Post by Geniusmentis on Aug 25, 2009 18:18:35 GMT -5
Max (2002)
Release Date:8 May 2003 (Netherlands
Genre:Drama | War
A Jewish art dealer, who lost an arm during World War I befriends a young art student named Adolf Hitler, encouraging his artistic aspirations. However, the bitter and penniless Hitler is torn between his artistic desires and the increasing influence politics begins to play in his life. Written by Anonymous
At the close of the First World War, Germany enters into the new Weimar Republic following the collapse of the Kaiser's Imperial Reich. Max Rothman, a veteran of the Great War and now art dealer, searches for new talent on the streets of Munich. Into Max's life comes an eccentric young artist, also an Army veteran, named Adolf Hitler. Impressed by Hitler's artistic ability, Max befriends the former Army Corporal and attempts to guide him into the life of a successful artist. Hitler, however, soon finds himself losing interest in art and begins studying the art of public speaking. Max must convince Hitler that art is the better of line of work...before it's too late. Written by Anthony Hughes
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
Kevin McKidd ... George Grosz
Heather Cameron-McLintock ... Ada Rothman (as Heather Cameron)
Joel Pitts ... Paul Rothman
Tamás Lengyel ... Franz
Attila Árpa ... Wilhelm
Daisy Haggard ... Heidi
Gábor Harsai ... Waiter
Paul Rattray ... Hans
Derek Hagen ... Fritz
Caroleen Feeney ... Saleslady
Mike Kelly ... Herr Wulf
Ben O'Brien ... Herr Eichinger (as Ben O'Brian)
Agnes Becsei ... Singing Girl
Tibor Soltenszky ... Antique Dealer
Kerric Macdonald ... Heckler in Courtyard
Matt Devere ... Freikorps Thug
Judit Hernádi ... Frau Schmidt
Kerry Shale ... Dr. Levi
Heather Hermant ... Mrs. Levi
László Borbély ... Erich
Peter Linka ... Soldier in Courtyard
László Görög ... Someone in Crowd
Andor Tímár ... Ritter von Lieberfelt
John Rado ... Organizer (as Janos Rado)
Tamás Puskás ... Sidewalk Cafe Owner
Pandora Colin ... Max's Sister-in-Law
Rabbi Robert Frohlich ... Rabbi
Róbertne Bánky ... Puppeteer
Miklós Dörögdy ... Puppeteer
Mariann Kovács ... Puppeteer
Péter Bognár ... Puppeteer
István Erdös ... Puppeteer
Robert Whitelock ... Radio Announcer (uncredited)
AFI Fest
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2002 Nominated Grand Jury Prize
Menno Meyjes
Awards:2 wins & 4 nominations
2003 Won Genie Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Fred Brennan
Roderick Deogrades
Barry Gilmore
Andy Malcolm
David McCallum
Jane Tattersall
Nominated Genie Best Achievement in Overall Sound
Lou Solakofski
Steph Carrier
National Board of Review, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2002 Won Special Recognition
For excellence in filmmaking.
Political Film Society, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2003 Nominated PFS Award Democracy
Exposé
Sight unseen, the Jewish Defense League has urged Lions Gate Films to shelve this movie, due to its radical notion that Adolf Hitler was shaped by the world around him rather than being born the Antichrist. Specifically, the JDL protests that there is nothing "human about the most vicious, vile murderer in world history." As a person of Jewish extraction who has seen the movie (at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival), I would take exception to this stance and urge Lions Gate to proceed as planned. This film is a brilliant, engrossing, thought-provoking work that does Hitler no favors and sheds light on the real-world forces afoot in post WWI Munich that only could have nurtured his worst beliefs and talents.
Dutch-born Director Menno Meyjes has shown an affinity for tough ethnic and cultural clash themes in his career as a screenwriter (THE COLOR PURPLE, EMPIRE OF THE SUN and THE SIEGE are among his credits). But here, in his first chance to direct his own writing, he's come up with what's certainly his most fully realized work to-date. Eschewing simplistic notions, he weaves a fascinating story that deals at length with the career as a painter that Hitler is known to have unsuccessfully pursued at one time.
The title character of the film is a fictional (but based on a composite of real-life characters) Jewish German WWI vet named Max Rothman. He's lost one of his arms in battle, but is able to return to a much better situation than the average German vet: a loving wife and family, a gorgeous mistress, and family wealth that enables him to start an art gallery that prospers dealing in modern expressionist works. Hitler, by contrast, returns to pretty much nothing, and at age 30 is desperate to finally make the grade as a commercial artist.
