Given the difficulties faced by actor Carlyle and the screenwriters to successfully convey
pure, unadulterated evil, much of
what we learn about Hitler is conveyed by the
observations and reactions of other characters, notably crusading but ineffectual anti-Nazi journalist Fritz Gerlich (Matthew Modine), and especially German publisher Ernst Hanfstaengl (Liev Schreiber) and his wife, Helene (Julianna Margulies).