War Movie Theatre | for Fans of Classic War Films and Cinema History · Robert Hutton & Duncan Weldon - War Movies Fans

Nuremberg - with Henry Dyer

·1 hr 13 min·5 clips

Russell Crowe's portrayal of Hermann Goering is the best part of a film where the Nazi is more compelling than the hero.

This episode of War Movie Theatre features hosts Robert Hutton and Duncan Weldon, joined by Guardian journalist Henry Dyer, to dissect the 2023 historical drama *Nuremberg*. The film stars Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring and Rami Malek as psychiatrist Douglas M. Kelly, focusing on the psychological assessments of Nazi leaders before their trials. Henry Dyer initiated the discussion after watching the film and finding it profoundly disappointing, prompting a group analysis. The hosts detail the film's plot, which is based on the book *The Nazi and the Psychiatrist* and follows Captain Kelly's interactions with Göring. They note the film's excessive exposition, such as a soldier needing to explain Göring's identity to another, and criticize a poorly executed scene where a courtroom ceiling collapses. James Vanderbilt wrote and directed the film, and the hosts examine his previous work on lesser-known Spider-Man films. A specific script excerpt reveals a cut scene with clunky dialogue about the ceiling incident, followed by Richard E. Grant's character quipping about evacuating to a hotel bar. A surprising insight is that Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon performed a key courtroom scene as a long, multi-page take to capture a more authentic performance. The hosts argue the film's most compelling character is the fictional Jewish translator, Corporal Howie, played by Leo Woodall, who has a more complete emotional arc than the lead. They find it ironic that Vanderbilt cited David Fincher's rule that good movies ask questions, yet this film only raised questions about its own flawed production. Historical context reveals the British initially preferred swift executions over trials, while the Americans were concerned about setting legal precedents that might implicate their own Jim Crow laws. The conversation highlights that the Russian judges at the trials are present in the film but given no dialogue or substantive role. The hosts suggest a better film could have been made about the political negotiations to establish the trials, involving moral compromises by all Allied powers. They note a tonal mismatch where the film attempts humor, such as a line about blackmailing the Pope, within a grim historical setting. Rami Malek's performance is criticized for its unsympathetic delivery and notably poor depiction of drunkenness. The episode maintains a conversational and critical tone, blending film analysis with historical commentary. The hosts and guest deconstruct the movie's failures with a sense of exasperated humor, often referencing specific lines, scenes, and production details. Listeners who enjoy thorough, critical takedowns of flawed historical films and behind-the-scenes script analysis will appreciate this episode. Those seeking a straightforward review or who are sensitive to spoilers for the film *Nuremberg* might prefer to skip it.

As heard by us

A sharp, grimly funny takedown of a war film that keeps turning good ideas into obvious ones.

War Movie Theatre treats Nuremberg as a film with a serious aim that keeps tripping over its own choices. Henry Dyer enters having steadily lowered his view of it, and that stance gives the discussion a useful edge: it moves from early annoyance to a tighter case for why the…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a hard-nosed Nuremberg discussion with history, compromise, and dry comic timing

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from War Movie Theatre | for Fans of Classic War Films and Cinema History