00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Alex First: The psychological drama Nuremberg
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 delivers a powerful examination of the first
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 ever trial for crimes against the peace of
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 the world, focusing on the complex
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 relationship between Nazi leader Hermann
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 Goering and U.S. army psychiatrist
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Lt. Col. Douglas Kelly in
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 1945. This groundbreaking
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 legal proceeding was only made possible
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 through unprecedented collaboration between
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 Allied powers, setting the stage for how the
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 world would deal with crimes against
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 humanity. Russell Crowe portrays Goering,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 Hitler's second in command, with a disturbing
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 smugness that perfectly captures the Nazi
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 leader's narcissistic personality. The
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 film highlights the jarring contradiction of
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 a man who showed deep affection for his wife
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 and child while remaining utterly dismissive
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 of the 6 million Jews he helped send to
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 their deaths. Crowe's performance
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 emphasizes this duality, making his
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 character both fascinating and revolting,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 particularly in scenes where his smirking
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 demeanor betrays a complete lack of remorse
00:01:06 --> 00:01:07 for his actions.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 The story primarily follows Lt. Col.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 Douglas Kelly, played by Rami
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 Malek, who arrives in the bombed out German
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 city unaware that he will be tasked with
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 evaluating Goering's psychological fitness
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 for trial. Malick delivers a
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 nuanced performance as he navigates the
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 challenging role of a psychiatrist who forms
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 an unsettling professional relationship with
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 one of history's most notorious war
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 criminals. The film explores
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 the toll this assignment takes on Kelly's own
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 psyche, with Malik effectively portraying the
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 character's internal struggle between
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 professional curiosity and moral revulsion.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 Supporting characters add crucial depth to
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 the narrative. Leo Woodle plays Sergeant
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 Howie Trieste, a German speaking translator
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 whose background is revealed in one
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 particularly powerful scene that stands as
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 one of the film's most memorable moments.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 John Slattery portrays the steadfast
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 Colonel Burton C. Andrus, whose primary
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 mission is preventing the Nazi prisoners
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 from committing suicide, a constant concern
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 throughout the proceedings. Michael Shannon
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 appears as Justice Robert H. Jackson,
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 the lead prosecutor facing the monumental
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 task of securing convictions in this
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 unprecedented trial, bringing gravitas
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 to a role that embodies the weight of
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 historical responsibility. The film doesn't
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 shy away from showing the brutal reality of
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 Nazi atrocities. Most notably, it
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 includes disturbing black and white footage
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 of mass graves and and bulldozers moving
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 piles of corpses, imagery that
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 serves as a stark reminder of why these
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 trials were so crucial. This
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 documentary footage is integrated
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 effectively, though viewers should be
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 prepared for its graphic nature.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 The inclusion of such historical footage adds
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 an undeniable authenticity to the narrative
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 and forces viewers to confront the real
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 world horrors that that necessitated these
00:03:12 --> 00:03:12 trials.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 Director James Vanderbilt, working from Jack
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 EL Hay's non fiction book the Nazi and the
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 Psychiatrist, crafts a taught psychological
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 thriller that also serves as an important
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 historical document. The film
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 meticulously details the challenges faced by
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 the Allies in mounting this groundbreaking
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 prosecution, including numerous
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 tactical mistakes and procedural difficulties
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 that complicated their efforts. At two and
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 a half hours long, the film maintains its
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 grip throughout, offering a thorough
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 examination of this pivotal moment in legal
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 and world history. The movie
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 particularly excels in showing the immense
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 pressure faced by the American and British
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 authorities to get this right,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 to ensure that justice would be served in a
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 way that would stand up to historical
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 scrutiny. Through careful attention to detail
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 and and strong performances across the board,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 it illustrates both the procedural challenges
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 and the psychological toll on those
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 tasked with bringing these war criminals to
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 justice. The film effectively
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 conveys the historic significance of
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 establishing legal precedents for prosecuting
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 crimes against humanity. Most
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 importantly, Nuremberg serves as a powerful
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 reminder of why these trials were necessary
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 and and why their legacy must be preserved.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 It stands as a testament to the importance of
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 holding accountable those who commit crimes
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 against humanity, while also exploring the
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 psychological complexities of evil and those
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 who must confront it directly. The film's
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 M rating reflects its mature themes and
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 disturbing content, earning it an 8
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 1/2 out of 10 rating for its compelling
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 portrayal of this crucial historical event
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 and and the psychological drama at its core.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 The adaptation successfully balances its
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 exploration of Goering's psychology with the
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 broader historical significance of the
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 Nuremberg Trials, creating a compelling
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 narrative that forces viewers to confront
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 difficult questions about human nature,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 justice and accountability. Through
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 its careful attention to historical detail
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 and powerful performances, the film
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 delivers an important message and about the
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 necessity of bearing witness to historical
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 atrocities and ensuring justice is served,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 no matter how challenging the process may be.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 You've been listening to movies first
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00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 player. You can also stream on
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 demand@bytes.com this has been another
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 quality podcast production from
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 bytes.com.