James Vanderbilt's film "Nuremberg" explores the historical encounter between U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley and Hermann Goering, the highest-ranking Nazi official brought to trial by the Allies. The film's release aligns with the 80th anniversary of the first international trials of Nazi figures in the fall of 1945.
Synopsis
Based on Jack El-Hai's 2013 book, the narrative centers on Kelley's assignment to assess the defendants' mental fitness for trial. It depicts his evolving relationship with Goering leading up to the latter's testimony. Russell Crowe portrays Goering, while Rami Malek plays Douglas Kelley. The film runs for approximately two-and-a-half hours, with the trial sequences beginning roughly halfway through.
Filmic Elements and Performances
The film's pacing has been noted, with its initial half described by some as slow. Narrative elements include asides, contrivances, and voiceovers. A backstory segment features Rudolf Hess crashing a Cessna in the Scottish highlands. The film incorporates a 'magician's sleight of hand' trope and scenes that have drawn comparisons to Russell Crowe's role in "Gladiator." Actual footage from concentration camps is also presented within the film.
Key performances include Michael Shannon and Richard E. Grant as prosecutors. Crowe's portrayal of Goering has been recognized for its emotional complexity, and Malek's depiction of Kelley highlights moments of intense emotion. The on-screen interaction between Crowe and Malek has been described as captivating.
Narrative Structure and Epilogue
The film's structure around the central interaction has been characterized by some as labored, with certain storylines and character developments not fully explored. The epilogue, which addresses Douglas Kelley's later life after the trial, is presented concisely, with information conveyed through text before the end credits.
Themes and Historical Context
"Nuremberg" engages with themes concerning the nature of evil and mass psychology, questions that were prevalent during the trials and continue to be discussed. The film is positioned within a lineage of historical dramas about Nazi war crimes trials, including "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961) and "Nuremberg" (2000 miniseries). The film also employs diagnostic terminology, such as 'narcissist,' reflecting contemporary psychological discourse.
Historically, the U.S. prosecution presented a documentary exposing Holocaust crimes as Exhibit 230. According to El-Hai's book, Goering's reaction to this footage was, "It was all going so well and then they showed that awful film." In Vanderbilt's film, Crowe's Goering is depicted dismissing the evidence as "fake news" and declaring unwavering loyalty to Hitler. This portrayal of Goering's intellect and demagogic skill in the courtroom has been subject to various interpretations.
Psychiatrist Douglas Kelley's conclusions, published after the trials, suggested that figures like Goering and other Nazis were ultimately ordinary individuals, sharing common personality traits. This perspective aligns with the concept of the 'banality of evil,' famously articulated by Hannah Arendt regarding Adolf Eichmann's trial in Jerusalem, which posits that extreme atrocities can stem from ordinary human actions rather than extraordinary evil.