Nuremberg

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Starring: Alec Baldwin
Rated: Unrated
Type: DVD
Directed By: Yves Simoneau
Studio: Turner Home Ent
Release Date: 2001-01-16
Running Time: 180 minutes
The nazi high command is on trial and so is justice when allied prosecutors put the principles of freedom first and risk losing the case rather than give in to the post-world war ii passion for vengeance. Studio: Turner Hm Entertainm Release Date: 03/29/2005 Starring: Alex Baldwin Brian Cox Run time: 179 minutes Rating: Nr

A thinly disguised anti-Nazi film.
Don't get me wrong. I hold the Nazis in the poorest of esteem. They were a blight on humanity. But, that in itself is a problem with this film.

The unadulterated racism of the Nazis isn't really expressed here. For an historical document on that regime this is inexcusable. What we get is a highly entertaining show on the villainy of the Nazi leaders on trial and the moral rightness of those who are judging them. For a pursuit of the average viewer perhaps this is sufficient. But, as a student of history I recognize that the problems don't boil down to such a simplicity. There is no mention of just what made Hitler's rise to power actually happen. Hitler himself is treated as unapproachable on every level. Not that I am interested in his ideas, but seriously how does one have an indepth look at the true twist on humanity that Hitler was without a look into the actual substance of his beliefs?

Moreover, how do we connect that with the Nuremberg trial? You see, the greatest problem with this film is the inexcusable lack of connection with the regimes ultimate leader: Hitler himself.

Instead we are left with Goering, separated from Hitler altogether.

Perhaps the goal of this film should not have been to understand the tyrant, but I fail to understand how we can understand the minds of his followers here without a depth of the connection to the man himself.

Ok, end of rant.

On a basic level this film introduces us to some of Hitler's mightiest henchmen in their day of reckoning. The timing, the setting, the symbolism all collide to overwhelm the Nazi concept. The result is that the Nazis cannot have been anything but simply evil men in power who destroyed anyone they believed were "undesirable."

There are some really good things about this film. The pomposity of Goering is fully on display in actor Brian Cox. With his script he performs superbly, finding a gift with his role that is lacking in most of the other major players.

The depiction of war torn Nuremberg is also quite fascinating, giving a feel for the actual conditions of Germany post WWII.

The problem I have, though, is one I will always have with anti-Nazi films. They always defer reality and do not demonstrate the Nazi experience in such a way that it can be understood in reality by people. Just why were they so perverted in their thoughts? How did they become a nation of killers? Hitler tapped into something more primal that simple nationalism. He appealed to the worst instincts in a people who were already prejudiced against the "subhuman."

So, a lot of important information about the Nazis must be presumed when going into this film, or ignored altogether. The clash of morals is left without substance as a result. And, that's why I give this film only 3 stars. It is a powerful introduction to the history of the Nazis, and I recommend it for anyone over the age of 15. But, it is far too light and far too removed from the actual realities of Nazi Germany to be a serious testament on that particular history.

effective, historically accurate production
As a Holocaust educator, I found "Nuremberg" an accurate and compelling look at the pre-trial events and the trial itself. Knowing the accuracy of the movie makes it quite worthwhile. Another bonus is the fact the actors that portray the Nazi defendants look almost like their real life photos. And, just to view it as an interesting story, one would find it entertaining as well.

Excellent flick
I've watched this movie several times. I can't speak completely to the accuracy of all the details since I haven't studied that trial, but the producers, director, actors, etc seems to have done a great job of taking a VERY complicated subject and reducing it to its basic themes within a couple of hours. Baldwin, the guy playing Goering, and Christopher Plummer (as an elder statesman/barrister) are great.
Would have been interesting to see more focus on the more obscure Nazi leadership, but thats probably unrealistic in a film like this. So the focus tends to be on Goering and Albert Speer. The settings are realistic and proper attention was paid to uniforms and background fixtures. Also, the courtroom scenes where film footage of concentration camps is played for the court reminds that the trial is a true story about a real tragedy...
I usually don't care for "lawyer movies" but this one is exceptional in my opinion.

Great Mini-Series = Great Movie
Better than I expected, this is (for my money) TNT's best ever production. It worked as a mini-series. As a movie, it is LONG (over three hrs) and absorbing. If you like great courtroom drama, here it is. Brian Cox is fantastic as Goering. The rest of the cast -- esp. those portraying the Nazi war criminals -- shine like stars.

Much better than expected
Frankly, I didn't expect this docu-drama to be as good as it is. Alec Baldwin has not been a favorite and I doubted what he might do in portraying Justice Robert Jackson. Nevertheless, Jackson was far from perfect himself, both personally and professionally, so maybe it's fit casting. In 60 years, no one else has had the courage to take on this important story, so give Mr. Baldwin his due, both as leading actor and co-executive producer.