Sensing that Hitler has a passion that there could be a market for if only he could find some way to get it out onto canvas, Max encourages him to experiment with schools of painting that seem a better fit for his temperament than the traditional ones he's decided to limit himself to. Unfortunately, Hitler's real artistic gift seems to be for a then-new form of performance art known as `propaganda,' and his Aryan war pals provide him with support for pursuing this field while simultaneously fanning his smoldering anti-Semitic sentiments.
Noah Taylor - who many feel got robbed of an Oscar nomination for his role as the young David Helfgott in SHINE - is mesmerizing in the Hitler role. Even made up to look gaunt, pallid, and thoroughly unappealing (although not freakish), you still can't take your eyes off of him. With body language, countenance, and tone of voice, he's able to suggest a raging intensity lurking just below the surface of his character's socially awkward loner exterior. Taylor still won't come up with any awards recognition for this role (it's WAY too hot a potato), but that doesn't change the fact that he's brilliantly conquered a daunting acting challenge.
John Cusack, in a welcome change from the light roles he's been playing lately, is also excellent as the title character, skillfully portraying a worldly businessman who's too focused on artistic images to ever notice the big picture. The subject matter allows near-zero latitude for levity, but SOME mirth is needed to keep the proceedings from becoming unrelentingly grim. Meyjes ingenious solution to this quandary is wry comments on art and (especially) the business of art by Max - a perfect fit for Cusack's deadpan delivery.
Even though you KNOW which career path Hitler is ultimately going down, the equilibrium between the forces pulling him in both directions and the incredible `what might have been' fascination factor keep you thoroughly transfixed throughout the film's near-2-hour running time. NOBODY in the huge auditorium where I saw the film got up or stirred from the opening scene through to the supremely ironic ending - not even to answer the call of nature. MAX is sure not `the feel-good film of the year,' but if you've been longing for a powerful, all-encompassing drama that doesn't require you to check your brain at the door, this is the film you've been waiting for.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0290210/
Here cast and pics
www.whosdatedwho.com/topic/6295/max.htm
www.imdb.com/title/tt0290210/mediaindex
Release Date:8 May 2003 (Netherlands
Genre:Drama | War
A Jewish art dealer, who lost an arm during World War I befriends a young art student named Adolf Hitler, encouraging his artistic aspirations. However, the bitter and penniless Hitler is torn between his artistic desires and the increasing influence politics begins to play in his life. Written by Anonymous
At the close of the First World War, Germany enters into the new Weimar Republic following the collapse of the Kaiser's Imperial Reich. Max Rothman, a veteran of the Great War and now art dealer, searches for new talent on the streets of Munich. Into Max's life comes an eccentric young artist, also an Army veteran, named Adolf Hitler. Impressed by Hitler's artistic ability, Max befriends the former Army Corporal and attempts to guide him into the life of a successful artist. Hitler, however, soon finds himself losing interest in art and begins studying the art of public speaking. Max must convince Hitler that art is the better of line of work...before it's too late. Written by Anthony Hughes
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
Kevin McKidd ... George Grosz
Heather Cameron-McLintock ... Ada Rothman (as Heather Cameron)
Joel Pitts ... Paul Rothman
Tamás Lengyel ... Franz
Attila Árpa ... Wilhelm
Daisy Haggard ... Heidi
Gábor Harsai ... Waiter
Paul Rattray ... Hans
Derek Hagen ... Fritz
Caroleen Feeney ... Saleslady
Mike Kelly ... Herr Wulf
Ben O'Brien ... Herr Eichinger (as Ben O'Brian)
Agnes Becsei ... Singing Girl
Tibor Soltenszky ... Antique Dealer
Kerric Macdonald ... Heckler in Courtyard
Matt Devere ... Freikorps Thug
Judit Hernádi ... Frau Schmidt
Kerry Shale ... Dr. Levi
Heather Hermant ... Mrs. Levi
László Borbély ... Erich
Peter Linka ... Soldier in Courtyard
László Görög ... Someone in Crowd
Andor Tímár ... Ritter von Lieberfelt
John Rado ... Organizer (as Janos Rado)
Tamás Puskás ... Sidewalk Cafe Owner
Pandora Colin ... Max's Sister-in-Law
Rabbi Robert Frohlich ... Rabbi
Róbertne Bánky ... Puppeteer
Miklós Dörögdy ... Puppeteer
Mariann Kovács ... Puppeteer
Péter Bognár ... Puppeteer
István Erdös ... Puppeteer
Robert Whitelock ... Radio Announcer (uncredited)
AFI Fest
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2002 Nominated Grand Jury Prize
Menno Meyjes
Awards:2 wins & 4 nominations
2003 Won Genie Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Fred Brennan
Roderick Deogrades
Barry Gilmore
Andy Malcolm
David McCallum
Jane Tattersall
Nominated Genie Best Achievement in Overall Sound
Lou Solakofski
Steph Carrier
National Board of Review, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2002 Won Special Recognition
For excellence in filmmaking.
