Max

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Max

R

Released Dec 27, 2002

1h 49m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

109 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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Meyjes focuses too much on Max when he should be filling the screen with this tortured, dull artist and monster-in-the- making.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 10, 2003

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Taylor, hawk-faced and gaunt, pours everything into his portrayal of Hitler, never once seeking our sympathy for this angry, homeless loner.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 7, 2003

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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

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Film Threat

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Any film as provocative and nervy as this one is bound to generate controversy...

Rated: A-

Jan 29, 2005

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

A pretty good approximation of the young artist and zealot.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Beautiful and chilling at the same time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Menno Meyjes

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Noah Taylor

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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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