JUDGEMENT IS COMING. -Tagline
Hermann Göring: Just because someone is your ally, does not mean they are on your side.
In mid-1945, France, the Soviet Union, the UK, and the US convened a joint tribunal in Nuremberg (occupied Germany) w/ the Nuremberg Charter as its legal instrument. The charter upended the traditional view of international law by holding individuals, rather than states, responsible for breaches. Btwn November 20, 1945 and October 1,1946, the International Military Tribunal (IMT) tried 22 of the most important surviving Nazis leaders (in political, military, and economic spheres), as well as 6 German orgs. The charges were crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The purpose of the trial was NOT just to convict the defendants, but also to assemble irrefutable evidence of Nazi crimes, offer a history lesson to the Germans, and delegitimize their elite.
Dr. Douglas Kelley: I’m curious what the attraction was. There’s a failed painter, not a very good soldier, yet he was worshipped and revered.
Hermann Göring: He made us feel German again.
Dr. Kelley: How?
Göring: First of all, I had seen Germany crushed. And along comes a man who says “We can reclaim our former glory.” Would you not follow a man like this?
Dr. Kelley: Depends what else you were willing to do.
On THURS (last NOV 7th), I was among the early viewers of this historical drama written/directed by James Vanderbilt. I’d never hear of this filmmaker before; he was one of the screenwriters of Scream (2022) and Zodiac (2007). After seeing several promos and teaser trailers (on IG), I was V curious. FYI: I was a History minor in undergrad. There are several films/series re: the Nuremberg trials, BUT I haven’t watched them yet. I’d assumed that this story would be focused on the law, BUT it is told from a psychological (mental health) perspective. Dr. Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) wrote the book 22 Cells in Nuremberg which detailed his personal accounts of interactions w/ Nuremberg trial persons. The final chapter details how he could see the events of pre-WWII Germany occurring in (modern day) U.S.
Justice Robert H. Jackson: We are able to do away with domestic tyranny only when we make all men answerable to the law, so that it can never happen again.
As one critic wrote on Letterboxd: “This movie couldn’t be more timely!” I suggest that ppl check it out (at least on streaming, IF unable to see in theaters). As I was at a matinee on a weekday, there were only a handful of ppl in my audience. I was moved and learned some things also! Justice Jackson (Michael Shannon) took leave from his day job (SCOTUS) to be lead prosecutor in the trials. After WWII, popular opinion (among Allies) was that captured Nazis should be hanged w/o trial. Russell Crowe is in his villain era, and it works for him!
[1] The “cat and mouse” relationship between Malek and Crowe is ever changing and complex. Very timeless story of the ascent of evil rings very true today.
[2] This really worked for me. It felt electric, which seems crazy for the subject matter. It had a palpable energy, and so stylish.
[3] Overall a great cast, but for me the other standout was Woodall, the translator for the doctor. I wish younger people would see it including in high school, but I doubt they ever will in the US.
Parallels with 2025 events in the USA are very real plus now anti-semitism is worldwide.
-Excerpts from IMDb reviews
Knightleyemma 