Political Film Society, USA
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
2003 Nominated PFS Award Democracy
Exposé
Sight unseen, the Jewish Defense League has urged Lions Gate Films to shelve this movie, due to its radical notion that Adolf Hitler was shaped by the world around him rather than being born the Antichrist. Specifically, the JDL protests that there is nothing "human about the most vicious, vile murderer in world history." As a person of Jewish extraction who has seen the movie (at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival), I would take exception to this stance and urge Lions Gate to proceed as planned. This film is a brilliant, engrossing, thought-provoking work that does Hitler no favors and sheds light on the real-world forces afoot in post WWI Munich that only could have nurtured his worst beliefs and talents.
Dutch-born Director Menno Meyjes has shown an affinity for tough ethnic and cultural clash themes in his career as a screenwriter (THE COLOR PURPLE, EMPIRE OF THE SUN and THE SIEGE are among his credits). But here, in his first chance to direct his own writing, he's come up with what's certainly his most fully realized work to-date. Eschewing simplistic notions, he weaves a fascinating story that deals at length with the career as a painter that Hitler is known to have unsuccessfully pursued at one time.
The title character of the film is a fictional (but based on a composite of real-life characters) Jewish German WWI vet named Max Rothman. He's lost one of his arms in battle, but is able to return to a much better situation than the average German vet: a loving wife and family, a gorgeous mistress, and family wealth that enables him to start an art gallery that prospers dealing in modern expressionist works. Hitler, by contrast, returns to pretty much nothing, and at age 30 is desperate to finally make the grade as a commercial artist.
Sensing that Hitler has a passion that there could be a market for if only he could find some way to get it out onto canvas, Max encourages him to experiment with schools of painting that seem a better fit for his temperament than the traditional ones he's decided to limit himself to. Unfortunately, Hitler's real artistic gift seems to be for a then-new form of performance art known as `propaganda,' and his Aryan war pals provide him with support for pursuing this field while simultaneously fanning his smoldering anti-Semitic sentiments.
Noah Taylor - who many feel got robbed of an Oscar nomination for his role as the young David Helfgott in SHINE - is mesmerizing in the Hitler role. Even made up to look gaunt, pallid, and thoroughly unappealing (although not freakish), you still can't take your eyes off of him. With body language, countenance, and tone of voice, he's able to suggest a raging intensity lurking just below the surface of his character's socially awkward loner exterior. Taylor still won't come up with any awards recognition for this role (it's WAY too hot a potato), but that doesn't change the fact that he's brilliantly conquered a daunting acting challenge.
John Cusack, in a welcome change from the light roles he's been playing lately, is also excellent as the title character, skillfully portraying a worldly businessman who's too focused on artistic images to ever notice the big picture. The subject matter allows near-zero latitude for levity, but SOME mirth is needed to keep the proceedings from becoming unrelentingly grim. Meyjes ingenious solution to this quandary is wry comments on art and (especially) the business of art by Max - a perfect fit for Cusack's deadpan delivery.
Even though you KNOW which career path Hitler is ultimately going down, the equilibrium between the forces pulling him in both directions and the incredible `what might have been' fascination factor keep you thoroughly transfixed throughout the film's near-2-hour running time. NOBODY in the huge auditorium where I saw the film got up or stirred from the opening scene through to the supremely ironic ending - not even to answer the call of nature. MAX is sure not `the feel-good film of the year,' but if you've been longing for a powerful, all-encompassing drama that doesn't require you to check your brain at the door, this is the film you've been waiting for.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0290210/
Here cast and pics
www.whosdatedwho.com/topic/6295/max.htm
www.imdb.com/title/tt0290210/mediaindex