Stars: Noah Taylor, Molly Parker, Leelee Sobieski

Director: Menno Meyjes

Summary: A fictional drama about Adolf Hitler before he formed the Nazi party.

MAX, directed by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Menno Meyjes, stars John Cusack as the title character, Max Rothman, a German-Jewish man who lost his right arm while fighting for his country during World War One. Although Rothman is no longer able to pursue his dream of becoming an artist, he channels his love of art into a successful gallery that shows the work of many European modernist painters, including George Grosz (portrayed by Kevin McKidd). At one of his gallery openings, Rothman meets an artist and fellow WWI soldier, an intense young man named Adolf Hitler (Noah Taylor). Largely out of a veteran's bond, Rothman agrees to buy some of Hitler's work and encourages the frustrated painter to channel his emotions onto the canvas. However, angered and disillusioned by Germany's impoverished state, Hitler also begins flirting with politics and public speaking. As Rothman comes closer to selling his work, Hitler's interests take a turn--a turn that will change the course of world history.
Stirring up controversy even before its release, MAX largely avoids the pitfalls often associated with taking on major historical figures. Although the film is about Hitler, as the title implies, it focuses more on the intriguing and complex character of Max Rothman, who is excellently portrayed by Cusack. In spite of his lost arm and his country's decline, Rothman tries to remain optimistic and finds solace in his appreciation of art. Meanwhile, Hitler's artistic output is largely unimaginative, and Taylor's performance as the future dictator and mass murderer is far from flattering or sympathetic. A smart and unusual film that handles its delicate subject matter well, MAX is a engaging look at the lives of two men just before they are irrevocably altered.

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It's inspired a hit musical. The soundtrack has sold in its millions. And it's still, arguably, the most popular film on Patrick Swayze's curriculum vitae. Most worrying of all, perhaps, is that Dirty Dancingis now more than twenty years old. Now that'sscary.

Still, it does offer the excuse for a special anniversary release, and that's exactly what we have here. And, to be fair, the film has never looked better. The story is still as straightforward and simple as it always was, baked just to the point where it can support the aforementioned Swayze and Jennifer Grey strutting their stuff. But Dirty Dancingnonetheless continues to work well to this day, with its rarely-rivalled, sizzling mix of romance, energy and music.

Of course, it's an easy film to pick holes in, should you be inclined to do so. After all, at heart it's a well packaged piece of hokum, that's never likely to contend in a Top 100 movies poll. But to pick holes would be churlish, and perhaps to miss the point. Because Dirty Dancing's mantra is to entertain, and it delivers on that promise with some conviction. The late Emile Ardolino wisely keeps his direction zippy, and the two leads really do look like they're having the time of their life.

Granted, this latest re-release isn't going to convert sceptics to the ways of Dirty Dancing, and the unfortunate, unwelcome sequel will remain a blot on its copybook. But this original is hard to beat, and it's still a hard dish to resist. --Jon Foster

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Commentary - 1. Menno Meyjes - Director, Trailers, Picture Gallery
Subtitles:	Danish, English, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Year:	2002
Release Date:	March 1, 2004
Runtime:	101 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	P 9057 D V D
Keywords:	Max, General, Wide, Screen, Drama
Genre:	Drama