Akron [DVD]

I must say...I jhave very little hope for most gay flicks...as they tend to be poorly acted...written sloppily...or have the same three themes. This film looks and feels like it was written with any type of couple in mind. It wasnt a gay tragedy, typical campy comedy...or sex obsessed character study. It was an honest to goodness drama, that was shockingly well acted. The leads were so very good, and the supporting cast was as good. I true pleasure to watch. More flicks that have gay leads but aren't just about the fact that they are gay...just a good story with a gay tint to it. Great flick!

One of my absolute favorites. A very well filmed, touching, coming-of-age story. Painful to watch at one point, but the chemistry between these two boys and their families makes it pleasant to watch. I would highly recommend this film.

"Akron" is a dual-layered film. It's prime focus is on the budding relationship of two college boys, Benny and Christopher, and how suited they seem to be for each other. Each are serious about their individual lives and futures, as well as what lies ahead for them as a couple. Benny's family, his mother, father and sister are open and accepting of his sexuality. Chris's single mother, who lives in Florida, is likewise fine with her son's lifestyle. What could possibly go wrong with a group of such warm, loving people? The very beginning of the film is a flashback to ten years before, on the day of a terrible, devastating accident. How that accident reaches across time and opens old wounds explains the second layer of the story and how the past has been painfully resurrected for both families. Without giving the whole thing away, it's the parental reactions and behavior that steer the rest of the movie. I am honestly a bit uncomfortable with the way the issue of forgiveness is handled. Only because the people we have already met, the two boys and their well-adjusted families, don't seem to bring their depth of understanding and acceptance to the trauma that has re-surfaced. Christopher's mother is into Yoga and the spirit, and Benny's parents are amazingly loving and supportive. Are those qualities real, or do they exist merely to soften bad memories? The four stars are because one of the characters, Chris's mother, Carol, seems to be left in limbo. She is the reason for the accidental tragedy, and she sincerely wants to make things as right as she can. But at the celebratory "I think we can get our lives back on track now" dinner, with Christopher and Benny's family, Carol is missing, most likely on her way back to Florida. Her emotional exchange with Benny's mother, and her need of forgiveness are not addressed. That is why I couldn't add that extra star, because it flawed the film for me. It didn't "feel" right. Others may disagree, and that's fine. I haven't yet read the other reviews. I never read anything before I see a film. I want to know as little as possible going into it so I can just get immersed with no bias, conscious or otherwise. The acting is mostly very good, as is the direction and the mellow soundtrack. The screenplay probably had the best of intentions. Maybe it was a directorial error in not focusing on the issues I mentioned. Just an added facial expression, or even a silent acknowledgement that forgiveness was at least possible would have made the difference for me. Even so, I do strongly recommend this movie. It will be interesting for me to read the reviews and see if anyone else picked up on that one, for me anyway, flaw.

My favorite gay movie.the boys are out it's accepted everywhere. You'd think of camera is hidden because the conversations and chemistry is so honest _ real.theres no acting...an accident years ago brings families and the boys together with difficult struggles and some pain.

With the time and length of movie I can't really say anything about too short or long so forth. What was their budget to make the film ? If it was only a few hundred dollars then you might say it kicked A** . I liked the factor that with our society having the #1 porn industry and a majority of hollywood films you see a lot of sexual content in, this didn't and i respect that. The producers certainly were not focused on that like so much of hollywood is and makes sure to put it in their movies even if just a comedy. In my opinion for probably what the budget was and time allotted and intended to produce a movie that was under 90 minutes, unlike "Dances with Wolves" and others 3 hours long and more time to put more detail and color in it, so to speak. it was good. It wasn't made to be a blockbuster $1 million budget with academy award top producers movie. ie: I am not walking downtown to the local city artfest expecting to see Van Gogh everywhere and knocking down everyone else that doesn't live up to his work.

Matthew Frias and and Edmund Donovan, two actors who play the couple in love, should win awards for this movie as they did a great job in getting the emotions across for the awkward situation they found themselves in when they found out they shared a linked tragedy. The name of the movie is the name where the tragedy took place, Akron, Ohio. Matthew's character's name is Benny and Edmund plays Christopher. Benny lives in Akron with his family and Christopher lives on a college campus in Akron, and they met attending the same university. What is nice about this movie is that being gay is a natural part of life in this story, so no one questioned or were shocked that these two young beautiful men fell in love. It could have been two women or two heteros, and it would not have made a difference to the story because the story is not about being gay, but about how to overcome a tragedy that took place between the two families of these two lovers. I wish more movies were made this way in which you just switch out two hetero characters for two gay characters and continue the same story, and vice versa. This movie made being gay so natural, and you were rooting for the couple to be able to continue their relationship as the two truly displayed their love for each other. Anyone who has fell in love before can sense the love the characters had for each other, and that is the good performances of the actors. They deserve awards and it be great if these actors continue their acting career. Beautiful actors and a great story.

Love can build a bridge over troubled life!

Happy Ending!

Je recommande vivement

Es una película romántica y apasionada por el amor

Mooie film en mooi verhaal