Gone, But Not Forgotten

This is a small budget indi film that will settle into your heart. The idea of repressed desire and living as others wish you would live was the same theme touched on in films such as Big Eden. Director Michael Akers gives a warm and touching story of a man looking for love and another who doesn't even know who he is or what his life was like before the accident. These 2 are truly likable characters. Rounding out the cast is the brother who doesn't know how to express his love or frustrations, his Christian wife, the town doctor who's devotion to Drew transcends his sexuality and a shrewish wife who makes you understand why Mark would want to forget his past. Fine acting and storyline that keeps you hoping that love wins out. There is no preaching, no fear of AIDS, just a single gay man looking for his soulmate. What could possibly be wrong with a movie like that?

I wasn't looking for or expecting a low budget soft porn movie (in spite of the poster) so wasn't disappointed by the movie. The movie successfully explored the search for a gay soul mate, not just quickie sex that sadly seems to characterize so many lonely gay relationships. It also displayed the latent intolerance to homosexuality that is still rife even in enlightened societies and the tragedy of being a closet gay trapped in a straight marriage. It was nice to see two gay men portrayed as "normal" human beings without having their gayness stigmatized or emphasized as their only character trait. It is an enjoyable film - not too deep but entertaining and believable.

I did like the film although it moves slowly, but I liked Drew and he sort of made me like the film. Drew is the epitome of a gay dream I think. He's the typical nature boy who's caring, has a boyish charm and good looks. And I loved his voice, the way he talked. He reminded me a bit of Mouse in Tales of the City. Who could resist? It is true, however, that sometimes you feel you've dropped into a soft-porn film - esp. the music adds to this impression. And the other character looks a bit like a hustler. The other characters are quite weak however. And the relationship between the brothers is fairly strange and not quite convincing. Although the setting is quite realistic, this is more like a fairy tale or wishful thinking. Yet, I think this is a film I would have liked to see around my own coming-out because there's a profound goodness to it and being gay is not presented as an unsurmountable problem. So watching this film is more like an emotional indulgence than a intellectual experience.

The actors aren't very good looking and don't really act very well. The storyline of a guy with amnesia whose past life is unknown is rather predictable and despite what another reviewer here says, there's really not any "mystery" to it. The movie seems to be shot on a handy cam. But despite all this, I enjoyed the 90 minutes I spent watching this movie and found it to be quite engaging. The lovely locales surely helped. And maybe even the fact that our heroes aren't good looking but are sweet and ordinary (Drew's face reminds me of a cute chipmunk). Anyway, an independent gay movie is bound to suffer when compared to slick Hollywood movies, so I think it's best not to go there. I recommend this movie to all gay people, but don't go in expecting Bareback Mountain.

This movie was a wonderful surprise for me. From the reviews and basic plot synopses I'd read, I was already pretty sure I'd like it. What I didn't expect was to fall completely in love with it. I was immediately drawn into the storyline with characters I really cared about. With his very first scene, Aaron Orr drew me to his character, and throughout the movie, proceeded to make me laugh with and cry for Drew. His chemistry with Matthew Montgomery was nothing short of electric, and the two of them easily made me forget that Drew and Mark were only characters on the screen.

The less polished production quality is one of the things I love most, and I'm amazed at how the cast and crew put this little gem together on such a tight budget. I've been recommending this film to everyone I know!