Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Kirpianuscus Maybe, impressive. for the work of John Cusack. for the atmosphere of chess game. for the perspective about a character who seems well known. for tension. for end. and for explanations. a film about the roots of Hitler phenomenon . surprising for impeccable construction. and for the moral. for the clash between two personalities and for the so different intentions. a film reminding the essence of power. in the most honest and cruel way.

AstridX "Max" is a tale of two very different young German WWI vets who meet after their fatherland loses the Great War. Of course, it is at this time that the nascent nazi party gains members and power in its quest to seek revenge against the Allies, communists and Jews. John Cusack plays Max, a successful bourgeois Jewish art dealer, formerly-known-as-artist-prior-to-losing-arm-in-WWI. This thoughtful lad ambles on seemingly without a care in these troubled times and befriends a foul, belligerent wanna-be artist named Adolf Hitler, played by an all-around gruesome Noah Taylor. I DO applaud Taylor's acting as he conducts himself as I believe the infamous young AH probably did.This film is riddled with absurdities, and one can only imagine why a happy-go-lucky Jewish art dealer would bother with this asexual bore, whose artistic taste and talents ultimately reveal that he has none. But Max seems relentless to win over the depressed and lost Hitler. (Max truly IS a good egg I must say. Personally, I would welcome his friendship.)As the Prussian anger and resentment toward the Treaty of Versailles' implications and the Jews become increasingly and dangerously pervasive, the story continues with jovial Max encountering in town a very frustrated and scowling Hitler. Max gives a shout with, "Hey Hitler, let me buy you a lemonade!" And off the two go. Puh-leez! AND, to top it off, the lemonade does nothing to lift AH's spirits.A waste of time to see? In my opinion, you bet. On the other hand, if you like a dark comedy, this may be your kind of flick! I wish "MST-3K" could have had a stab at it. That would have been a roar! On that note, do not get me started on the performance art à la stage-set, human-sized meat grinder. Sauve qui peut!Well, you'll suffer no loss if you say "auf wiedersehen" to this film ASAP. Or, you may get some chuckles before pitching the TV Brick. Best of luck to you.

MarieGabrielle Exploring the fictive "what-if" scenario,if Hitler had pursued art, if he hadn't been destitute and dis-illusion ed from World War I and its affect on Germany... And so on.Several reviews have commented that the film is dark and depressing. Well, it should be. The era was at it darkest for the reflection of inhumanity and atrocities committed in the name of war.John Cusack is good as Max Rothman,a man who returns from the first world war, to a comfortable art gallery business, and loving family. Noah Taylor as Hitler is disturbing and effective, at first attempting to create his own avant-Gard art, then feeling futile, then enraged at society.This transforms to a greater evil once several war mongers and propaganda peddlers recruit Hitler to fuel the fire of war and hatred, discrimination and ignorance.The film is informative, sad and poignant.The visuals are stark, incredible photography of architecture and the cold weather of central Europe.What we do not learn from history we are condemned to repeat. It strikes me while writing this how ignorance and hatred is still used in politics today, and this truly scares me. Highly recommended. 9/10.

holmest-2 Max has good acting, and some interesting ideas. But it is a mediocre film that is full of historical flaws. Namely, in 1918, Hitler was already working for the Abwehr in the role of political agitator, and anti-Marxist. As far as it is known, Hitler never pursued his interest in painting in a practical sense after the first world war, although Hitler always had a verbal opinion on the matter. (This is where I give the film kudos for at least giving us a hint at Hitler's artistic vision.) Another flaw, unless of course it was purposely contrived by the film's director, presents Hitler as a pathetic loner, shouting at disinterested war veterans and German civilians. The opposite is true. Hitler captivated his audiences from the start with his oratory. Also, Hitler was never intimidated by women, in fact women were among the basis of his popularity and entrance into the powerful circles of Munich society. Hitler was a man of willpower, I doubt that a Munich art dealer, or anyone else for that matter, could have successfully dissuaded Hitler from his self-appointed destiny.