Monday, 3 November 2025

Nuremberg--a Psychological look at the trials.


NUREMBERG

Directed by: James Vanderbilt


It is based on the 2013 book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai.

The film had its world premiere in the Gala Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2025, where it received a four-minute standing ovation. It is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on November 7, 2025.

This film features a powerhouse cast.  Rami Malek is a standout playing Douglas Kelley, the psychiatrist appointed to assess Russell Crowe's character Hermann Goring, the man in charge of the Nazi concentration camps.

Russell Crowe's character is a cross between Hanibal Lecter and American Psycho.  He is intelligent, charming, and evil all at the same time.  Crowe is a great actor, but I wonder why they didn't cast someone like Christophe Waltz?

Rami Malek is curious and perceptive, and he buys into Crowe's interesting conversations, even reaching out to his family.

Leo Woodall as the translator Sgt. Howie Triest plays a really interesting character.  He is becoming a real up-and-comer.  He also appeared in Tuner at TIFF.  He has the most expressive eyes and conveys a lot with little dialogue.  He reveals his true self and why it was important for the trials towards the end of the film, which adds an exclamation point to how evil their participation was and its effects on the whole race.

This film shows many of the men who were to testify at the Nuremberg trials, where Michael Shannon plays the lawyer Robert H. Jackson.

This film doesn't hold back in showing you some of the images of the results of what they did at the concentration camps, but it doesn't linger on them; it merely shows what the men present versus what they did.

I thought it was an interesting way to tell the story from the psychiatrist's perspective and how he was betrayed by his illusions.

I see Oscar nominations coming for this film, for the excellent performances, the production design, and also the haunting musical score.

This film will stay with you for a while after seeing it.

Release date:  In theatres November 7th, 2025 

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