Search - Arizona Sky on DVD

A Gay Love Story that does not depend on Sex Scenes!!

Music2424 | Studio Ctiy, CA USA | 12/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie proves once and for all that not every gay love story on film depends on sex scenes to keep the audience interested... this one certainly does not. It's the love between the two lead characters that comes first and foremost. Like some other viewers here, however, I found this film, at times, to be a series of some contradictions... a couple scenes are indeed a bit long in the tooth in regard to dialog and a couple supporting characters weren't really needed for the most part ...or their scenes, at the very least, did not need to be quite as long. However, there is one scene and one performance in particular that for whatever reason rang absolutely true in my heart and head and left me in tears. When the adult actor Eric Dean (Jake) tells his childhood friend, Kyle (James McCabe), that he still loves him, and that he has always loved him, I have rarely seen a performance that hit home with that kind of heartfelt veracity. Please do not miss this film for that one scene alone!!"

Slightly overdone tale of unrequitted love revisited

Bob Lind | Phoenix, AZ United States | 11/16/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Two teenagers, Jake and Kyle, camping out under the rural "Arizona Sky" (2008), realize what they feel for each other is much more than "best buddies." But Jake's father is forcing him to move away the next day, and Kyle is afraid of others finding out about their relationship, so they never get the chance to express their love physically.

Fast forward fifteen years, and Jake is a successful filmmaker in Hollywood, a job that has more than its share of 24/7 pressure. The job's demanding nature actually made it easier for him to excuse the fact that he had no social life, and is, indeed, still aching over the unrequitted love for Kyle. At the urging of his straight best friend and roommate, they take a week off and go back to visit Jake's home town, and he looks up Kyle, who still lives in that town. Does Kyle still feel the same way, and is there any chance they can pick up where they left off so many years ago?

Director Jeff London is known for these overdone syrup-sweet gay romances, and this is better than most, including some great casting. The young actors who play the leads as teens have a real chemistry, and actually resemble Eric Dean (Jake) and Jayme McCabe (Kyle) who play them as adults. The supporting cast is also excellent, but all suffer a bit from the heavy-handed direction. The sound is a bit strange, as the microphones seem to be switched on to capture a line, then turned off immediately, so background noise comes and goes with it. DVD has director/actor commentary and chapter stops only. Overall, it is a pleasant film, and I'd give it four stars out of five."

Strong Story, Great Actors, a little flat in execution

Erik W. Kieser | Santa Clara, CA | 11/28/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First off, I loved this story. Great idea, some very good writing, and two actors who are clearly both skilled in their craft and who worked hard to execute the story's goals. It also shines in the slow, methodical way it develops, and the time the writer/director is willing to take to let ideas and interactions develop. Moving and heart-felt.

That being said, the film needed a little more editing, and perhaps a couple of scenes needed more time to gel/come together. Sometimes the actors are spot-on, and sometimes the scenes feel rough-hewn - like they needed more time to hit the right tone/cadence.

Definitely a B+, and a keeper. Looking forward to the next work by this writer/director. And off to look for other work by both actors."

Blatant Feel-good Movie

Leopold Heimburger | Armadale, Victoria, Australia | 12/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a blatant feel-good movie. At the end of the third-last scene I skipped the Kleenex tissues and advanced immediately to the kitchen paper towels. (But then, I also cried at the end of every episode of the "Waltons".) Beware watching this movie alone, you will be reaching for the Kleenex."