Nuremberg

New Zealander Russell Crowe takes the lead in reprising the role of the rotund figure of Hermann Goering in the film "Nuremberg". One of the most senior figures in Hitlers Reich, Goering was considered both astute and charming, if unsurprisingly, conceited. A World War I fighter ace, Goering rose ... to power alongside Hitler. He surrendered at the end of World War II to the allies and was put on trial, at Nuremberg. This film is a mixed bag. Historically it takes a lot of liberties and could hardly be called "accurate". Notions of the US "winning the war" are pure fantasy, as is the claim they set the stage for the Nuremberg trials, getting other nations to "play along". In truth, the Soviet Union was the most powerful player at the end of World War II. It had a massive army that controlled much of Europe. Funnily enough, their significant role in dealing with the remnants of the Third Reich after its defeat, is downplayed. There seems too, to be a emphasis on the trials being driven by a need to address the horrific holocaust against the Jews and other groups. That the trials were, in essence, a rebuttal of "anti-Semetism". This is also not especially accurate. The Allies were mostly concerned at that time, with dismantling the remnants of Nazi-ism, placating Stalin, who they not unreasonably feared, might invade all of Europe and imposing some semblance of stability upon the region. The trials went some way to address the Soviet Unions rage at what Hitler had done to Russia and other regions of the USSR, discredited and removed the key Nazi's still remaining in Germany, whilst providing a bargaining chip with Stalin, so the allies could keep a foot hold in Europe. Yes the Holocaust did play a limited part, in so much as it demonstrated the crimes of the Third Reich and helped condemn its leaders. Its worth noting for anyone doubting this reviewers cynical but honest, take on things, key Nazi scientists, who had used Jewish and other nations people as slave labour, escaped prosecution, in more than a few instances, because of their value to the allies and Soviets. All that said, I do like Crowes rendition of Goering. Its on target, mixing charm, narcissism and wry humour, the man was known to possess. Its not an easy role either. I have seen past efforts that have felt like wooden, overstated caricatures. Crowe strikes a well measured balance by presenting both the ardent Fascist but also the man. In summary, "Nuremberg" isn't perfect or even close to it. Its not historically representative but offers up enough interest, especially, in the foreboding but nonetheless fascinating figure, of Hermann Goering, capably acted by Russell Crowe, to merit a look. read more

Rather than attempt to reimagine the excellent 1961 “Judgement at Nuremberg”, this fact-based drama focuses more on events prior to that; those that see the allied judiciary seek to get into the mind of the recently incarcerated Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe). To do that, the Americans draft in psyc ... hiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) who has quite an unorthodox methodology when it comes to his patients. He knows that his quarry is shrewd, sophisticated and that he is no pushover, but in order for himself to deliver the characterisation his bosses want for public consumption, he is going to have to deftly acquire this man’s confidence. Those sensitivities are largely born out of a concern that the Allies have no authority to try anyone for anything. There was no such thing as international law in 1946. Who were the Americans or the Brits to retrospectively reassess the behaviour of free thinking and acting German citizenry in their own country when they were acting as a direct result of a democratic election? It is therefore essential that Kelley is able to provide overwhelming proof that Göring and his cohort were actively complicit in the Holocaust. Set against a backdrop of a ruined nation and with occupying forces who were war-weary and already mistrusting in some quarters, it was even more crucial that agreement was reached with the Soviets too. Now on the more international scale, this doesn’t work quite so well. The dynamic is very much led by the Americans via their supreme court justice Robert Jackson (Michael Shannon) with some support from Briton Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe (Richard E. Grant) but neither French nor Soviet jurists feature at all here. That’s a shame, but it still doesn’t impact too much on the concentrated focus on the emerging and complex relationship between Kelley and Göring - and both Malek and Crowe present strongly as their intellectual cat and mouse game plays out. Leo Woodall’s role as Sgt. Howie Triest is periodically important, especially towards the denouement and he carries it off adequately, as does Tom Keune’s presentation of Robert Ley which, in itself, showcases something of the true character of some of a Nazi high command devoid of humanity, decency and quite often courage too. Of course it is history, so James Vanderbilt hasn’t so much room to manoeuvre as the plot thickens, but this is still quite an effective look at the psychology of the peace and of that mentality when it came to differentiating between justice and revenge. This drama is a well crafted piece of cinema, but as ever it’s the real life newsreels from the camps that sticks in your mind, turns your stomach and removes any of the understanding you might feel for Crowe’s unnervingly personable portrayal of a brute in a blue suit. read more