The Roses (Amazon Prime)

This is going to be a short review. The film is a waste of time and talent. The film is a dark comedy that never sees the light of day. Two accomplished actors, Benedict Cumberbatch and Oliva Colman, are the husband and wife combatants in this marital war.  The comedy comes from who can be cruelest and most neglectful of the other. Not even Kate McKinnon could save this film.

The script must have been written by an eight-year-old whose every other word is the F bomb. The director’s name was expunged from the credits. I am requesting a refund for the VOD.

 

Springsteen-Deliver from Nowhere (Amazon Prime)

This is an excellent movie. The two leading actors, Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen and Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau, give strong performances. A talented cast supports them.

The film centers on the making of his second album, Nebraska, but it’s broader than that. It’s a moody film that explores Springsteen's struggles with depression and his relationships. The most significant is his relationship with his father. Throughout the film, there are flashbacks to Bruce as a boy with his father. Stephen Graham plays his father, Douglas, who was an alcoholic, and it’s implied that he was abusive. It is suggested that Springsteen’s depression was influenced by his father.

White shows the pressure Bruce is facing in his career right now. His stress increases because he refuses to compromise his artistic standards for record labels' demands. White doesn’t try to imitate Springsteen, but he adopts some of his mannerisms. And yes, he sings his own songs.

Jon Landau is Bruce Springsteen’s manager and record producer. He cares about Bruce, and his respect and affection show through. White and Strong complement each other well. Landau’s performance shows he cares for the person and champions the artist.

Stephen Graham playing Bruce's father is a bit unusual but captivating. Graham is an English actor and feels more at home in  Guy Ritchie films. He plays an important, even if tragic, role in Bruce’s life. Anyone who has an alcoholic father can relate to the character.

Odessa Young plays Faye Romano, Bruce’s love interest. Their relationship develops intimacy but ultimately dissolves due to his depression. The pain experienced by both Faye and Bruce is depicted effectively.

Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 60% rating. I think they got shortchanged.

 

Nuremberg  (Prime Video)

Nuremberg is a psychological historical drama about the Nuremberg trials at the end of World War II, where the Nazi high command was tried for crimes against humanity. The film features a large cast, but four main characters drive the story: Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring, Michael Shannan as Justice Robert H. Jackson, Rami Malic as Dr. Douglas Kelly, and Leo Woodall as the translator.

Rami is the psychologist brought to Nuremberg to evaluate the mental state of prisoners on trial. He interacts most with the Nazis, especially Goring. They form a bond that lasts throughout the film, changing from a purely clinical relationship to a quasi-friendship. It is quasi because how can you truly befriend a monster?

Rami delivers a passionate performance. He acts as the link between Goring, the justice, and the military. Sometimes, his emotions override his professional judgment. His most complex relationship is with Goring. They are engaged in a game of who controls whom. Goring possesses a superior intellect, complemented by his narcissistic personality. A question throughout the film is whether they have developed a friendship. It is a mercurial relationship.

Crowe is the centerpiece of the film. He delivers a powerful performance, only showing his humanity when he questions his wife and daughter. He depicts Goring as incredibly confident, to the point where Rami and the justices worry he might manipulate the trial to overturn his conviction. Crowe is great at showing arrogance with a smile.

Shannon is the justice assigned to prosecute the case for America. This is the first time an international tribunal has been convened to prosecute war crimes. The responsibility of the case weighs heavily on him. Shannon performs his role in his usual understated manner.

Leo Woodal gives a sublime performance. He tells the story of the victims. He is an American soldier, a Jew born in Germany, and recounts how he and his sister escaped Germany.  He knows his parents were taken to a concentration camp, but does not know their fate.

The film is rated PG-13, but the actual footage of the Nazi concentration camps is disturbing.

I recommend, if you can, seeing the 1961 film Judgement at Nuremberg. I think it gives a more complex story.