Phoenix

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Starring: Chad Bartley
Rated: Unrated
Type: DVD
Directed By: Michael D. Akers
Studio: Wolfe Video
Release Date: 2007-01-30
Inspired by Michelangelo Antonionis 1961 classic LAvventura, Michael Akers PHOENIX is infused with symbolism and a sexy spark. Dylan Wells (Chad Edward Bartley) has a good job, a great apartment and an exciting relationship with Ken Sparks (Gaetano Jones, Boystown), his sexy well traveled boyfriend who just might be the one. A great life, or so he believes, until Kens visit for Dylans 23rd birthday party is unexpectedly cut short when Ken is suddenly called away to tend to a failing real estate deal, and then disappears.

Not a bad little picture
This is actually a well-done picture, considering it was filmed on a tight budget. I watched Michael Akers' first film, "Gone, But Not Forgotten." That film was OK, but the production quality was so poor that the story got lost in the "cheapie" look, sound, lighting, and overall feel. "Phoenix" has a pleasing look, excellent sound quality, and good background music that actually blends into the film without being invasive. The acting is acceptable, especially by new-comer, Chad Bartley, who shows a surprising range of emotion. This film does not have the cinematic quality "Get Real" or "Latter Days" has, yet the film is enjoyable and certainly worth watching more than once. Michael Akers is learning his craft and getting better at film making.

love loss and new beginnings
This is a movie were you think you love someone and find that they are not who they said they were and you find out that they werre married and seeing somone and you meet them and fal in love with them too

Save your money...
The only thing worth watching or listening to in this entire movie was Jeff Castle. After seeing "Gone, But Not Forgotten" several times and liking it, I expected more from Michael Akers than this piece of fluff. The use of too similar a tone and almost identical background music (certainly from the same group) indicates Akers' range as a filmmaker is rather limited. If not for Jeff Castle, I would have trashed this movie toward the beginning... instead of at the end.

Sweet, realistic story of love and diisappointments
California surfer 23 year old Dylan Wells is in a long-distance relationship with Ken Sparks, who lives in "Phoenix"(2006). Dylan is a romantic, and yearns for the day when his boyfriend's work - which involves real estate deals - allows him to move in with him full-time, but tries to make the most out of their times together.

When Ken is called back suddenly to Phoenix, Dylan decides to surprise him and visit him there. The address he has for him turns out to be a hotel room, but Ken isn't there. Asking around, Dylan encounters Demetrius, who he later learns has been in a relationship with Ken for seven years. They learn that Ken has left town, perhaps permanently, following a somewhat shady failed deal. In consoling each other, they find they have some things in common, and a mutual attraction develops.

A low-budget film, made with inexperienced actors, which nevertheless manages to tell a touching, emotionally-rich story of what love really means to good people. In the role of Dylan, Chad Bartley shows significant range and emotion as a young gay man already already disillusioned with the games and insincerity that is often a part of the dating experience. The dialogue is realistic and devoid of simplistic stereotypes, the photography is very good, although the editing could have been sharper. DVD has no extras other than a couple of trailers and scene selection. I give this film four stars out of five.

Awful
Michael D. Akers made a memorable, insightful, and "fun" movie with Gone, But Not Forgotten. See it, and avoid "Phoenix."

Phoenix is a movie in search of meaning and in search of a story. In a nutshell, a young (and very cute) man discovers that his lover is leading a double life and has a husband in Phoenix. After the despicable and poorly-acted lover then disappears, he gets to know "the other man" and starts to fall for him. Big deal. Most of this movie is him wandering around and/or walking around the house/apartment/hotel in various states of undress. (These moments are actually some of the highlights.)

I'd completely avoid this movie. It's a wasted effort for Mr. Akers. I would have thought he could do better than this, certainly.