Displaying items by tag: Michael Shannon

NUREMBERG

US, 2025, 148 minutes, Colour.

Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Richard E.Grant, Colin Hanks, Lydia Peckham, Ben Miles, Lotte Verbeek, Mark O'Brien, Andreas Pietschmann.

Directed by James Vanderbilt.

80 years after the end of World War II, the name Nuremberg still evokes memories of the Nazi regime, the rallies in the 1930s, Lottie Riefenstahl is film Triumph of the Will, the location for the proclamation of anti-Semitic laws, and after World War II, the trials.

Cinemagoers and television viewers will have memories of the 1961 classic, Judgement at Nuremberg, and the 2000 television series, Nuremberg, with Brian Cox as Herman Goering. Here is a new take on the trials, focusing particularly on Goering and the American psychiatrists brought in to gauge the mental states of those accused, Douglas Kelly. There is also a focus on Justice Robert Jackson, his role in promoting the trials even though there were no legal precedents, the combining of Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the US to sit in legal judgements on these Nazi war criminals. The screenplay by writer-director, James Vanderbilt, draws on documentation and verbatims of speeches during the trials.

With the focus on Goering, a large man in real life, Russell Crowe fully embodies him (and Crowe, 25 years after Gladiator and his Oscar, can still dominate the screen). Physically, he is quite a contrast to the psychiatrist, Douglas Kelly, played by Oscar-winner Rami Malek. At the centre is a battle of wits, Goering able to combine charm with ruthlessness in his hyper-narcissistic personality, Kelly with psychiatric shrewdness but, in many ways, succumbing to the domination of Goering, an ambiguous friendship, bonding with Goering’s wife and daughter, but a final disillusionment.

Along with this focus on the two central characters, the screenplay provides the background to the raising of such issues as an international court, no legal precedent. And the need for international collaboration with Britain, France and the Soviet Union. At the centre is Justice Robert Jackson, a seriously sombre performance by Michael Shannon, earnest, committed – and with a surprising sequence where he goes to persuade Pius XII to support the trials, using the Pope’s concordat with the Nazi regime in 1933 as a persuasive point of power to gain the Pope’s assent.

Each of the central characters has powerfully dramatic moments. As do two of the supporting characters, standing out is Leo Woodall’s performance as Howie  Triest, Kelly’s translator, but revealing at the end his Jewish background and an impassioned narration of his persecuted life and his American commitment. And, Richard E.Grant also has a significantly dramatic scene, a short but cumulatively effective interrogation of Goering on the stand, brutally making Goering admit his continuing Nazi loyalties.

Older audiences will be familiar with so many of the details but, for later audiences, the device is used in the screenplay to have characters explain situations that they were discovering in 1945. And, the film here uses newsreel footage, re-enacted black-and-white footage. And, there is quite extensive footage, screened in Nuremberg at the trials, the horror of the prisoners in the concentration camps, the starvation and torture, the mounds of dead bodies, the bulldozers clearing… 80 years later still profoundly shocking.

With its focus on Goering and Kelly, Nuremberg is not the last war trials story but it does bring the past back to life – and, some of the speeches at the trial and an epilogue with Douglas Kelly in a radio program proclaiming that fascist groups and individuals can still flourish even if the neo-Nazis are not wearing uniforms. Today we know how true this is.

