Russell Crowe’s New Historical Thriller Is the Perfect Oppenheimer Replacement

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Russell Crowe has starred in films like Gladiator and The Nice Guys, helping him remain a familiar face in Hollywood. While some recent movies, such as Unhinged and The Pope’s Exorcist, were enjoyable, others haven’t resonated with audiences. However, his current work is turning things around and showcasing a performance that could earn him another Oscar nomination.

I have to say, James Vanderbilt’s new WWII thriller has really brought attention back to Michael Shannon, and deservedly so. He’s incredible as Hermann Göring – he doesn’t just play a villain, he becomes a complex, proud, and even strangely charming man, but you always feel this unsettling darkness beneath the surface. Honestly, watching it reminded me a lot of Oppenheimer. If you loved Christopher Nolan’s film, you absolutely need to check out Nuremberg.

Nuremberg Is Built Around a Pair of Stellar Central Performances

Both Nuremberg and Oppenheimer feature incredibly talented actors, particularly strong performances from two leads. Nuremberg largely focuses on the dynamic between Russell Crowe, playing Göring, and Rami Malek as Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Kelley, the U.S. Army’s chief psychiatrist.

Following Germany’s surrender, Kelley was assigned the challenging job of evaluating the mental state of the remaining Nazi leaders held in Nuremberg prison. These leaders were about to face trial for war crimes in a completely new type of international court. As he worked with them, Kelley formed a surprisingly close bond with Hermann Göring, who began to see Kelley as a friend. This put Kelley in a difficult position, forcing him to choose between maintaining doctor-patient confidentiality and revealing Göring’s planned defense strategy to the prosecution.

Initially, Kelley hoped his conversations with former Nazi leaders would help him understand the root of human evil. However, Hermann Göring quickly showed him that morality isn’t black and white. Göring was incredibly sharp and arrogant, and Kelley understood he constantly attempted to control their discussions and assert his authority.

Despite his monstrous actions, Göring is also charismatic and engaging, and Kelley unexpectedly finds himself connecting with Göring’s wife and daughter. This leads Kelley to struggle with the contradiction of a man who was a devoted family member, a national hero, and a decorated soldier also being responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews as part of a scheme for global domination.

Russell Crowe is fantastic as Göring, delivering a nuanced performance that surprisingly evokes sympathy from the audience before sharply reminding them of the character’s true nature. Rami Malek matches Crowe’s intensity perfectly, and their scenes together are electric with chemistry.

Malek is known for playing detached and enigmatic roles, but his performance as Kelley reveals a depth of emotion and charm we haven’t often seen from him. Like Russell Crowe, he provides a strong foundation for his film, even though the characters they play – Hermann Göring and Douglas Kelley – are very different from those in Oppenheimer. The actors’ compelling performances and the complex, shifting dynamic between their characters – moving from courteous to hostile – are captivating to watch.

The Supporting Cast Gives Oppenheimer a Run For Its Money

One of the most enjoyable parts was recognizing all the talented actors. Besides Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr., Christopher Nolan’s film featured Emily Blunt and Matt Damon, along with a large ensemble cast of well-known stars and character actors—many of whom had relatively brief appearances.

The movie boasts an incredibly talented cast, featuring stars like Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Kenneth Branagh, and Gary Oldman, alongside Jason Clarke. Even Rami Malek, known for his role in Nuremberg, makes a brief appearance, demonstrating Christopher Nolan’s ability to attract Oscar-winning actors for even the smallest parts.

Although Nuremberg doesn’t have quite as many well-known supporting actors as Oppenheimer, it still features impressive talents like Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, John Slattery, Colin Hanks, and Lotte Verbeek, all of whom add weight to the film. However, a standout performer is newcomer Leo Woodall, who proves his earlier work in One Day wasn’t a one-time success and shows real potential.

He gives a fantastic performance as Sergeant Howie Triest, an American soldier who speaks German and initially serves as Kelley’s translator when interacting with Göring. Triest becomes a surprisingly important and deeply moving character, and Woodall delivers a powerful monologue – the kind many young actors hope to perform someday.

Nuremberg Will Satisfy History Buffs and Novices Alike

Ultimately, Nuremberg succeeds as a companion piece to Oppenheimer because Vanderbilt handles the subject matter in a similar way. Just as viewers didn’t need to be experts on the Manhattan Project to enjoy Oppenheimer, they don’t need prior knowledge of the Nuremberg Trials to be captivated by this film. Both movies are emotionally engaging and thrilling from beginning to end, prioritizing entertainment over a dry historical recounting. While both films feature a lot of dialogue due to their complex stories and numerous characters, they never feel slow or boring.

Director Vanderbilt brings a lot of energy and visual flair to Nuremberg, and the script features clever dialogue and thoughtful observations about people. Importantly, even though the film deals with very dark themes – the worst of human behavior and the capacity for evil – it’s also genuinely funny at times, without feeling disrespectful. This is similar to what Christopher Nolan achieved with Oppenheimer; think about how often Matt Damon’s General Groves gets a laugh with a blunt, witty remark. Vanderbilt, like Nolan, understands that people naturally try to find humor even in the most difficult situations.

While Nuremberg and Oppenheimer both tackle wartime themes, they offer very different experiences. Nuremberg doesn’t have the same grand scale or technical brilliance as Nolan’s film, but it serves as a compelling complement, focusing on a different facet of the war. This conflict will undoubtedly continue to inspire stories from writers and filmmakers for years to come. It wouldn’t be surprising if Vanderbilt drew inspiration from Oppenheimer while creating Nuremberg, and the film’s visual style also recalls the work of David Fincher. However, considering Vanderbilt previously wrote
 that influence isn’t entirely unexpected.

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2025-11-23 01:09