Nuremberg
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Movie Reviews of Nuremberg
Movie Review: Not a remake! Different trial!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Judgment at Nuremberg" was the fictional account of one of the "minor" trials, with Spencer Tracy as the sole judge;
this miniseries is the more-or-less true story of the BIG
trial, the International Military Tribunal conducted earlier by Americans, British, French, and Russians jointly.
Alec Baldwin doesn't resemble the real-life Justice Robert Jackson, who was the chief US prosecutor, but he does a good job of delivering the role, and won awards for his portrayal. Ignore the silly, totally irrelevant relationship between the Supreme Court justice-on-leave and a secretary or assistant played by Jill Hennessy. You'll get a pretty good impression of the proceedings, in a reconstruction of the IMT courtroom in the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg.
The Number Two Nazi, the Number One defendant, Herman Goering,
actually bested Jackson during the questioning. Note how the script portrays their encounter.
Choose: The star-studded original about an imagined follow-on trial, or this pseudo-documentary about the original tribunal--
the one most people actually mean when they say "Nuremberg war-crimes trial."
Movie Review: Lest we forget
Summary: 4 Stars
This made-for-tv movie portrays the Nazi war criminals being tried in Nuremburg. Alec Baldwin plays Robert Jackson, a US Supreme Court Justice who is asked to temporarily step down from his position in order to act as Chief Prosecuter against the war criminals. This event is portrayed as a new and unique idea in the annals of war, and the importance of the situation is stressed, not only so that justice can be served, but that the trials would serve as an example in future wars. There is plenty of political intrigue as the Allies and their foes alike jockey for position and power. Baldwin at first falters when he faces the charismatic and manipulative Hermann Goering, but eventually he hits his stride and boldly does his duty. The romantic subplot is almost distracting at times, but generally the movie holds the viewer's attention for the entire 3 hours. New generations of Americans need to know the dangers of absolute power in the hands of ruthless men and this movie generally succeeds in that goal.Movie Review: Neuremburg Trial of Infany
Summary: 4 Stars
I found this to be well done, close to factual. It would have been better if they had spent more time on the war crimes prisoners' personalities.Movie Review: A thinly disguised anti-Nazi film.
Summary: 3 Stars
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.
Movie Review: A valiant effort
Summary: 3 Stars
'Nuremberg', for a TV miniseries production, is a wonderful production. The movie recreates the court room setting and drama wonderfully, as well as the physical appearance of the defendants.
However, I would like to make my observations concerning certain weaknesses of the film:
-There is barely enough time of the film devoted to the actual court-room examinations and cross-examinations. Perhaps, this would have been feasible if there wasn't so much concentration on the inception, organisation and the buildup of the film.
-What is the point of adding a hinted romance between the chief prosecutor and his assistant? Was it relevant in any way and did it help to keep our interest in the film? I think not.
-Brian Cox plays the role of Goering absolutely wonderfully. The Nazi leader is not demonised, yet is shown for his aristocracy and great intellect, as well as his ability to sway his authority on other people. Watching the movie will surely help one understand why Goering became so influential and became Hitler's deputy.
-There is too much concentration on the friendship developed between Lt. Tex Wheelis and Goering. There is still a looming conspiracy on the American Lieutenant's role partaking in Hitler's suicide, but there has been not one iota of evidence affirming his involvement, so why not-so-subtly imply it in the film?
-The Russian staff were portrayed as seemingly ignorant, revengeful superficial characters, which is far from the truth. The movie managed not to stumble on older films' weaknesses; the demonization of the Nazis, yet does so with the Russians! The Cold War is over!
-I understand that the development of all the defendants' cases would not have been feasible in a movie, yet some omissions are daunting! In the judges' rendering of sentences, they highlight the decision to acquit Hjalmar Schacht, certainly an important decisions with vast consequences. Yet, why was there no cross-examination of him throughout the movie, as he was described as the most eloquent of the defendants, surpassing even Albert Speer!
-Language? Some of the defendants were known to speak English fluently throughout the trial, revealing often their aristocratic background (von Ribbentrop for example). Others did not, yet the distinction was not made at all in the movie, rather making the defendants speak English with very ludicrous accents.
To conclude, 'Nuremberg' certainly is a great introduction to the trials themselves, but those with a bit more advanced knowledge on the issue, will remain unsatisfied.
Overall, 'Judgment at Nuremberg' is the best movie available concerning the legal aspect of the trials, even though it does not touch upon the 'war criminals' but the Nazi judges.