Gone, But Not Forgotten (2003)

In this 'riveting mystery-romance', two men’s lives intersect and become one through a meeting of pure chance. Drew, a small town forest ranger rescues Mark, an injured hiker suffering from amnesia. As he recovers, he and Drew form a close friendship that slowly grows into something much more. Unfortunately, their time together is cut short when the hiker's old life comes back to reclaim him. A sexy and intriguing love story, Gone But Not Forgotten is a film not to miss.

I can't get enough of this movie!

From the reviews and basic plot synopses I'd read, I was already pretty sure I'd like this movie. What I didn't expect was to fall completely in love with it. I'm absolutely enchanted by the wonderful story, and characters I really care about. With his very first scene, Aaron Orr draws me to his character, and throughout the movie, proceeds to make me laugh with and cry for Drew. His chemistry with Matthew Montgomery is nothing short of electric, and the two of them easily make me forget that Drew and Mark are only characters on the screen.

The less polished production quality is one of the things I love most, and every time I watch it, I'm so happy with this little gem, created by the talented writers, cast and crew with such a tight budget.

"Gone, But Not Forgotten" is like a gift, and I'm recommending it to everyone I know!
March 12, 2008

Wonderful!

It isn't often these days that a movie fulfills all my requirements as a viewer. Gone, But Not Forgotten did, leaving me satisfied and happy after watching this fantastic movie. Recommended by a friend, it isn't the type of genre I would normally watch. I decided to persevere, as I'm disillusioned with most of the movies that are made these days.

Captivated from the beginning with the character of Drew and the intrigue surrounding Mark I eagerly awaited the story to unfold. By the end of movie I was astounded that the story had consisted of intrigue, drama, comedy, angst, sexuality, death and love all interwoven by amazing storytelling.

The comedic touches are based on simple life events and had me laughing out loud. The romantic scenes are beautifully done. A strong emotional scene had me in tears, it was heart breaking. The attention to detail to tie everything together at the end is perfect.

The scenery and setting is gorgeous. The fact that the movie was made on a really small budget is astounding. It goes to show that if you have a good story and dedicated movie makers then millions of dollars are not necessary.

The only bad thing about this movie is that is had to end.

I've watched this movie a few times and will continue to do so as it makes me happy.

March 11, 2008

Surmounting the low-budget obstacle, to tell a great story

This is definitely a film which should inspire film makers with low budgets to rise above those limitations to tell a great story. The two leads give amazingly nuanced performances. The screenplay didn't give either of these characters unbelievable dialogue which I think is the greatest accomplishment of this film. I didn't quite believe the Mark and Catherine marriage scenes, but they don't hurt the film overall. Aaron Orr and Matthew Montgomery do a great job and their chemistry on screen carries the film.
I look forward to more from Michael D. Akers.

Joe January 22, 2008

Probably Best Forgotten

This movie is not as good as some reviewers would have you believe. But it's also not as bad as some would have you believe. It's not as good because: the acting is as bad -- with a few exceptions -- as most have noted. The script is pretty lame. "Hello? General Hospital called. They want their dialog back." The set decorator/production designer should be taken out and beaten because the interior of Drew's house is just plain ugly and there's no computer in the barren `Forest Service' office! There are too many lapses in logic. Examples: They didn't bother to cook the "rabbit stew" after Mark added the vegetables. And it was an unforgivable breach of doctor-patient confidentiality for kindly Dr. Williams to tell Mark that Drew was gay. "Cute" actors and Happily Ever After endings do not score extra points in my book. On the other hand, this movie is not as bad because: the plot is certainly different. The exterior shots are gorgeous. I liked the original music. And the woman who played Dr. Williams and the man who played Drew's brother both did pretty well. Watch it and judge for yourself. One last thought: wonder why so much of the `art' was pixilated or blurred? November 10, 2007

Not perfect, but greatly enjoyable

This film is very enjoyable. One of the things that I like about low-budget independent film is that the acting isn't so polished. In real life, when things aren't going perfectly well, people are awkward. I found the dynamic between Mark and Drew very believable; especially Mark's Touch-me, WAIT, go away, No Please Touch me reaction to Drew.

About the sex scene: I find a compelling quality about it that one seldom finds in film. In some ways it had an intensity similar to the Voilet and Corky love scene in Bound. The director saught to provide a sex scene that gave a valid portrayal of male sexuality, without resorting to pornography. He accomplished that goal quite well. September 29, 2007

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