Max (2002/I)

Director:

Menno Meyjes

Writer (WGA):

Menno Meyjes (written by)

Release Date:

8 May 2003 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Art + Politics = Power

Plot:

A film studying the depiction of a friendship between an art dealer named Rothman and his student, Adolf Hitler.

Plot Keywords:

May December Romance | Hangover | What If | Propaganda | Beaten To Death

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Max Rothman
Noah Taylor	...	Adolf Hitler
Leelee Sobieski	...	Liselore von Peltz
Molly Parker	...	Nina Rothman
Ulrich Thomsen	...	Captain Mayr
David Horovitch	...	Max's Father
Janet Suzman	...	Max's Mother
András Stohl	...	NCO
John Grillo	...	Nina's Father
Anna Nygh	...	Nina's Mother
Krisztián Kolovratnik	...	Nina's Brother
Peter Capaldi	...	David Cohn
Yuliya Vysotskaya	...	Hildegard
János Kulka	...	Mr. Epp
Katalin Pálfy	...	Mrs. Epp

Also Known As:

Hoffman (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK | Canada | Hungary

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG (edited for re-rating) | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

AAMPI Inc.

Trivia:

Writer/director Menno Meyjes reports that before the script was written, 'Steven Spielberg's Amblin company was interested in the project. But Spielberg told Meyjes he couldn't bring himself to help make a movie he thought would dishonor Holocaust survivors. Nevertheless, he considered the script an excellent one and encouraged the director to push for its realization, but without Amblin.

Goofs:

During the World War One period and immediately after Hitler sported a traditional "handlebar"-type mustache. He adopted his trademark "comb" mustache shortly thereafter. In any event, all known photographs of Hitler as an adult show him with a mustache of some style.

Quotes:

Max Rothman: [to His Kids] Hello midgets.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Children of the Setting Suns (2006)

The Artist Formerly Known As Hitler

MAX (2002) *** John Cusack, Noah Taylor, Molly Parker, Leelee Sobieski, Ulrich Thomsen. Filmmaker Menno Meyjes' audacious yet non-offensive examination on the colossal What If of all time: What if Adolph Hitler continued his path into a career as an artist instead of a genocidal madman? Based on facts and an amalgamated character in the form of Max Rothman (a never finer Cusack in one of his best ‘adult' roles to date) a WWI vet who has returned to his Munich based art dealership minus a limb with an ever-gnawing question: What now? Enter problematic young artist wannabe and fellow German war vet Hitler (Taylor in a tricky yet full-force to be reckoned with turn) insisting his friendship with the tormented Rothman to the limits (and the beginnings of the end for history). The film is a tad bland in some areas however the prickly wonderings of what may have been make it all the worthwhile.