Nuremberg, a historical drama and psychological thriller by James Vanderbilt, serves as a shocking reality check to everyone about the horrors of the Nazi regime, especially to those who are numb to the truth of it.
★★★★★
2025 saw the release of James Vanderbilt’s Nuremberg into cinemas across the UK after much anticipation. Starring Rami Malek as Army psychiatrist Major Douglas Kelley and Russell Crowe as former Reichsmarshall Hermann Göring, Nuremberg follows Kelly as he assesses the mental health of 22 prisoners, formerly of the Nazi High Command, as they’re prepared to stand trial in what would become known as the Nuremberg Trials. The film also follows the dynamics between Kelly and Göring, their evolving relationship and the themes of accountability and evil.
Nuremberg is an excellent piece of work and anyone interested in history, especially World War Two history, should really give it a watch. Despite knowing the outcome of the film from the real-life events of history, Nuremberg still provides a gripping, edge of the seat watch. The film itself brings themes of action together with thrilling political drama that captivates the mind perfectly. With insight into the mind of some of the world’s most evil men and the allies who brought them to book, portrayed by a cast of well-known and excellent actors, Nuremberg does not disappoint on a single front.
It’s not a purely thrilling watch, however. Nuremberg shocks audiences with its use of real footage of the concentration camps, used for the events of the film, which showed harrowing images of the suffering undergone by the inmates. Truly devastating to see, it will force some viewers to look away from screens briefly. These images stick in the brain as well and to those who learned of the horrors that went on in the camps, it is still a bucket of ice water that is not forgotten quickly, if at all. Moreover, it raises a question about certain elements of society today.
Swastikas and the Communist hammer and sickle carved into the backs of bus seats, swastikas graffitied across children’s play parks in small towns and adults and teenagers laughing, shouting “Heil Hitler” and doing Hitler salutes at random people in the streets. That’s before those on the far-right of the political spectrum who throw their arms up at the right angle at their rallies. To them, it’s all a big joke. A large laugh. But what if they knew the truth behind the symbols and salutes?
If Nuremberg can shock everyday people to the core who just went to see the film with an interest in history, what could it do to people who treat the Nazi regime as something to laugh at? Would the footage of the suffering shock these people into realising the terrifying truth? Would it serve as a wake up call to those who draw swastikas as though they’re nothing bad? Perhaps if people could see the real consequences of fascism, then maybe they wouldn’t make jokes about it and graffiti Nazi symbols.
The Verdict
Nuremberg is a fantastic film with an excellent cast and amazing performances. Equally, it serves as a lesson and a reality check to those who still treat fascism and the Nazi regime as a big joke or a political cause to support.
Words by James Jobson
Nuremberg released in UK cinemas on November 14.
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