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Nürnberg Opens in Germany With Russell Crowe as Göring

Critics say its tight psychological focus risks shrinking the scale of the Nazi crimes.

Overview

  • The drama, which reached German cinemas Thursday, centers on US Army psychiatrist Douglas M. Kelley as he evaluates Nazi defendants before the Nuremberg trials.
  • Russell Crowe plays Hermann Göring and Rami Malek portrays Kelley, with many reviews praising their intense performances and Crowe’s manipulative, charismatic turn.
  • Several outlets argue the star power and a psycho‑thriller framing push victims and the vast scope of Nazi atrocities to the margins, even with brief archival footage in the film.
  • James Vanderbilt directs from Jack El‑Hai’s book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, and Crowe hired German actor Nova Meierhenrich as a dialect coach after years preparing the role.
  • The release arrives during a fresh cycle of films about the Nazi era, and commentary in German media highlights renewed sensitivities over how references to “Nuremberg” are used in current public debates.