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Max

Play trailer Poster for Max R Released Dec 27, 2002 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 110 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
This is the story of a young artist named Adolf Hitler (Noah Taylor) and his relationship with a Jewish art dealer and teacher, Max Hoffman (John Cusack) in 1918. As the 29-year-old WWI veteran's attempts to learn his art fail to match his hopes, Hitler's interests turn elsewhere ... to hatred of Jews, and Germany's future.
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Max

Max

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted in the execution of its provocative "what-if?" premise.

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Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Rated: 4/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Jamie Russell BBC.com Rated: 3/5 May 30, 2003 Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe The film is torn between playing [Taylor's] character for real and as a dangerous joke. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 21, 2003 Full Review Jason Gorber Film Scouts It's a very philosophical film, with an interesting and somewhat fearless exploration of Hitler the man. Rated: A- Jun 21, 2007 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 4/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Any film as provocative and nervy as this one is bound to generate controversy... Rated: A- Jan 29, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (247) audience reviews
erman k 12/20................................................................................................................................................ Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a very important movie. It portrays the maximum outcome, of a - sadly - too normal interpersonal situation, where a grandiose personality disorder, born out of deep self-hatred, and steelified by desperate surroundings, has pumped up exaggerated ambitions, in order to project out, the attached feeling of hate, from the subjects own self-hatred. This towards a certain group of victims. That is my interpretation of the title, MAX. Maximum Outcome. Storyline In the environment of war torn Germany, we find a young war veteran, Adolf Hitler. He is loaded with humiliation, shame, anger and hatred. As so many other Germans, from that period, he also finds the peace terms of Versailles, humiliating and provocative. They make all their war efforts and sacrifices at the front, useless. So Hitler wants respect and he wants revenge. Not only for him, but also for Germany and the German people. As so many other hateful veterans, throughout the bloody history of mankind, Hitler also attempts to find activities, enabling him to let off steam, and make him feel respected. And in this movie, destiny pick a Munich art dealer, who happens to be Jewish, helping Hitler out of fear, to figure out what type of activity, will help him the most. Eventually, Hitler figures out, that Art + Politics = Power. Maximum Power, naturally. His lust for power is a narcissistic effort, distancing him from his own dysfunctionality (read: self-hatred). The movie also portray the young Adolf Hitler, developing in two stages; 1. from desperation to control behavior 2. from control to dominance behavior It is an important movie, to anyone wanting to understand, why humiliation turn into violence.  I give it Top Rate and thank the entire crew, for making it happen. The humankind need many more movies in this category. They can save lives.  Michael, Denmark. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie about ART and WAR with Hitler and an art collector as vessels for those ideas. Some artistic liberties are taken but in emotion it is a representation of Hitler's life Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Hitler was not sporting a mustache at all in the movie. I am mctriggered. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Rather interesting perspective on Hitler's vision of his politics as art, even if somewhat disturbing. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member A pretty good approximation of the young artist and zealot. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis This is the story of a young artist named Adolf Hitler (Noah Taylor) and his relationship with a Jewish art dealer and teacher, Max Hoffman (John Cusack) in 1918. As the 29-year-old WWI veteran's attempts to learn his art fail to match his hopes, Hitler's interests turn elsewhere ... to hatred of Jews, and Germany's future.
Director
Menno Meyjes
Producer
Andras Hamori, Seaton McLean
Screenwriter
Menno Meyjes
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Pathé Productions Inc., Pathé, Natural Nylon II, Aconit Pictures
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 27, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 3, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$527.0K
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
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