1. The title, expectations, memories of Nuremberg, the Nazi rallies, vast rally building, the post-war trials, significance in crimes against humanity? International collaboration?
2. Audience knowledge of the war, the Nazi regime, Hitler, Goering as his second-in-command, the concentration camps, the Holocaust, ideology, anti-Semitism, power? The explanations in the dialogue of the film to explain to the characters of the time and their new awareness, for later film audiences?
3. The film as drama, relying on documentation from the court case, the book about the psychiatrist and his encounters with the accused, the focus on Goering and the psychiatrist? The use of black and white news footage, re-created footage, especially the concentration camps?
4. The extensive scenes of the concentration camps, the dead, the bodies, the survivors, the bulldozers… The impact 80 years later?
5. The strong cast, the musical score?
6. Goering story, World War I, his wounds, commitment to Hitler, the 1920s into the 1930s, his role of command, his decisions, legislation, anti-Semitic, final solution, complete and total solution? Interactions with the other members of the Nazi regime? His plan for surrender, in the car with his wife and daughter, prison? His plan for control, to be centre-stage, to make his statement? The disappearance of his wife and daughter?
7. Douglas Kelly, psychiatrist, reputation, military, invited to deal with the war criminals, his personality, his shrewdness, analysis, knowing that Goering spoke English, the discussions with Howie, the translations, perceptions of Goering, narcissistic, control? Writing his notes, the plan for the book? The range of meetings with Goering, Howie present, alone with Goering, the letters, his decision to visit his wife and daughter, the letters, the return? The attachment, later visits, the daughter and the piano? And the personal discussions with Goering?
8. Justice Jackson, his personality, legal background, Supreme Court, his assistant, discussions about bringing the criminals to trial, the assistant and her legal arguments, no precedent, the need for International collaboration, not just America prosecuting in another country? The background of the discussions, Roosevelt and his stances, the Congress, variety of legal opinion, the socials and discussions? The visit to Pius XII, asking for support, quoting 1933, the Vatican and the concordat with the Nazis, the experience of the war, Pius XII and his reputation, the respectful discussion, the political blackmail? The support?
9. The preparations in Nuremberg, rebuilding the hall, preparations, the international judges, the media?
10. Colonel Andrus, in charge, his personality, the touch abrasive, not approving of Kelly, his attitude towards the prisoners? In Switzerland, the transfer to Nuremberg? The cells, no amenities, the beds, mattress, toilets, to prevent suicides? Goering is, that they were German built?
11. Jackson, coming to Nuremberg, the audience contemplating the issues through him, his speeches, the meeting with Maxwell Fyfe? The support of his assistant?
12. The other accused, the presentation of who they were, their background, war crimes, anti-Semitism, their personalities? The reaction to imprisonment, assertion? The arrival of Hess, his salute, claiming amnesia, the time in Scotland? Interactions with Goering, pretending not to know him? Kelly using Goering to get information about Hesse? Using the letters as persuasion?
13. Kelly, on the train, the magic, the card tricks, the journalist, meeting her, his drinking, the interview with her, the headlines, the colonel dismissing him? At the station, returning home, Howie at the station, the powerful scene with Howie, explanation of his past, German, Jewish, escape, the United States, enlisting, wanting to bring down the criminals? The influence on Kelly, accused of not doing anything, his book, giving it to Jackson to prepare the case? His coming to the court?
14. Kelly and his interaction with the various criminals, discussions, the Rorschach tests, the responses and indications of their psychology, especially Kelly’s comments on Goering’s responses?
15. The arrival of Dr Gilbert, brash style, clashes with Kelly, suggesting writing a book together, the blonde information to Goering about his wife and daughter being taken, the fight with Dr Gilbert?
16. The trial opening, the accused, Goering delaying in standing and sitting, centre of attention? Jackson, his speeches, his interrogation of Goering, verbal fencing, accuracy, precision of dates, quibbling about translations? Jackson and his sense of failing (and not being appointed to the Supreme Court)? Maxwell Fyfe, his asking the question, the powerful sequence of his interrogation, Goering’s responses, going through the history of the Third Reich, Goering accepting it, the final question about still being loyal to Hitler? The defeat of Goering?
17. Kelly, the final visit to Goering, and the background of the magic trick, Goering and the cyanide pill, his suicide?
18. The hour for the executions, sudden, not letting the accused is one, no drugs, the test case, tantrum, Howie dressing him, escorting him to the gallows, Howie and the personal antagonism towards the accused, the hanging?
19. Kelly, the radio interviews, his book, drinking, assertions, the reactions? And the final sequence of him walking along the corridor, drunk, and his depression and suicide, cyanide pill?
20. The final information, the consequence of the Nuremberg trials, new standards for Justice and the law for crimes against humanity?

THE BIKERIDERS

US, 2023, 116 minutes, Colour.

Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Boyd Holbrook, Norman Reedus, Damon Herriman, Beau Knapp, Emory Cohen, Karl Glusman, Toby Wallace.

Directed by Jeff Nichols.

1965 to 1973, a photojournalist, Danny Lyon, followed a bike club in America’s midwest, interviews, photographs, chronicling characters and events and ultimately publishing a book. This film is based on his book and photos, some of which appear during the final credits.

1969 was the year of Easy Rider, popular at the box office, awards, riding motorbikes.

For audiences who enjoy the adrenaline pumping of motorbike riding, this can be a vroom, VROOM experience. For those interested in masculinity in American Midwest society during the period, this is a macho, MACHO experience. Which raises many questions. (And, early in the film, the club leader, Johnny, refers to the 1955 Marlon Brando motorcycle movie, The Wild One.)

Danny Lyon’s observations and photos were of a club culture in the late 1960s, clubs for men who like riding bikes, jackets and jeans, non-stop smoking, drinking in their club-pub, out riding like a phalanx on the streets and open highways, generally working class men, critical of college educated men, rarely at home, and a few groupie women tagging along.

While this is a picture of the men in the club, the perspective of director, Jeff Nichols, is often that of a central female in this story. Her name is Kathy. She is played by British Jodie Comer, a very strong and commanding performance, being interviewed by Lyon in the mid-60s and then after the events in 1973. Most of the action is shown in flashback, her story of what it happened.

