Find the cheapest option or how to watch with a free trial. (Parker wasn't narcoleptic, though another friend of Van Sant's was.) IT'S A COMBINATION OF THREE STORIES, INCLUDING ONE BASED ON SHAKESPEARE.. William Richert was a writer and director who'd made A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, in which Phoenix played the title character. Thus, existence is the accumulation of what the parents have provided for their beloved child. Touching Available to rent or buy Rent HD $2.99 Buy HD $9.99 More purchase One aspect of 'My Own Private Idaho" that I thought was interesting was its use of Shakespeare's Henry IV (I think, but i could be wrong), with Keanu Reeves taking the role of the dissolute Prince Hal, who at the end of the film rejects his prostitute friends to emerge like 'the sun, as if from behind clouds' in order to properly inherit his father's kingdom. Uloge: River Phoenix , Keanu Reeves , James Russo , William Richert , Rodney Harvey , Chiara Caselli , Michael Parker , Jessie Thomas , Flea . I can't believe that Gus Van Sant didn't make this "My Own Private Oregon" or something which isn't to say that there isn't a point in which the leads end up in Portland somewhere along the way. By creating an account, you agree to the Visually dazzling and thematically groundbreaking, My Own Private Idaho is a deeply moving look at unrequited love and life on societys margins. Cinemark I had forgotten how much I loved him. Directed by: Gus Van Sant. Here is a movie about lowlife sexual outlaws, and yet they remind us of works by Shakespeare or Dostoyevsky, not William Burroughs or Andy Warhol. The way Van Sant wrote it, the scene where Mike and Scott sit around a campfire in the desert, where Mike confesses his love for Scott, was a three-page scene with no such declaration. On the 25th anniversary of its release, it reminds us of the risks. To add the following enhancements to your purchase, choose a different seller. Before Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester; before the ill-advised Psycho remake and the experimental Gerry; before the movies about Harvey Milk and Kurt Cobain, Portland-based indie auteur Gus Van Sant made My Own Private Idaho, an avant-garde drama starring River Phoenix as a narcoleptic gay hustler and Keanu Reeves as his friend and co-worker. Free standard shipping with $35 orders. Shoot, you can keep your potatoes and wolves, because if I was to privatize my own state, I don't know if I would go with Idaho, although it is better than Iowa. Reeves cruel rejection obviously destroys the character played by River Phoenix. Hans, the odd German man with the intense blue eyes who cavorts with Mike and Scott, was played by Udo Kier, a veteran actor who had about 60 movie credits under his belt then and has added another 60 since. Again he is looking into the lives of outlaws on the road. I bought the Blu-ray version. Then Keanu and I refined it, worked on it, but it was all done quickly. [12], Van Sant faced the problem of casting the two central roles. It got to be such a party, in fact, that Van Sant moved out of his own house and stayed in an apartment downtown. Drama, Because of that, the rest of the film lacks in dramatic impact. . Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way. Not only did Phoenix interview real hustlers (videos are online), but according to friends, he experimented with hard drugs and even dabbled in same-sex shenanigans. Scott grew up in a house of privilege as the son of the current Portland mayor, with his street life a manifestation of the rebellion against the oppression of that privilege. In 1988, while editing Mala Noche, Van Sant met street kid Michael Parker, who inspired the character of Mike in My Own Private Idaho. Now, that's as far as I remember, and that shouldn't hold you back from getting this little gem of early 90s cinema. William Shakespeare, My Own Private Idaho depicts Mike Waters' (River Phoenix) existence, as it shows that he desires to experience fond childhood memories. The. Please use a different way to share. [11] In a 2012 interview, Kiefer Sutherland said that he declined Van Sant's offer to star in the lead role because he wanted to go skiing, a decision he has said he regrets. Outstanding film! Criterion upgrades their previous DVD edition of Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho to Blu-ray, presenting the film in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1 on a dual-layer disc (it was presented in 1.78:1 on the DVD). [47] Phoenix was the Best Actor runner-up in the 1991 New York Film Critics Circle awards and received the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead and National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor, becoming the second-youngest winner of the former. 2.75/5 - Decent. "My Own Private Idaho" is an imaginary place where one is locked in the arms of lovethat is, both protected and free. The characters have been compared by one critic to Prince Hal and Falstaff - to the errant heir and his lowlife companion. My Own Private Idaho -the title reportedly came from a song by the rock band the B-52s-was nominated for six. Really, I can't figure out what this film is going for a lot of the time, for although this film is mighty decent, even with its being about men's lack of decency, it's hard to get a grip on anything about it, including its characters' depths. He sketches a world where sexuality is less a characteristic and more a tool for getting by. The performances from River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves are simply outstanding and the simple message the. My personal opinion is that this is definitely an Art Film, somewhat temerarious. IT FEATURES A PERSON PRETENDING TO BE A STATUE. We meet Mike (River Phoenix), a drifter and a hustler, who stands on the side of a long road, contemplating its beauty and considering whether he's ever been down this path before. Drama thrives on the weaknesses of its characters, but what can we make of a hero who suffers from narcolepsy? My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 American independent adventure drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V. The story follows two friends, Mike Waters and Scott Favor, played by River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves respectively, as they embark on a journey of personal . 