Joe and Max

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2002 Filmcritic.com

A very capable film, Joe and Max explores the odd relationship between America's "brown bomber" Joe Louis and Nazi Germany's greatest fighter, Max Schmeling, on the eve of WWII. Til Schweiger was born to play the role of Schmeling, and the film is at its best when it focuses on the reluctant Nazi's torment at the hands of Hitler and his cronies. Louis's life gets a less thorough treatment, probably because it's a bit less dramatic, but either way I learned a lot about both fighters -- and the countries they represented.

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Rating

3.5 out of 5 Stars

Cast and Crew

  • Director: Steve James
  • Producer: Kelli Konop, Brad Krevoy, Klaus Rettig
  • Screenwriter: Jason Horwitch
  • Stars: Leonard Roberts, Til Schweiger, Peta Wilson, Richard Roundtree, John Toles-Bey, David Paymer, Jürgen Schornagel, Bruce Weitz, Siena Goines
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13