Hi My Name Is Ryan

Courtesy of CineVegas

By Benjamin Spacek

Monday, June 16, 2008 | 12:31 p.m.

Ryan Avery is a walking contradiction. The Phoenix native is actually in his early 20s, though he looks much younger. He sings in violent, controversial punk-rock bands that belie his Mormon background. Onstage, he is confident and gregarious, seemingly without any sense of embarrassment, while at home he is self-conscious and reserved. He is generous and thoughtful, yet simultaneously self-absorbed. A fountain of creativity pours out of him, but his talent is questionable. The only aspect of his personality that is constant is his irrepressible spirit.

The filmmakers of Hi My Name Is Ryan followed him around for two weeks, interviewing friends and family (and even an enemy) and capturing some of his numerous performances. It’s an interesting profile of a unique personality, though judging from the concert segments, not necessarily worthy of a feature-length documentary. The film is at its best (both dramatically and artistically) during the beginning and end, which feature interviews with another artist, Wayne Michael Reich, who acts as the story’s de facto antagonist. Contrasting the approaches of Ryan and Wayne prompts intriguing questions about the nature of art, leading to contrary answers.