Review of Max (2002) by Paul D — 04 Apr 2008

Certainly explores the what if aspect of Hitler's life. I really wasn't sure about this film for many reasons and i've still not completely digested it either. John Cusack was my biggest worry.

I've seen quite a few of his films and none of them seemed to prove that he was capible of playing this character to the level that was necessary to carry the film. I'm still not completely sure he was.

His performance was good but I just had this feeling while watching it like he shouldn't be there and that was distracting if anything. There was nothing bad about it, he was good, but I don't think he got the character quite on.

I think the character should have been a lot stronger. He didn't demand the attention of the viewer that he really should have. Noah Taylor was excellent and pulled the film together in my opinion.

He really captured the essance of Hitler before his days as a dictator. I've always been interested in Hitler as a person because there was more to him than the public figure. The what if factor has always been there and it was about time someone gave their take on it.

I don't know anything about the writer of this film but I definatly respect him for trying. I think he got the character bang on. The shy and self-concious man that would reach a breaking point and find someone to blame.

I liked that the writer chose to focus on the man who could have prevented it all. If only Hitler had become a painter he would never have killed so many innocent people. I wasn't sure where the writer was going to go with the ending until after it had happened and I was a little shocked.

There is a long shot, zooming out from Cusack's character and for that what feels like five minutes all you can think is what if he made it. What if he never had his head kicked in. There is also even more hatred put onto Hitler at the end (if that is possible because even when they show his vunerable side you're still thinking I know what you are going to do in a few years) when he is sat waiting for Cusack's character and he angrily storms out when he doesn't arrive.

You know that it was all his fault Cusack wasn't there because of the speech he had made only moments before. Once again Noah Taylor is excellent. Showing a demented, insecure and shy side to a man that the whole world would quite gladly have drowned at birth.

A must see if only for his performance.