GOOD TIME MAX
US, 2007, 79 minutes, Colour.
James Franco, Matt Bell, Vince Jolivette, Wilmer Calderon, Richard Portnow.
Directed by James Franco.
James Franco must be one of the most prolific actors, writers, directors anywhere. After establishing his film career in acting, he developed into a student, writing stories, and moving into film direction. This is one of his earliest films as director – and a credit for co-writing as well as his performance.
This is the story of two brothers – and Franco has dedicated this film to his own brother.
This is not the most interesting film ever made! And, its basic plot of two brothers, very intelligent, each going in different paths, the rivalry, betrayals, mutual help, is not unfamiliar. But Franco uses a great deal of home movie style for flashbacks and scenes between the two brothers to contribute to the atmosphere.
He himself portrays the good time Max of the title, doing drug deals, a con who is confident in himself, persuading his brother, a very serious medical intern, to take him to California. He gets a job in IT but is led into taking amphetamines, leading him into too much of a good time life. Meanwhile his brother, played by Matt Bell, is popping pills to sustain his career as a surgeon – but, eventually, is arrested and disbarred.
A film for those who want to appreciate the completeness of James Franco’s career.
1. A James Franco project? Early in his career writing and directing? His prolific output?
2. Initial New York settings, the young boys, growing up, studies, home? The transition to Los Angeles, the IT companies, the hospitals and interns, apartments, clubs, aviation? Musical score?
3. The introduction to Max and Adam, Max and his dancing as a little boy, Adam and his studies, their work at school, advanced capabilities, success?
4. Growing up, Max and his friend, the drug deal, the impure cocaine, the customer, the girl, testing the drugs, getting the money, Max and the girl, the customer coming in, the attack, the gun?
5. The contrast with Adam, his medical studies, success? His going to California? Max asking him to go as well? Their mother? The absent father?
6. Max, getting clean, getting the job, self-promotion, seeing himself as a genius, his success at work? Ingratiating himself with Bruce? Going out to the bars with Bruce? The aviation and the danger? At work? The work partner, science-fiction, the rockets, their friendship? The introduction to Ice? Max and his hesitation, agreeing, taking the drug, the other workers in the firm? The effect on Max? Concealing it from Adam? Setting up with the girlfriend? His life becoming dissipated? Deals, his being arrested, jail?
7. The contract with Adam, his work in the hospitals, his popping pills to keep going? His good work, exasperation with Max on discovering the truth, the engagement, the wedding? Discussions with Max about their father the visit of the mother and her boyfriend? Max having the hallucination that they were sexy nurses?
8. The father being ill, Adam organising the trip, Max and his going off with his friends, ignoring reality? Adam sitting with his father, death and funeral? The return? Max and his trying to be convincing about his change of heart?
9. Adam, the continued pills, malpractice, his being challenged, arrested, disbarred? Max taking him in?
10. A portrait of two brothers, abilities, crashing, failures, possibility of rehabilitation?
