Nuremberg Film Review: Seeking Justice

James Vanderbilt’s powerhouse film Nuremberg is unrelenting in its search for justice and stern in its emphasis on the necessity of accountability.

When US Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson heard the war had ended, he stood fast in his belief that something different needed to happen at the end of this war in order to ensure another one like it would never happen again. From this idea came the Nuremberg Trials; instead of executing the high-ranking officers from the Nazi party (those who had not taken their own lives before being captured), the Allied Forces would put them on trial to hold them accountable for their war crimes. James Vanderbilt’s Nuremberg is a sprawling exploration of 1940s global politics, changing social climates and psychological motivations that rose from the rubble of the world’s deadliest war.

Nuremberg tells the story of the Nuremberg Trials through the perspective of army psychiatrist Lt. Colonel Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek, of The Amateur). Dr. Kelley was sent to the prison that held the remaining Nazi High Command and tasked with evaluating the prisoners to make sure they were both fit to stand trial and watch out for any signs of suicide, as at this point, both Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler, the two most powerful men in the Nazi party, had taken their lives prior to being captured. 

It is clear once Dr. Kelley arrives that, given the scale of the atrocities committed, it’s increasingly difficult for the officers guarding these prisoners to keep any sense of objectivity towards them. Alternatively, Dr. Kelley begins to foster a deep sense of curiosity over what would lead these men to do what they did. The most fascinating to him is Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe, of Kraven The Hunter), the highest-ranking Nazi official who had been captured after the war. Göring was second in command and named Hitler’s successor in 1939.

Justice Jackson (Michael Shannon, of The End) wanted to utilize Dr. Kelley’s close proximity and burgeoning trust he’d developed with the inmates to help with his case; however, Dr. Kelley slowly begins to lose sight of himself and his mission in pursuit of what he believes will be a revolutionary psychological breakthrough. As the trial approaches and the lines of doctor and patient begin to blur, the other officers in charge of the prison start to distrust Dr. Kelley’s motivations, questioning if he, too, is in pursuit of justice or perhaps more interested in professional acclaim. 

Nuremberg’s pacing is rapid and time-sensitive. It immediately asserts the necessary nature of telling this story, and telling it right, much like Justice Jackson seeks to try these men in a way that leaves absolutely no leeway for misunderstanding or feigned ignorance. 

While the film repeatedly states the importance and urgency of its message, it is able to do so in a way that never feels repetitive. Vanderbilt’s script, if anything, becomes more assertive and sure of itself as the film progresses, standing firm in the importance of these trials and the significance of showing the world what truly happened during the Holocaust. 

The film masterfully balances the historical weight and significance of the story with the extraordinarily grounded and fleshed-out performances by its all-star cast. Most notably accentuated by Rami Malek and Russell Crowe’s performances, Nuremberg makes a real effort to portray these historical figures as comprehensible characters. 

Göring is able to charm and provoke Dr. Kelley, who so desperately wants to understand the Third Reich member’s motivations. Because you are brought into this world through the eyes of Dr. Kelley, the film tries to bait you as an audience member to buy into the concept of Göring’s humanity, but just when you think the film will zig, it zags. 

Most poignantly, at the peak of the goodwill, or maybe even friendship, grown in Dr. Kelley and Göring’s relationship, Vanderbilt leads us back to the significance of this moment in history by utilizing the real archival footage from concentration camps that was actually shown during the Nuremberg trials. It’s one of those rare moments where you could hear a pin drop in a fully crowded theater as the truth reveals itself plainly and undeniably. 

Nuremberg is a perfect historical film. It expertly balances its analysis of the true need for justice following WWII as well as the psychological motivations of the people behind the world’s deadliest war. It stands firm in its message of why this story is so important to tell while also captivating its audience with its fevered intensity. Its message feels more relevant than ever in a world that has been quick to forget decency in the face of tyranny and become enamoured with spectacle rather than skeptical of its motivations. 

Nuremberg was released in US theatres on November 7, 2025 and in UK & Irish cinemas on November 14.