
Focus and Tone
Traditional Portrayals of Nazis
Focuses on the atrocities and the legal proceedings of the Nuremberg trials.
Nuremberg's Adaptation
Blinded by the spectacle, it struggles between introspection of how the Holocaust happened and its own dramatic presentation, leading to an uneven tone.
Performances
Traditional Portrayals of Nazis
A cast of historical figures and legal professionals involved in the trials.
Nuremberg's Adaptation
While Crowe is riveting as Göring and Shannon holds his own, Malek's portrayal of Major Kelley is criticized for relying on tics and grimaces, appearing unprepared against Crowe.
Character Portrayal
Traditional Portrayals of Nazis
Depicts Nazi officials as perpetrators of horrific crimes.
Nuremberg's Adaptation
Göring is portrayed as manipulative and narcissistic, with Kelley exhibiting naivete, including falling for a 'mysterious, beautiful woman' and visiting Nazi wives and daughters.
- Director
- James Vanderbilt
- Cast
- Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring, Rami Malek as Major Douglas Kelley, Michael Shannon as Justice Jackson, Robert E Grant as British colleague, Leo Woodall as Sgt Trieste, Colin Hanks as second psychiatrist
- Source Material
- Jack El-Hai's book 'The Nazi and the Psychiatrist'
- Setting
- The Nuremberg trials, focusing on the post-Holocaust era.
- Rating
- 3 stars
Sources
What to watch this week: ‘Frankenstein’, ‘Predator: Badlands’ and more
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‘Frankenstein’ review: Grand visuals and a gentle Creature
