John Cusack plays Jewish art dealer Max Rothman, who trades in avant-garde expressionism in post-WWI Germany. He brings all his verbal poise and charisma to the role. Noah Taylor goes up against Cusack's Rothman, playing a nervy Hitler.

The lesson at the core of 'Max' is that art and politics do not mix. Their are the requisite clashes of ideology and some strong and certain character development. Cusack is successful at portraying a complicated individual with a complex emotional depth. He comes through with a mixture of wit and poignancy. It's an entertaining glimpse into the lives of interesting characters during a heavily chronicled time; a time in which we, as the movie-going public, can't get enough of.

A must-see for the Cusack fan.