I found good time max to be a very enjoyable movie. Although it may have been very ominous at times I think there is something very glamorous in this portrayal of self destruction. It was an audacious attempt at the triple threat( write, star in, and direct) which I believe paid off and is worthy of a good review. James Franco plays a genius whos addiction to drugs prevents him from making the most of his abilities and doing something useful with his life. He makes the role of callous, self absorbed drug abuser seem exuberant and his character is oozing with charisma. His older brother is also a genius however it seems his work ethic and outlook on life is somewhat different to max's. This movie takes us on an adventure involving max's drug fuelled rampage and everyone else is just along for the ride. I think this movie only touches on one profound question... when does the party end? everything else was just far-fetched and entertaining. If you take this movie for what it is, a great effort at something that has been done one hundred times before, not to be taken too seriously, you will enjoy.

James Franco must have had a good time doing this film, or this comes through for me at least. Some fine sense of space, film-making here and there.But too much music, too much good music, but the kind of use one attributes to enthusiastic film-makers, young mostly, but now with a keen sense of music, to Franco's credit.It is just nagging the way music tells you what to feel, in general. The problem here being that take off the soundtrack, you don't know what to feel without the music either. Another reviewer said this read like an extended comic experience or something, and that would be good, that would be sufficient, properly handled, but too much precious, if you will, composition of each frame and sequence, weighed the whole thing murkily. If it was for "genius babble is an excuse for bad social adaptation," it was something met half-way: too much real-time consuming of the film's time depicting sniffing and other drugs-related activities.Franco in a triple, simultaneous endeavor - what can I say? It's the kind of thing that titillates me, but here the glasses gave him a too perfect air of an intellectual at odds with his character, but perfectly matching his face's bone-structure, and paired with a white t-shirt unfavorably reminded one of his superior Dean portrait.Bro becoming an addict was too soon off the wall, too.The rabbit vision and the vampire baby on the milk especially was terse and tense, and showed that with real concentration James Franco is a good, good film-maker.

You gather the plot: Two brothers, one studious decent and hardworking, the smarter one being a rebel etc etc. From the various movies throughout the decades this Cain & Abel-ish by-play has been done over and over again. (James Dean, Brad Pitt are two actors that spring to mind). This movie has none of the complexity or character development of East of Eden or A River Runs Through It or Legends of the Fall and it is infinitely more forgettable.I see the various points the movie is trying to make and yes, it does make you stop and think about how pointless life can be and the merits of hard work and the merits and disadvantages of various drugs, but ultimately why bother ?The movie is a teensy bit poignant, somewhat artsy, the character acting is good and the movie manages to convey a seedy, life through a Handycam feel. I was vaguely bored throughout with this character study, wondering if anything would happen and after a fashion maybe it did maybe it didn't (I wouldn't want to add a spoiler!), but really - who cares ?There are far better movies around in hundreds of different genres, I feel like I wasted the evening. If I were to use a single word to review this movie, I would choose the word 'dull'.You may like it, but I found it rather boring from start to finish.

OK, If you're looking for another Bastketball Diaries, this is completely the wrong film.I revolves around two brothers. Max, the younger, has a major cocaine addiction. Adam, the eldest, is a doctor. This movie is suppose to show the plunge from reality to the extreme lows that drugs make possible. It however, does not. It shows that cocaine can be fun no matter what the situation happens to be present. Most of the movie focus is on Max and his parting ways. Eventually Adam, can no longer take the stress from his job and begins to use as well (perscription drugs).This movie has almost no climax. Doesn't descend into what cocaine really does to you, has boring and low-budget scenes, and the acting of the eldest brother, Adam, is horrific.I have no idea how this movie has managed to pass and receive awards, it is not a heart-wencher. If you want a clear and true story movie on the extreme world of drugs- rent, if not buy 'The Basketball Diaries'. And notice the difference.Try to avoid this movie but, if you think you will enjoy. Try and see for yourself...