Director James Vanderbilt’s latest film, “Nuremberg,” wasn’t something I was initially planning on watching in theaters. However, the allure of seeing the film at FilmScene drew me in, and I’m glad it did.
“Nuremberg” is based on the real events of the Nuremberg trials at the end of World War II, and follows a U.S. military psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, as he analyzes and interacts with the imprisoned Nazi leaders about to stand trial for their crimes. Kelley forms an especially close bond with Hermann Göring, the second-in-command of the Nazi Party, whom he ultimately faces in a battle of wits and determination.
From the beginning of the film, Kelley’s obsession with understanding the complexities of evil within the human mind is made apparent. Kelley is filled with a cruel sense of admiration for the Nazi leaders he encounters, and gets excited at the prospect of meeting them all and running tests on them.
The audience is drawn into Kelley’s frantic madness, following closely in his mania of infatuation. Kelley’s relationship with Göring is especially alluring, as the boundaries of doctor and patient are pushed into a dangerous area of friendship. Kelley even finds himself advocating for Göring, much to the shock and horror of the U.S. military generals and other powerful figures under whom he is employed.
For me, the portrayal of complex emotions felt by each character was the most intriguing aspect of this film. Rami Malek, who plays Kelley, delivers an outstanding performance in his portrayal of the misguided psychiatrist, heightening impactful moments of betrayal and fanaticism.
Another character, Sergeant Howie Triest, played by Leo Woodall, was a character I found very compelling. Being the only fluent German speaker, Triest operates as the interpreter between imprisoned Nazis and U.S. soldiers.
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Triest’s main wish is to reveal to imprisoned Nazi leader, Julius Streicher, that Triest, whom Streicher had often found comfort in, was actually a Jewish man. However, when the time comes for Streicher to be hanged and he is at his lowest moment, Triest finds sympathy in himself rather than hatred and helps the man in his last moments rather than betraying him.
I found this scene to be very interesting, showing the humanity Triest had and his sympathy for a man he hated. It was scenes like this that elevated this movie for me and had me invested in the storyline and characters.
Adding to the emotions, the film utilized real footage captured during World War II at the Nazi concentration camps. This footage was presented in the courtroom scenes and panned between the reactions of different characters witnessing the horrors for the first time. Much like in real life, this was the first time these people were seeing the truth behind the horror stories, giving even more emphasis to the evil of humanity.
Another aspect of this film that I particularly enjoyed was the color palette. The film primarily operates with muted browns, greens, and grays. However, outside of the hidden prison building, the four flags of the Allied nations – the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union – flew proudly with the color red in their flags.
These deep red colors were a stark contrast to the muted atmosphere outside, and gave the flags clear on-screen emphasis that was beautifully shot. The scene with the flags outside was repeated several times, and each time I saw the shining pops of red, I was in awe.
For a movie around two and a half hours long, “Nuremberg” flew by. “Nuremberg” brings the intense final battle of World War II to the screens, and it’s neither bloody nor brutal, but a battle of wits and law. The film is so much more than a story of World War II, but is a psychological, legal thriller with intense emotions and a captivating narrative.