Max

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Max

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Max

Andras Stohl, David Horovitch, Janet Suzman, John Cusack, Kevin Mckidd

A fictional story which is loosely based upon the post-WWI period when the young Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was an aspiring painter with a love for the classical periods. Set in 1918, the tale is based ...( read more  read more... )on an imagined relationship between young Adolf, and an influential Jewish art dealer and teacher, Max Hoffman, who did not encourage the future Nazi leader's artistic abilities. A discouraged artist, who later scorned modern art, Hitler's interests turn elsewhere--to hatred of Jews, and to Germany's questionable future. The story presents the argument--could one teacher's failure to encourage a young man to pursue his artistic endeavors be part of the root of the terror that came? Would the Holocaust have been prevented if Adolf Hitler had never stopped painting--and thus, was able to channel his creative energy?

Id: 10895905

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  • webalina
    September 23, 2009
    webalina
    Interesting but not great story about how Adolf Hitler's failed art career may have intercected with, and possibly actually inspired, his political career.

    This film is in the style of Gods and Monsters, whereby a actual historiical figure's life is placed into a fictional se...( read more)tting as a means of trying to discover "what happened." John Cusack plays a fictional Jewish art dealer named Max Rothman who meets a 30-year old Hitler (Noah Taylor) in 1918, right after The Great War. Rothman is aware of Hitler's Anti-Semitism, but sees it as a source of artist inspiration rather than a actual threat. Rothman tries to convince Hitler to channel his rage into his paintings. In the process, the young Hitler discovers his true calling.

    Cusack, who I normally adore, got good reviews for his potrayal here, but I just couldn't take him seriously as this haughty, somewhat pretentious art dealer. I guess I'm too used to him as Mr. Everyman. I guess the subplot of Rothman's love triangle between himself, his wife and his mistress fit in somewhere, but I found it unnecessary. Noah Taylor, while pulling off the passion of Hitler OK, seemed more to me as a Sid Vicious "sex, drugs and rock n roll" type rather than future leader of the Fatherland.

    On the good side, the film looks great. The set design and costumes were excellent and believable, especially the abandoned train station where Rothman had his art gallery. And the edited-together scenes of Hitler giving a rabid speech about Jew and "pure blood" with Rothman and his family during a Jewish religious service were interesting.

    The first few minutes of this film set up a mood for me that made me anticipate more than the film ultimately delivered. I may give Max another chance one day to see if I feel differently, but for now it's "good try but no cigar."
  • toejambaseball24
    October 28, 2007
    toejambaseball24
    This is a fascinating look at rarely treaded territory...a chapter in the life of Adolf Hitler before his rise to power and European domination. This film focuses on a 30-year-old Hitler who has ambitions to become a successful artist, and is then taken under the arms of an amput...( read more)ee art dealer (played well by John Cusack), who befriends the socially awkward and ambitious Hitler as he develops his twisted political philosophies.

    Some might be turned off by this movie because it really puts a human perspective on Hitler that many might be uncomfortable with, since people tend to think of him as this iconic monster with no humanity at all. But this film doesn't make any excuses for Hitler, it simply helps to show how such evil can be brewed up in someone, and puts his life in a historical and human perspective that is really quite interesting. It shows how both his experience in WWI, and his ambitions as an artist really echoed into his personality as a ruthless totalitarian.

    Cusack plays a Jewish WWI veteran who has his own flaws, but at his core is a loving father and husband. The contrast between his personality, a genuinely kind-hearted working man, and Hitler's (Noah Taylor) is the most interesting aspect of the movie.

    The film wasn't without its flaws. For one, I don't think it gave credit to how smart Hitler was. It portrays him as more of an emotional and insecure wreck, but it was Hitler's cunning and persuasiveness that really rocketed him to power. He was an intelligent and smooth talker, but it's hard to see those aspects in Taylor's portrayal of him. I also wasn't a fan of the ending, it was a bit anti-climactic.

    But this film is definitely worth watching. Hitler is indeed a prime example of evil in human form, but regardless of that notion, the fact is that he is probably the most interesting historical figure of all time, and this story puts him in context with the rest of humanity and history, ultimately adding up to a very intriguing film.
  • salianom
    May 16, 2009
    salianom
    the history hitler. how an artist become a monster...
  • azdw
    November 13, 2008
    azdw
    Review will be written when/if re-watched (Probability: Zero).

    First viewing: 26.05.2003
  • mstweety620
    October 19, 2008
    mstweety620
    +.3 for interesting story
  • princessqtpl
    August 6, 2008
    princessqtpl
    This thought-provoking movie is clearly a surprise and should have got alot more attention then it did given its unique take on a very dark figure of world history.
    It really delves into the human side of Hitler (played brilliantly by Noah Taylor) showing a lonely conflicted ind...( read more)ividual looking for acceptance rather than absolute power, but the movie does a good job of sustaining his very dark nature aswell portraying him as a very socially inept, angry anti-semitic on the cusp of complete evil which is the Hitler the world has come to know.
  • norelann
    July 24, 2008
    norelann
    loved the last scene.
  • cleighs
    July 13, 2008
    cleighs
    Fascinating film, with a great cast. I think the idea of insisting that Hitler be seen only as 'evil' is hysterical and nonsensical. After all, it is the fact that Hitler was human and the idea that people are capable of such horror that makes people so quick to other him. Thi...( read more)ngs like that happen when people don't study history and don't take power-hungry populist leaders seriously. Thought-provoking film, not as good at looking at history, but good at showing Hitler in a context that prevents people from casting him as some kind of demon from cradle to grave, thus DENYING the fact that there were circumstances that allowed someone as pathetic as him to have so much power. In terms of Hitler movies, this one is going in the right direction
  • jcsr
    April 12, 2008
    jcsr
    As good as I thought it would be. This film explores the young life of Hitler, after the WWI, when he was a struggling artist. Most of it is fiction, but it plays in a way that one believes it and at the end the film is a way to understand one of the most interesting, powerful an...( read more)d twisted minds in the history of humanity. John Cusack gives an awesome performance, but most of the credit has to go to Noah Taylor, his portrayal of Hitler is epic and powerful.
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