This is a story that basically asks what if Hitler had decided to pursue his ambitions to be an artist instead of world politics? An interesting premise that ends up with lukewarm results despite the earnest performances from it's lead actors. Story takes place in the following years after the first world war in Munich where Max Rothman (John Cusack) runs an art gallery. Rothman is half Jewish and fought in the war where he lost an arm that ended his dreams of becoming an artist himself. One night during one of his art shows he meets a delivery man named Adolf Hitler (Noah Taylor) and the two of them discover their history together in the war. Hitler mentions his drawings and is encouraged to bring them by to be looked at. During the next few weeks Rothman finds Hitler a difficult person to be friendly with but he attempts to help this young angry and dysfunctional man.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
Meanwhile, Hitler is persuaded by a splinter outfit to make public speeches about the affairs of Germany and he's successful but now he must decide which avenue to go down as far as his future. Rothman tries to make him channel his rage and energy as an artist but it is to no avail as Hitler mixes art and politics and considers his public speaking as his art form.
This film is directed by Menno Meyjes who wrote the screenplay for "The Color Purple" and this is his directorial debut and while it's an intriguing idea the film as a whole seems to just be more of an interesting effort that's not fully explored. I am recommending this film because of the interesting story and the performances of Cusack and Taylor. The film is more about the character of Rothman than Hitler and the script seems to ask could someone who's basically good at heart survive what Germany was slowly becoming? Another interesting part of this story is the relationship of the two because they really are different in every aspects. But they have two things in common that is all that's needed to have a casual friendship and the first is that they both fought in the war and were deeply affected by it. Rothman lost an arm but Hitler was definitely affected psychologically. The second thing they have in common is art. When the two of them have conversations and are frequently at odds they seem to communicate better when talking about this subject. Film never delivers anything really insightful but since there are no films about what influenced Hitler as a young man this is an interesting subject and something most filmmakers would never attempt.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
Meanwhile, Hitler is persuaded by a splinter outfit to make public speeches about the affairs of Germany and he's successful but now he must decide which avenue to go down as far as his future. Rothman tries to make him channel his rage and energy as an artist but it is to no avail as Hitler mixes art and politics and considers his public speaking as his art form.
This film is directed by Menno Meyjes who wrote the screenplay for "The Color Purple" and this is his directorial debut and while it's an intriguing idea the film as a whole seems to just be more of an interesting effort that's not fully explored. I am recommending this film because of the interesting story and the performances of Cusack and Taylor. The film is more about the character of Rothman than Hitler and the script seems to ask could someone who's basically good at heart survive what Germany was slowly becoming? Another interesting part of this story is the relationship of the two because they really are different in every aspects. But they have two things in common that is all that's needed to have a casual friendship and the first is that they both fought in the war and were deeply affected by it. Rothman lost an arm but Hitler was definitely affected psychologically. The second thing they have in common is art. When the two of them have conversations and are frequently at odds they seem to communicate better when talking about this subject. Film never delivers anything really insightful but since there are no films about what influenced Hitler as a young man this is an interesting subject and something most filmmakers would never attempt.