Staging, costumes, and cinematography are outstanding in this made-for-TV production. Views of the bombed-out city of Nuremberg seem genuine from beginning to end. Reconstruction of the Palace of Justice is extremely well done. As an old car buff, I enjoyed seeing vehicles from the 1940's and 50's so well maintained. Big social gatherings are lavish and well-staged. In summary, this is a big-budget production.

In rating this movie I might have given it 5 stars except for the portrayal of the British prosecutors. This was understated quite a bit. Sir David Maxwell-Fife, not Judge Jackson, was the one who unmasked Hermann Goering as the psychopathic monster that he truly was. Moreover, fellow-Britisher, Sir Hartley Showcross, was given credit for the most moving summation, not Jackson. No one was cast to play the Showcross part which is unfortunate given the outstanding British actors available.

Another weakness was how the Soviets were depicted. Comrades Rudenko, Nikitchenko, and others contributed a lot to what happened at Nuremberg in the real trial, despite constant kibbitzing from Moscow. This was the only true International Tribunal on war crimes and all four prosecuting countries, the U. S., Great Britain, France, and USSR played their roles.

As to casting in the movie, one inevitably compares to the 1961 landmark movie, "Judgment at Nuremberg." That film had Spencer Tracy, Maxmillian Schell (who won the best actor Oscar that year), Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, and several others of note. These even included William Shatner in his first big-screen performance. In no way does the 2000 production compare to the 1961 film in the depth of characterization and the sheer poetry of the screenplay by Abby Mann. And yet, because of the commanding presence of Spencer Tracy as American lead judge, Haywood, and the role of a lifetime for Maxmillian Schell, other performances have been overlooked.

In my view, Burt Lancaster was eloquent as the chief German judge, Ernst Janning. Several of his lines in the movie still haunt me, especially: "Were we DEAF? DUMB? BLIND?" Then, the rejoinder from Spencer Tracy at the end: "But Herr Janning, it came to that the first time you sentenced a man to death you knew to be innocent." Finally, Marlene Dietrich was remarkable in her limited role. Who can forget the scene of her sitting alone in the dark and letting the phone ring, as Judge Haywood was calling to say goodbye?

Nevertheless, there are some important performances in the newer movie that must be acknowledged.
Brian Cox is absolutely first-rate as Hermann Goering. One minute he's the jovial family man; the next, a psychopathic killer and founder of the Gestapo. I will no longer see Mr. Cox as just an exceptional narrator of World War II documentaries. As others point out, Cox literally steals the show in "Nuremberg."

Moreover, the German actor Herbert Knaup, who portrays Albert Speer, does a memorable job, as Goering's counterweight with the Nazi defendants. Speer seems sincerely repentant for his part in the war crimes and this saves his life. His final statement in court is worth watching and re-watching, as he warns mankind that the next major war could destroy the globe itself.

Christopher Plummer is fine as David Maxwell-Fife, but the screenwriter only gave him one big scene. That was where he described a Nazi mass execution in the Ukraine--a spine chilling moment to be sure. In reality, Maxwell-Fife was the star of the prosecution team, as said above, and he deserves far more credit than he got in this movie.

It's true, as critics point out, that the hanging of the condemned men did not proceed, one, two, three, as shown in this film. Rather, some of the men took 20 minutes or more, to die. Also, I agree with other reviewers who found fault with the love affair depicted between Jackson and his secretary. We could have dispensed with that in favor of some other more weighty things, including defense of the two Nazi naval officers. As it is, the movie runs 3 hours so not a great deal of time could be spent on the subject. But the defense made by Capt. Kranzbuehler, saved the lives of Admirals Raeder and Doenitz. Moreover, Kranzbuehler set precedents in international law with his defense.

In comparing "Nuremberg" with other TV miniseries on the Third Reich, I'd say it's a notch below "Hitler: The Rise of Evil" (2003), starring Robert Carlyle and "Inside the Third Reich" (1982), with Rutger Hauer, John Gielgud, and Derek Jakobi. I see "Nuremberg" on a par, though, with "The Bunker" (1981), starring Anthony Hopkins.

I would highly recommend the newer movie, "Nuremberg," despite its flaws. I got it on loan from a friend and plan to buy the DVD later for my collection. "Nuremberg" does not measure up to "Judgment at Nuremberg," but few films ever will. The newer film tells a much different story and may take literary license along the way. These points notwithstanding, it makes a contribution to our understanding the Third Reich, the world's foulest tyranny. We must try to understand it, lest we repeat it.