Rating: 5/10 stars

Rami Malek and Russell Crowe

This movie is a character study, a match of wits, between Rami Malek (as Douglas Kelly) and Russell Crowe (as Hermann Goring). Michael Shannon co stars as Robert Jackson, the US Supreme Court justice given the job of prosecuting the Nazi regimes primary murderers. It is not really so much about the larger story of the trials.

All three actors are terrific in their roles. Malek is a shrink, whose job is to understand the Nazis High Officials being tried at Nuremberg and help the prosecution succeed and get them properly hung. Major questions about the German high command. What were they thinking? Are Germans particularly susceptible to mass murder? Notably the trials are the first in the history that prosecutes crimes against humanity. For which there was no law code or legal precedent. A small complication.

Michael Shannon is excellent as a somewhat confused and uncertain prosecutor. He is portrayed as meandering down a path which might actually result in Goring being exonerated. You know, Goring says; I was just following orders. I didn’t know what Hitler and the others were actually doing. etc.

Crowe does a fine job as the monster Goring. He must have been an extremely smart man, and is shown as a wily and clever artful dodger. He deftly alternates between vulnerability (concern over his family) and the ability to manipulate Kelly and Shannon. Skillful rendering of a psycopath. Of course and unfortunately, he did not have to bulk up to portray the notoriously gluttonous and obese Goring. Crowe has let himself get fat. Ozempic in his future? Or just portraying fat guys? Too bad, I want to see him back on the deck of the HMS Surprise, in the sequel to Master and Commander. But he might roll off the boat.

While the acting is good, the story is just meh. It is a small story within a huge story, and suffers for its limited scope. The rest of the actors in the movie are not memorable. There is an odd distraction in Kelley’s interplay with Gorings wife and daughter. Why does he care about them, even stick his neck out for them? That thread doesn’t really go anywhere.

Shannon’s role weakest in among the top three, possibly because his story is strange and convoluted. He seems to be indecisive and not all that bright. Malek the shrink has to try to save him from blowing the whole case? Really? Supposedly Jackson was in line to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. If so the legal brilliance and dynamic leadership the real life Jackson must have had, were somehow omitted from the script.

I do recommend seeing this movie, but I watched it on Prime and that was fine with me. No need to spring for $50 for 2 tickets and popcorn at a theater.

Other related movies to see: Master and Commander. Bohemian Rhapsody. The original Nuremberg, with Spencer Tracy and Burt Lancaster. To lighten the mood, try The Producers (original with Zero Mostel).