Product Description The year is 1936. America has fast become one of the world's most powerful nations on the platform of freedom and equality for all people. On the other side of the Atlantic, Hitler's Third Reich is steadily taking hold, systematically setting the stage for Aryan supremacy. Meanwhile, Joe Louis (Leonard Roberts) an up-and-coming prizefighter from Harlem, New York fights for his slice of the American dream: to become boxing's heavyweight champion. Standing in his way is German champ, Max Schmeling (Til Schweiger). Despite Schmeling's liberal and pacifist views, he is heralded by the Nazis as the perfect specimen of the perfect race. The world watched as their bouts took on epic proportions, but outside of public view, they forged a friendship that would transcend enemy lines. Based on a true story, from the director of Hoop Dreams, JOE AND MAX is an action-packed drama with thrilling re-creations of the legendary matches that rocked the world! .com As with his epic documentary Hoop Dreams, Steve James's dramatized biopic transcends sports to tell the inspiring true story of the surprising friendship that developed between boxers Joe Louis (Leonard Roberts) and Max Schmeling (Til Schweiger). When these two opponents met in the ring for their epic heavyweight championship bouts in the 1930s, they carried their respective worlds on their shoulders. Louis not only represented the hopes and dreams of the black community, but also "the flag of America and democracy." Nazi Germany's propaganda machine hyped Schmeling as the embodiment of "the master race," although Schmeling, whose story carries more dramatic punch, disassociated himself from Hitler. "I'm not a Nazi," he proclaimed. "I'm just a fighter." Joe and Max takes some hits with its often ham-handed script, but it's got great performances in its corner that should make it a contender for audiences beyond fight fans. --Donald Liebenson
A**N
"Louis measures him... Right to the body, a left hook to the jaw... And Schmeling is down!"
This edition of JOE AND MAX is packaged in a slimline case. Closed-captions and scene access are its sole extras. Has stereo sound and a clean widescreen image.The two actors portraying heavyweights Joe Louis and Max Schmeling (Roberts and Schweiger) are middleweights at best. Neither looks like the originals and their boxing skills are just passable. Roundtree is quite good as ex-boxer Jack "Chappie" Blackburn, Joe's mentor and manager, and Paymer, as Joe Jacobs, Max's Jewish-born American agent is the best thing in this film. (He's always excellent.)It often plays like a soap opera, presenting the separate personal woes of these men. Joe's gadabout romanticism destroys his marriage to Marva (Goines), a woman he deeply loves. Max comes to America twice to fight Louis, always hated as a Názi by Americans who equate his German-birth with membership in that fascist party. As Schmeling often declares however, he's just a boxer, nothing more.For their first bout in 1936, Louis is an up-and-comer at age 23, Max at the peak of his game. As depicted here, their lengthy fight is a grueling one. By its end, the crowd that had been booing Max now chants his name and urges him to victory. Surely this change in loyalty of white fight fans from Louis to Schmeling was a factor that contributed to Joe's first professional loss.Between this Schmeling win and their '38 rematch, Louis defeats Jimmy Braddock and becomes heavyweight champ. In order to keep his verboten agent and be allowed to fight in America again, Max has to cut a deal with Germany's "chancellor" (who shall remain nameless here). He signs papers declaring Party allegiance, a lie Max has to live with.Both men train hard for their rematch, but Max is past his prime while Joe has two years of experience. This age advantage means Louis finishes his opponent off in the first round. Back in his country, Max is now a disgrace forced to enter the military. Joe by contrast is the hero who pounded to the canvas an evil Názi. He volunteers for WWII service, is made a sergeant, fights exhibition matches and donates all his winnings to the relief of wounded soldiers.For boxing fans, the story pretty much ends here. We see Joe's struggles with the IRS and his being forced to fight well-past his time. An actor who looks even less like Rocky Marciano that Roberts does Louis, hands the aging pugilist his final defeat. At this same time ('52), Max and wife Anny (Wilson) have a mink farm that's going nowhere. Events will soon reunite the two fighters, but under different circumstances. Neither is wearing padded gloves or throwing punches.This one's worth seeing, but it's no sports movie classic. A middling grade..Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 IMDb viewer poll rating.(6.5) Joe and Max (USA/Germany-2002) - Leonard Roberts/Til Schweiger/Peta Wilson/Richard Roundtree/Bruce Weitz/David Paymer/Siena Goines
S**E
Great Movie.
Got here faster than I expected and in perfect condition.
I**.
Lifelong friendship
Made for TV movie, (I think) this was was a heartwarming story of two men with a common interest. To be Heavyweight champion of the world. Both succeeded, Max in 1936, Joe in 1938.Everything about the movie just worked, the story was factual.Both fighters endured incredible rascism, Joe mostly, here in the USA in spite of his military service and his incredible charity work, but Max as well, in his native Germany. The two remained friends long after their careers were over, till Joe's Death.Well worth a watch, even better to own.
A**N
AN EXCELLENT FILM OF HISTORY
EXCELLENT FILM AND SO WELL DONE! GREAT TRUE STORY WHICH SHOWS THAT MAX SCHMELLING WAS A REAL HERO THAT WE NEVER KNEW ABOUT! HE HATED HITLER AND THE NAZIS AND HAD LOTS OF CLOSE JEWISH FRIENDS AND HID CHILDREN IN HIS HOUSE DURING THE "NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS"! GOD BLESS HIM! IF YOU ARE A BOXING FAN AND A FAN OF SPORTS HISTORY YOU WILL ENJOY THIS VERY MUCH!
G**R
Could have been a lot better.
I don't know why Hollywood continually portrays men as tongue-tied inepts, but it is way beyond reality. Max Schmelling was a real neat person who left this world a little better than he found it. I am encouraged by Schmelling's willingness to do the right thing in the midst of WW II oppression.I did not appreciate the foul language in this movie. This is another way that Hollywood damages people by permeating their "product" with swearing. It ruins an otherwise decent movie.For that reason, I destroyed this movie. I will not permit my children to be desensitized by this bad example. It's very sad, but not very surprising.You can read about Max Schmelling's life on the internet and it is a very inspiring story.gcw,husband & father
M**N
Timeless
This was a good movie to watch time and time again. It is a part of my history eventhough most of it happened before I was born. If you like to see history it's a great movie for that.
D**R
This was a movie worth watching. I'm very saddened ...
This was a movie worth watching. I'm very saddened by what the US government / IRS did to Joe Louis, especially after all he gave. I learned a lot of interesting things about both fighters that I didn't know before.
A**M
Very well done and a good history lesson for anyone
I had watched this movie once before and decided to purchase the movie for my collection. Very well done and a good history lesson for anyone.
D**R
GREAT HISTORIC BOXING MOVIE
Great historic account of 2 great world champions set in troubled times
J**H
Great product
Very good and accurate film
G**L
Five Stars
NICE DVD
K**A
TOP 😀
Super WareSchnelle LieferungBin total zufrieden
H**N
Mittelmäßig mit Fehlbesetzung
Wer Interesse für das grundsätzliche Setting mibringt der wir die Handlung durchaus interessant und gut finden. Politik und Sport der Zeitgeschichte sind interessant miteinander verwoben. Die Charaktere sind jedoch etwas unglaubwürdig und mit Til Schweiger als Max Schmeling insbesondere eine Fehlbesetzung welche nicht zur Glaubwürdigkeit beiträgt. Insgesamt daher nur mittelmäßig.
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