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John Cusack, Noah Taylor, Paul Hipp, Judit Hernadi, Molly Parker ... see more see more... , Leelee Sobieski , Ulrich Thomsen , Andras Stohl , David Horovitch , Janet Suzman , Kevin Mckidd , Peter Capaldi , Yuliya Vysotskaya

In the wake of his rise to power, Adolf Hitler became known as perhaps the most villainous and destructive political leader of the 20th century. But what was he like before he formed the Nazi party? S... read more read more...creenwriter and director Menno Meyjes explores that question in this drama, a work of fiction keyed to the fact that Hitler unsuccessfully pursued a career as an artist following World War I. In 1918, Max Rothman (John Cusack) is a former artist who lost an arm during the war. While Max can no longer create, his eye for talent is as keen as ever, so he has become a successful art dealer, specializing in Modernists such as George Grosz. Max's success has brought him a fine home and a beautiful wife, Nina (Molly Parker); he's also acquired a mistress, Liselore (Leelee Sobieski), a lovely young woman with artistic aspirations of her own. One day, Max meets Adolf Hitler (Noah Taylor), an emotionally intense, fellow war veteran who has found himself penniless in Munich. Adolf fancies himself an artist, and while Max isn't especially impressed with his technique, he sees in him a burning passion and a desire to communicate, so he encourages Adolf to express his demons through his art. While Adolf takes Max's advice to heart and strikes up a friendship with him, Max's friends find Adolf's open advocation of anti-Semitism rather troubling; Max, who is Jewish, simply chalks Adolf's attitudes up to unpleasant wartime experiences. But as Adolf immerses himself more deeply into his political interests and his thoughts on social engineering, he begins to leave painting behind in favor of a more interesting art form, the political arena. Max marked the first directorial effort of noted screenwriter Meyjes. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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61% liked it

6,284 ratings

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69% liked it

110 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Menno Meyjes

Release Date: December 27, 2002

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DVD Release Date: May 20, 2003

Stats: 301 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (301)

  • hunterjt13
    July 21, 2011
    hunterjt13
    An art critic attempts to encourage a disturbing young man's art and dissuade him from pursuing political aspirations ... oh, and the young man is Hitler.
    A colleague recommended I see this film because, in his words, "People criticized it for humanizing Hitler, but I thought tha... read moret was one of its strengths." His point is that we so often dichotomize, see historical and political differences in clear terms of good and evil: the bad guys have the red light sabers and the good guys have the blue or green ones. His point, and I would argue the film's point, is that human beings, even the most depraved ones, are motivated by a myriad of influences, and dichotomies, by definition, are reductive.
    The film presents Hitler in no gentle terms. He never smiles, but when you glimpse his teeth, they are nothing to behold, gray and misshapen. He screams a lot. He's remarkably insecure. The roots of his antisemitism are presented in no uncertain terms. He makes everyone around him uneasy. In the end, I would argue that the film didn't humanize him enough because the character, aside from his insecurity, is just as unlikable and impossible to identify with as you would expect. I'm not proposing that Hitler be portrayed in positive terms, quite the opposite. What I'm writing is this: here is a man who rose to power because something he said connected with people; he also was married. A humanizing portrait of him would get to the root of what his supporters saw in him even as we can whole-heartedly reject his ideology.
    But it's a noble, risky, and controversial proposition to begin with, and I think it's admirable for Max to attempt to make us see the world in less myopic terms.
    John Cusack is great as the Jewish art critic who attempts to take Hitler under his wing. The direction by Menno Meyjes is also quite strong, able to convey character and story in some single, beautifully framed shots.
    Overall, Max is not a great film, but it's an interesting conversation-starter; questions like "Is our historical understanding narrow?" or "Is this film's attempt immoral/unethical?" are worth asking.
  • 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 moretting 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 moreee 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.
  • jam233
    February 11, 2010
    jam233
    Way too talky, downright boring at times. The acting is good but it?s a hard film to sit through without yawning a few times along the way. The period detail is adequate, but not very impressive. Decent costume design and art direction. Slow moving.
  • 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 moreividual 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.
  • 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 morengs 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
  • aegossman
    February 24, 2008
    aegossman
    Fantastic movie- very well written, great, great acting... deep and dark story... fantastic. It could have been in German... that is the only thing that was wrong with this movie. It was brilliant. I'd say one of the most overlooked movies in the past few years.
  • drumpappyhq
    October 25, 2007
    drumpappyhq
    Here is an interesting movie. Not a true account. This movie was created by what people in the film industry sometimes call, "Imagination". Noah Taylor played a fantastic depiction of Hitler.
  • ColinBunnell
    September 1, 2007
    ColinBunnell
    Proposed story of Hitler's youth as a struggling artist. Pretty weird, but I guess it kinda had to be.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    July 10, 2007
    MovieGuruDude72
    A little known gem that demands a viewing. Even if it's an "what if" scenario, it's still an interesting premise. Though make no mistake, Noah Taylor's portrayal of the young Adolf Hitler was both poingnant and downright chilling. Don't also forget that this movie is NOT attempti... read moreng to make Hitler seem human or likable. It's an opinion that the Holocaust might've been avoided IF certain things would have happened before hand. A fantastic movie. I was quite moved.

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Critic Reviews

Ty Burr
March 21, 2003
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

The film is torn between playing [Taylor's] character for real and as a dangerous joke. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
February 28, 2003
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

Offers a persuasive look at a defeated but defiant nation in flux. Full Review

Tom Long
February 7, 2003
Tom Long, Detroit News

If it's not a completely successful film, it is at the very least an intriguing effort to humanize the demon.

Michael O'Sullivan
February 7, 2003
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Fascinating story from screenwriter- turned-director Menno Meyjes.

Stephen Hunter
February 7, 2003
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Mad Max just sails off into nonsense.

Terry Lawson
February 7, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

One of the most intriguing and odd 'what if' movies ever conceived. Full Review

Steven Rea
February 6, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

With lines that feel like long soliloquies -- even as they are being framed in conversation -- Max is static, stilted.

Joe Baltake
January 31, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

This film belongs to Taylor and no one else. Full Review

David Edelstein
January 31, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

As a ravishingly photographed, high-minded meditation on the potential of art and therapy to exorcise the vilest sort of psychological poison, it is positively riotous -- an Everest of idiocy. Full Review

Jay Boyar
January 24, 2003
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

The best thing about Max is its originality.

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