Just Dropped: 'Nuremberg' Trailer Pits Malek Against Crowe in a True WWII Mind Game — From 'Zodiac’s' Writer

The trailer for Nuremberg just landed, and something about it made me stop and pay attention. A tense postwar drama, based on real events, with two Oscar winners facing off? That already sounds promising.

Russell Crowe plays Hermann Göring — a role that could mark a real return to form. After more than a decade of forgettable parts, it’s been a while since we’ve seen Crowe in something serious. This might be the film that reminds us what he’s capable of.

On the other side of the story is Rami Malek as Douglas Kelley, the American psychiatrist assigned to assess the mental fitness of Nazi leaders after WWII. I’ve followed Malek’s work since Mr. Robot, and this looks like another smart step in his post-Bohemian Rhapsody career.

The film is written and directed by James Vanderbilt, best known for scripting Zodiac. That adds a layer of credibility — he knows how to build quiet, simmering tension without overplaying the drama.

Based on the nonfiction book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai, Nuremberg focuses on the psychological battle between Kelley and Göring, rather than courtroom scenes. I’d suppose it’s a story about control, performance, and what people reveal under pressure.

Also starring Michael Shannon, John Slattery, and Richard E. Grant, the film will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s not showing at Venice or Telluride, which might mean it’s being positioned more modestly — or just saving the buzz for later.