Shadows on the Wall

Nuremberg

dir-scr James Vanderbilt
prd Richard Saperstein, Bradley J Fischer, James Vanderbilt, Frank Smith, William Sherak, Benjamin Tappan
with Rami Malek, Russell Crowe, Leo Woodall, Michael Shannon, Richard E Grant, John Slattery, Mark O'Brien, Colin Hanks, Wrenn Schmidt, Lydia Peckham, Lotte Verbeek, Andreas Pietschmann
release US 7.Nov.25,
UK 14.Nov.25
25/US 2h28

TORONTO FILM FEST

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Based on firsthand accounts, this lavishly produced post-war drama explores the first time war criminals were put on trial by an international tribunal. Filmmaker James Vanderbilt intriguingly sets this out as an investigative thriller, searching for deeper themes in familiar history. It's packed with entertaining details relating both to the people and situation. And at its core is a quest to define the evil in the human heart.

After Hitler's death in 1945, the Nazi leadership scatters. Then second-in-command Hermann Goring (Crowe) is captured and imprisoned with other German officers. Military psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Malek) arrives to assess their mental state, working with translator Howie (Woodall). Through extensive conversations, Kelley tries to break through Goring's intelligent, charming shell. Meanwhile, US Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson (Shannon) is determined to put the trial together legally and robustly. Broadcast globally from Nuremberg, the world is horrified by news of Nazi atrocities. And Kelley worries that Goring has a trick up his sleeve to escape punishment.

Behind-the-scenes details fill scenes, such as how US leaders only want executions, annoyed that a trial is needed at all. But Jackson knows that the allies must be involved, and British prosecutor David Maxwell-Fyfe (Grant) has a key role to play. Other side characters include the base commander (Slattery), a rival shrink (Hanks), Jackson's legal sidekicks (O'Brien and Schmidt), a plucky journalist (Peckham) and Goring's terrified wife (Verbeek). All of these are important and well-played, but thinly written.

Earthy, character-based humour makes these people unexpectedly engaging. Crowe brings his full charisma to bear as the overconfident, narcissistic Goring. And the effortlessly ice-cool Malek is terrific as a smart man who goes toe-to-toe with him. There's an electric connection between Kelley and Goring that makes the film riveting. And supporting players add terrific textures, most notably Woodall's nice-guy translator with a pointed back-story. He very nearly steals the film.

This expertly staged historical epic impeccably recreates real events while adding beefy observations and overly heightened emotions. The script includes extensive details about what the Nazis did, but the key question for Kelley and Jackson is why. Their hope is that understanding these horrors will help make sure this never happens again. Perhaps an even stronger point is that trying the perpetrators in public is far more effective in ending their legacy than quickly shooting them. And Kelley knew that the Nazis were not unique, challenging people to be on the lookout for these kinds of monsters in the future.

themes, language, violence, imagery 5.Nov.25

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