‘Nuremberg’ is a gripping blend of World War II spy thriller and courtroom drama, centred on the real Nuremberg trials and the psychological chess match between Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) and the American prison psychiatrist assigned to assess him, Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek).

The film follows the immediate aftermath of the war, as the Allies attempt to deliver justice to the surviving Nazi leadership. What makes it fascinating is how it portrays Göring not as a cartoon villain, but as a human being capable of manipulation, charm and strategic intelligence. That very humanity becomes unsettling – it raises the uncomfortable question of whether the traits that enabled the rise of Nazism are unique to one time and place, or whether they can emerge anywhere, in any country, in any era.

Douglas Kelley begins by trying to win Göring’s trust to better understand him, but the film increasingly suggests that Göring may be the one doing the manipulating. Their dynamic becomes a moral minefield: how close can you get to a man responsible for such atrocities without being drawn in by his charisma?

The film also digs into the origins of what we now call “crimes against humanity” and examines who should hold nations and leaders to account – a question that feels especially topical today, in light of contemporary scandals and debates about privilege, accountability and justice. The Nazis on trial rely heavily on denial, deflection and the familiar “I didn’t know” defence, and the film makes clear how disturbingly timeless that strategy is.

There’s a stately, old-school quality to the production – it runs to two and a half hours – and the climactic courtroom showdown has shades of ‘A Few Good Men’, with Richard E. Grant squaring off against Göring in a compelling battle of wills.

‘Nuremberg’ ultimately leaves us reflecting not just on history, but on the frightening ease with which power, narcissism and moral blindness can take root – and how vital it is that justice, difficult as it is, be pursued with clarity and resolve.