At first, Kathy is sheltered and rather naive, meeting a friend in the club’s pub, harassed, wanting to leave until she glimpses Benny a young sandy-haired moustachioed tall biker whom we have seen previously in an opening sequence, sitting at a bar, proud of his club jacket, announcing his club The Vandals, and severely bashed by two large rednecks from another gang. Kathy is smitten and within weeks is married to Benny.

The film is a showpiece for Austin Butler (after Elvis and Dune 2) but while he is visually striking, and a presence, his character seems one-dimensional (perhaps two-dimensional) and he does not make the impact on the audience that he does for Kathy and for the leader of the club, Johnny, who wants Benny to take over (and we are thinking, as if!). And, Tom Hardy, strong actor as he is, is not always persuasive as Johnny, the president of the club, not always quick on the uptake.

The club sometimes seems a local bikie equivalent of a cult, a leader exercising power (violently), his lieutenants loyal, the rest of the club eager to submit, and members from other bikie groups wanting to join The Vandals.

At this stage of the 1960s, these groups were clubs rather than gangs. There was some personal drugtaking but not dealing. There were tough macho attitudes and behaviour towards women (with Kathy targeted a number of times and becoming more desperate until she could not take it any longer) as Well Is towards men, rivals.

The Bikeriders shows the transition from club to gang, drug dealing, killings, the rise of the lawless leaders – and, going back to the 1960s, we can see that the macho attitude leads to masculine supremacy, to white supremacy, to the hate groups of the 21^st-century.

While Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy are British, there are substantial roles for Australians, Damon Herriman as Johnny’s lieutenant and Toby Wallace as the upstart future gang leader. Michael Shannon has appeared in Jeff Nichols films (Take Shelter, Midnight Special) and has some fine cameo speeches here lamenting his not being accepted for Vietnam, and his continued inferiority criticism of Pinkos (those men who are college educated).

Not exactly an enjoyable film but a challenge to thinking about clubs, gangs, supremacists, and the domination of males in this kind of society.

1. The title and the focus, the bike clubs, the later development into gangs, male supremacy…?
2. The origins of the film, Danny Lyon following the clubs, 1965-1973, the era of Easy Rider? The Vietnam War? The interviews, the two interviews with Kathy, her memories, the range of photos? Seen during the credits?
3. The initial impact of the bar scene, Benny, drinking, the two rednecks, challenging his jacket, his refusal, the bashing, his injuries? The later return to the hotel, the fear of the owner, giving up the names, and Johnny burning down the hotel?

4. Danny Lyon and his work, personality, with Kathy, observing, discussing, photos, the book? In the final credits? The interviews with Kathy, her age, manner, way of speaking, idiom, the story of going to the club, her friend, the reactions, touching her, leaving, the glimpse of Benny, the attraction? The explanation of Benny, with him, married within five weeks? Her perspective on the club, on the men, on the riders? Verbalising them? Her memories visualised?
5. The nature of the clubs, the men, the few women tagging along, their enjoying their own company, macho, talk, tough, drinking, continued smoking, the leader, Johnny, his control, the loyal lieutenants, the loyalty to the group, devotion to their bikes, bidding in groups along the streets and highways?
6. Benny, his character, one-dimensional, his place in again, loyalty to Johnny, follower, the relationship with Kathy, at home watching television, absent with the group, present at the picnics and the club gatherings? The later challenge to Johnny, his rushing in, his being bashed, his foot injury, hospital? Kathy and her reaction, growing more distant and disapproving, Johnny take him aside, wanting him to be his successor as leader? Benny and the final confrontations, Johnny’s death, his disappearance? 1973, returning to Kathy, then moving to Florida, seeing him at his job?
7. Johnny, character, leader, the later surprise discovery that he had wife and children, his leadership, Bruce and the other lieutenants, loyal and agreeing with him, decisions, slow on the uptake at times, power, violence, the knife fight, the members from the other group his decision, the young upstarts, wanting the leader to come alone and refusing him because of his disloyalty to the group, the later attack, the upstart and his death?
8. Similarities of the clubs to cults, the leader, loyalties, power and responsibilities? The sketches of the other members of the group, Bruce and his loyalty, Cal and his military background…? The groups together, the righting, talk, the bars, the episode of the red dress and the attack on Kathy, the intervention?
9. The young upstart, his manner in the town, with his parents, his group, wanting to join, Johnny demanding the test, his failing, ready to abandon his group, the later return, violence, his agreement knife fight, shooting Johnny?
10. The transition from bike clubs to buy gangs, issues of masculinity, attitudes towards women, the changes in the latter 20^th century, feminism? The gangs, drug dealing, violence? And the transition to mail supremacists and the groups in gangs of the 21^st-century?