Harry + Max

I bought this film on DVD a while back through recommendation from a friend and I was as unwilling as anyone to watch a film that was known because two brothers "get it on"... I study psychology and one of the main (and more unpleasant) topics is incest and in 75% of sibling incest cases, mutual consent is given (meaning both siblings wanted it and one did not force it upon the other). On first hearing this I was curious as to why; most of the time when you think of incest you think of backward trailer trash states in America (or story lines from soap operas) but this film does kind of open your eyes a little bit to that kind of thing. The relationship between Harry and Max isn't shown as disgusting or immoral and you end up sort of understanding why they do get it on. My idea was that it was due to uncaring parents who live through their kids and being in a business that is notably full of fake people. Through this, the brothers seem to learn that the only people they can fully trust is each other. Obviously this is no reason to start boinking so other stuff must come into it but yeah I still obviously don't condone incest but this film kind of makes you understand mutual incest. I recommend giving it a try, you won't be too disgusted since the only thing you really see between the brothers is two kisses and a badly simulated oral sex scene but hey, at least you don't see anything to be too grossed out by. Some people pass this off as a gross film for people who get off on that kind of thing but I disagree. Just give it a try. I don't think you'll regret it.

I never had a brother, but I always wondered, if I had a brother and my brother was hot, or cute, or handsome, what would stop me from having sex with him? There's no chance of having a child. What is wrong? Where is the danger?

This movie takes that notion pretty far. Two brother, both in the music business. At first, the younger brother lusts after the older one, but the older one doesn't allow it to go too far. Then the older brother, after being revealed as an alcoholic, and after masturbating to his younger brother's picture in a magazine, changes his mind, and pursues the younger bro. But now the young one resists, rebels, says no.

The young one is remeniscent of Zak Hanson; the older is like one of those Backstreet Boys. Both are desirable, and the movie his hot. And it's in the hands of a really good, refined director, Christopher Munch, who knows how to photograph a movie in scenic locales, and can handle the mood music. The topic may be a bit shocking, but the movie works really well.

I couldn't believe this film when I saw it. I was so shocked and entertained at the same time. At first I couldn't believe it was really a story about incest but then I got what the film was doing and I couldn't stop watching. Totally inventive and fresh.

And, yes it really p***ed folks off. Keep in mind the subject matter is very controversial and will make you think long after you walk out of the theater (Thank God!).

The film is due out 2005 with a theatrical release (if you live in big cities, if you don't then you should move) and will be followed with a DVD/home video run. I can't wait to see how this film affects audiences.

Chris' work has always been gorgeous and thoughtful and amazingly produced. This is probably his best work to date.

This film is about the ambiguous relationship of two brothers who are both pop stars.

My impression of this very low budget movie is that it is trying to explore a taboo area, but it does not quite succeed. First, the film focuses too much on just Harry and Max. It looks as if the whole film has only two actors (possibly because of the low budget). The plot could have been great, but it is not so well written and not developed enough. I think they could have spent more time developing the plot, and expanded on details. Harry is good is his role, but Max is a little wooden. After watching this film, I feel that there are pieces of the film missing, and I do not feel satisfied.

This film is like the other Cole Williams film "Race You To The Bottom", in the sense that they are low budget films involving controversial relationships between two lead characters. I can safely say that "Harry And Max" is the better one of the two though.

****SLIGHT SPOILERS**** Harry and Max lacks all of the subtle interplay between characters that has so far been a hallmark of Christopher Munch's films. The premise sounded interesting and challenging, but the film was a let down for me.

None of the characters here, even Harry and Max themselves, are fully formed. Unfortunately, this means that the salacious premise (the repercussions of two teen pop idol brothers' incest) never overcomes its own silliness. I thought the nearly non-stop chatter between the two main characters would eventually be banished as merely a cover up for their deeper thoughts, but no, apparently this silly dialog was meant to be thought provoking in some way.

Why are these guys pop stars? Oh yeah, because who wants to see a movie about incest unless the stars are attractive? It should be central to their characters, but it seems only to be an excuse for Harry to have some sort of A Star is Born angst and for the audience to see pretty faces.

Max is infatuated with Harry, then Harry is infatuated with Max, both sleep with the other's past loves, vague hints are given about their messed up family and absolutely NOTHING of significance about love, human nature, lust, relationships, or anything else is ever revealed.

Not helping matters is the cursery development of all other characters. Josiah, Roxanne and Jordan are all treated like pieces of the set to be moved around at the need of the director. None has any depth, motivations or interesting qualities beyond their usefulness as background for Harry and Max. Even the boys' mother is reduced to two minutes of muddled screen time bitchiness. Nikki, for me, was the only interesting character here, but the reasons for her choices are never explored and in the end she winds up as flat as all the others.

Writers need to make choices and here none have been made. Either focus only on Harry and Max, or focus on their world, but please do one or the other with some degree of success! To my mind, this is Christopher Munch's worst film to date, not because of its scandalous subject matter, but because of its inability to reveal anything of interest about it!