NUREMBERG (2025)

Genre: War/Drama
Director: James Vanderbilt
Cast: Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Richard E. Grant, Colin Hanks, Mark O'Brien, Wrenn Schmidt, Lydia Peckha, Lotte Verbeek
Runtime: 2 hr 29 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Disturbing Scenes)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 12 March 2026

Synopsis: As the Allies – led by the unyielding chief U.S. prosecutor, Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon) alongside Sgt. Howie Triest (Leo Woodall), David Maxwell-Fyfe(Richard E. Grant), Gustave Gilbert (Colin Hanks),Col. John Amen (Mark O'Brien)and Burton C. Andrus (John Slattery) – navigate the monumental task of creating an unprecedented international tribunal to ensure the Nazi regime answers for its atrocities, Kelley gets to know his 'patients'. But he soon finds himself locked in a psychological duel with Göring, whose charisma and cunning reveal a sobering truth: that ordinary men can commit extraordinary evil. 

Movie Review:

Although Russell Crowe bears little physical resemblance to the real-life Nazi military leader and war criminal Hermann Göring, he exudes a compelling, commanding presence in this historical retelling of Göring’s interactions with U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek).

After Göring surrenders to the U.S. at the end of World War II, an international tribunal is convened to hold the former second-in-command of the Third Reich and his surviving lackeys to account. In the meantime, Kelley is tasked with evaluating the mind behind countless atrocities, while U.S. chief prosecutor and Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon) prepares for the trial of the century.

Nuremberg comes from James Vanderbilt, the American writer-director better known for his screenwriting work on Zodiac and The Amazing Spider-Man, as well as misfires like Independence Day: Resurgence and White House Down. In his sophomore directorial effort, Vanderbilt crafts a historical drama that should appeal to both history buffs and casual moviegoers.

That said, contemporary audiences should bear in mind that Nuremberg is not a film easily consumed on a mobile device. This is a dialogue-heavy drama that demands big-screen attention, particularly during the talky yet tense exchanges between Göring and Kelley. Göring is portrayed as a man of immense intelligence—yes, directly or indirectly responsible for unimaginable atrocities, but not depicted as a one-dimensional tyrant. Calculated, thoughtful, and even a family man, he represents the unsettling contradiction of how evil can present itself, and it is precisely this portrayal that makes Nuremberg both fascinating and disturbing.

Malek’s Kelley serves as the moral anchor: the well-intentioned psychologist thrown into the center of history. Like the audience, Kelley finds his patient a captivating subject worthy of study and perhaps even a book. However, mounting pressure, controversy, and Göring’s ability to subtly manipulate his doctor complicate their relationship, turning it increasingly personal as the trial draws closer.

Still, Nuremberg is not without its flaws. On one hand, it functions as a well-staged legal thriller; on the other, the direction and cinematography occasionally hover uncomfortably close to made-for-TV territory. Unsurprisingly, much of the runtime is devoted to verbal sparring between Göring and Kelley, which ultimately sidelines the courtroom proceedings that should have been the true centerpiece of this historically based drama.

Overall, Nuremberg will likely be remembered more for its performances than for its narrative execution. Crowe, Malek, Shannon, and a strong supporting cast including John Slattery, Richard E. Grant, and Colin Hanks deliver masterful performances across the board. The courtroom drama is serviceable, though the use of real-life archival footage feels strangely out of place within this reenactment.

More importantly, Nuremberg raises a timely and relevant question for today’s political climate: are we truly learning from history? The message is clear, especially for those who attempt to ignite war crimes and disrupt world peace.

Movie Rating:

(An engaging historical courtroom drama bolstered by strong performances)

Review by Linus Tee