Plot: What’s it about?
The events depicted in this film take place after Germany’s defeat in World War II, as a selection of Nazi supporters are put on trial for their crimes. The men placed on trial are from all walks of life, military and civilian and here, the Allied powers seek to show that the actions will not be unpunished. These men might not have been the spearheads of their forces, but with Hitler dead and a demand for justice present, they will have to face their accusers nonetheless. In this feature, you will see the trial and all that happens within it, from more than one perspective, which allows the viewer to take in the whole picture. From the lead prosecutor Robert Jackson (Alec Baldwin) to Hitler’s right hand man, Hermann Goering (Brian Cox), all will be given the chance to prove their points, whether right or wrong. But with these men hated by so many, is there even a remote chance for true justice in the trials?
This was a made for television movie (or miniseries), but it isn’t half bad, given the budget and time constraints involved. I’ve never been much for those TNT Original Pictures, but I have seen a couple that were worth the effort. Nuremberg has a solid cast and a historic storyline, but it suffers from the usual made for television problems. Since this is a dialogue driven drama, it doesn’t suffer as much as like, a sci/fi flick would, but you can still tell this was made in a rush. The actors involved elevate it to a degree, but I still don’t think Nuremberg is worth a second look. I don’t regret seeing this movie the first time, but it offers little in terms of replay value. In the end, I think history buffs and fans of drams will want to give to this one a rental, but I don’t recommend buying this disc sight unseen.
I think the casting here was a real success, as they make this movie turn out much better than it should have. I always like to see Alec Baldwin in action and to be honest, I was surprised to see him turn up in a miniseries. But Baldwin treats this like a feature film, as his performance is strong and bold, very impressive stuff. Not up there with his finest work, but given the nature of this project, Baldwin is in fine form. Other films with Baldwin include Prelude To A Kiss, The Hunt For Red October, Talk Radio, Beetlejuice, The Edge, and Outside Providence. The cast here also includes Christopher Plummer (The Insider, Dracula 2000), Jill Hennessy (Komodo, Autumn In New York), Brian Cox (Rushmore, The Minus Man), Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers, Crime + Punishment In Suburbia), and Max Von Sydow (The Seventh Seal, Dune).
Video: How does it look?
Nuremberg is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a very nice presentation, much better than you might expect from a television miniseries. The colors look bold, with no bleeds and flesh tones come off as normal as well, no problems there in the least. The contrast is sharp also, with solid visible detail and well defined black levels. This is much slicker than I figured also, which removes some of the television feel, very cool.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a dialogue reliant film, so the included 2.0 surround track is more than adequate. The mix picks up here and there, but for the most part, the dialogue rules the roost in this one. The vocals are crisp and clear at all times here, no traces of volume problems surface in the least. This is good, because without crisp vocals, this movie would be worthless. The music sounds rich here also, much better than I expected from a 2.0 surround mix. The sound effects are sparse, but when they are present, they are replicated without a hitch. This disc also includes English & French subtitles, in case you’ll need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some talent files and a promotional trailer for the film, as well as a couple brief featurettes. One piece focuses on Alec Baldwin, who discuss his thoughts on the project, while the other tells some background on the story, as well as some cast & crew interviews. Both are very short and not too deep, but they’re better than empty disc space, right?