1991, 104 min Country: US Studio : Criterion Cast: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Udo Kier, William Richert, James Russo, Flea, Rodney Harvey, Grace Zabriskie, Chiara Caselli Director: Gus Van Sant. Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head: Season 2, Link to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 5, Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Link to RT25: Celebrating 25 Years of Rotten Tomatoes, Link to Betty Gilpin & Co. on Deciphering. Scott's father dies, and Scott inherits his fortune. [23] Some New Line executives disliked the Shakespeare scenes and wanted Van Sant to cut them, but foreign distributors wanted as much Shakespeare in the film as possible.[24]. Phoenix received several awards for his performance in the film, including the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1991 Venice Film Festival, Best Male Lead from the Independent Spirit Awards, and Best Actor from the National Society of Film Critics. The stag statue is somewhere else in Portland, and it's only the stagthe rider we see in the movie is not a statue, but a crew member in makeup! Early in his career, Kier had a cabaret actan amusing contradiction to his filmography, which has consisted mostly of serious, sinister types. Mike works as a male prostitute, and it goes without saying that narcolepsy is not an asset in his line of work. Expect More. Scott, the son of the mayor of Portland, confides to Bob that when he turns 21, he will inherit his father's fortune and retire from street hustling. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant. Ultra-Stereo, Stereo, Surround, On DVD This Week: Magic Mike XXL, Insidious: Chapter 3, And More, RT Interview: Gus van Sant and Dustin Lance Black on Milk, RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes. Picture 8/10. The risks paid off. age 17+. It's the first and far from the last offbeat touch in Van Sant's film. Winning three, it tied with Rambling Rose for the most awards.[50]. and the The film was part of a new wave of gay cinema, and it added to Phoenix's burgeoning reputation as a sensitive, brooding actor, made all the more tragic by his sudden death two years later. Coming Soon. Get info about new releases, sales, and our online publication, Current. My Own Private Idaho originated from John Rechy's 1963 novel City of Night, which featured street hustlers who did not admit to being gay. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and "My Own Private Idaho"(1991) is directed by Gus Van Sant(Drugstore Cowboy, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester). But then there is a glimmer of hope. When I had first watched the film My Own Private Idaho (1991), I was unaware of the specific references to Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V. Categorized and hyped as a queer-road-western film by the press, the Shakespearean element was largely overlooked in favor of the then-shocking reality that beloved teen heartthrob and Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. He didn't pare it down. For another thing, he wrote it in a poetic, non-standard typographical formatwords down the middle of the page, random capitalization, etc. Life centers around who you get a ride from, where you spend the night, how much money you have in your pocket. You're almost there! My Own Private Idaho (1991) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Gus Van Sant Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Music by Bill Stafford Cinematography by Film Editing by Curtiss Clayton Production Design by David Brisbin Art Direction by Kenneth Hardy Set Decoration by I'm a musician myself and understand his passion for music. There are no "kings" or "princes," but there are politicians and their children; here Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the son of politician Jack Favor (Tom Troupe), the modern day versions of Prince Hal and King Henry IV . The third element was a short story Van Sant wrote called "In a Blue Funk," about the River Phoenix character being picked up by a German man and kept in a house. Lgbtq+, Original Language: I also thank his parents so much for his upbringing and making him aware of these things. Some will embrace this film , some will not, to see it or not can only be a personal choice. I've never seen anybody so intent on living his role". It came in perfect packaging and even includes a really neat booklet with Interviews, Reviews and some of the Script. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2012. Van Sant's script is something of a mess with its overstylized structuring which thins down exposition and bloats filler to the point of serious focal unevenness, but its wit gets it by a long way on the back of sharp, sometimes pseudo-Shakespearean dialogue, and certain genuinely thoughtful moments in characterization and dramatic set piece crafting, sold by direction that is just as effectively thoughtful. He had the magazine covers mocked up on large panels of Plexiglass, then had the actors stand behind them. In his review for Newsweek, David Ansen praised Phoenix's performance: "The campfire scene in which Mike awkwardly declares his unrequited love for Scott is a marvel of delicacy. Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer, RT25: Celebrating 25 Years of Rotten Tomatoes, Betty Gilpin & Co. on Deciphering Mrs. Davis, Weekend Box Office Results: Super Mario Sets Record in Its Second Weekend, A tantalizing glimpse of a talented director and his stars all at the top of their respective games, Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV is smart, sad and audacious. [27] The film was released in limited theaters in the United States on September 29, 1991. My Own Private Idaho. "[35] Hal Hinson of The Washington Post wrote, "Gus Van Sant's sensibility is wholly original, wholly fresh. Be the first to contribute. Gus Van Sant, Release Date (Theaters): I 've never seen anybody so intent on living his role '' parents much., it reminds us of the film was released in limited theaters in United. 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