No. 94 - Nuremberg (2025) 99/100
Up to date Shannon once again and I have to confess that I
gave up the chance to see this in the cinema in favour of ‘The Running Man’. My
choice wasn’t great, but it wasn’t 148 minutes either! Three hours including
trailers is too much and I think this film was better served over three
sittings on streaming.
The film is a historical drama which closely follows the
events in Nuremberg following the war when a group of Nazis were tried for war
crimes. This was a new idea with the victors previously just killing all of the
vanquished on the quiet. This time the Allies plan to send a message that war
crimes will be tried and punished in all conflicts going forward. Whether that
has done any good is up for debate, and some of the shady dealings on show
suggest that the victors weren’t that virtuous in any event.
Shannon has one of the three main roles in the film and
shines as Justice Robert H Jackson. He has the job of prosecuting the Nazis
alongside his British counterpart Richard E Grant. Their main adversary is
Hermann Goring played ably by a portly Russell Crowe and they are assisted by
Rami Malek’s prison psychiatrist.
The film opens with Goring and his family being captured as
they try to flee Germany following the Nazi defeat. He is installed in a
prison in Nuremberg and plans are made for his, and other officers’, trial. At
first there is some reluctance with John Slattery off ‘Mad Men’ keen for an
early resolution. Shannon however is keen to write new laws and hopefully get a
promotion of the back of the trials. Malik also has ulterior motives as he can
see the profit in writing a book about his dealings with the Germans.
Malik and Crowe have a lot of scenes together with Crowe initially
pretending that he needs an interpreter. Malik wins him over by showing him
magic tricks and bending the rules about access to the German’s wife, whom
Malik takes a shine to.
Elsewhere Shannon is struggling with the brief and is
worried that if he cannot nail the Horrible Hun the rest of the trails will
fail and the Germans will earn absolution. He tries to get some insight from Malik
who initially refuses on the basis of doctor patient confidentiality but is
soon spilling all the beans.
Eventually the trial is convened and all the Oscar baiting speeches
have been written – will all the Germans get off or will American justice
prevail? That’s not a hard one to answer, but it is a decent ride to the
inevitable conclusion.
I quite enjoyed this film but there were too many scenes
where stuff was clearly being made up and that took me out the true-life aspects
of the film. Long and unlikely speeches were aired on a regular basis with all
of the principles looking for equal airtime. I think Malik was the weakest with
his character garnering no sympathy from me and his acting the most obvious when
facing off against Crowe and Shannon. I appreciate that of the three Shannon is the
only one without a Best Actor Oscar, but he was the strongest here.
The majority of the film was a prelude to the court room
scenes and, to be fair they were the main selling point of the film. Real footage
from the concentration camps, shown to the court and to the viewer, was a tough watch and it is to the film’s credit
that they didn’t shy away from this. The final denouement was a bit cack handed
and whether it’s true or not, it didn’t seem believable that the assured Shannon
would be bested, only for Richard E Grant to step up and save the day.
Shannon gave a largely assured performance and his top
billing was justified alongside his contemporaries. The film felt a bit uneven
and flat in places but it was interesting and informative if not always totally
believable.
When is Shannon-On? 03.36
Outcome? No Promotion
But A Favourable Outcome
Film 3.5/5
Shannon Stars 4/5
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