MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO. My Own Private Idaho continued that trend (as well as Drugstore Cowboy 's depiction of street culture, trading drug addicts for male hustlers) and featured River Phoenix as a gay male prostitute. My personal opinion is that this is definitely an Art Film, somewhat temerarious. and the Rated R 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). Landmark Film for New Queer Cinema of the 1990s. The movie plays out in an almost dream-like way that's hard to describe. Drama, It's been over 20 years since he left. Everything Everywhere All At Once [Blu-ray]. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. [11] Not to be deterred, Van Sant got the idea for Reeves to personally deliver the film treatment to Phoenix at his home in Florida. The. . During his narcoleptic seizures, he dreams of his own private Idaho. My Own Private Idaho represents the shotgun marriage of two individual stories that, like Mike and Scott themselves, don't really belong together: a road movie about Mike's fruitless search . [32] For if River Phoenix was here today he would be very aware of this and be standing up for people's basic rights. New Line Cinema, Sound Mix: They find the country farmhouse where Mike's mother worked as a maid and English tutor. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. In a sense, their own lives are so elusive that what they do to the lives of others is not very meaningful. Stafford won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film Music in 1992 for his score. 'My Own Private Idaho' is a great little off-beat movie. Any would-be filmmaker can tell you how nerve-racking it is to meet with potential producers and then wait to hear back about whether they're going to make your movie. Early in his career, Kier had a cabaret actan amusing contradiction to his filmography, which has consisted mostly of serious, sinister types. Drama thrives on the weaknesses of its characters, but what can we make of a hero who suffers from narcolepsy? A quarter-century later, let's look back at the making of My Own Private Idaho and see what dreamy treasures await us. Synopsis. Things happen, the film ends, and the impression is that while the film was decent enough, it could have been better. [44], My Own Private Idaho received the Showtime International Critics Award at the 1991 Toronto Film Festival. He wrote the screenplay for and directed My Own Private Idaho, as he did with his two previous feature films. "My Own Private Idaho" is an imaginary place where one is locked in the arms of lovethat is, both protected and free. Lgbtq+. Both River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves carry strong performances in this unusual and poignant film. Overall, it's a moving story about the unrequited love of the narcoleptic hustler, Mike, for the rich young rebel, Scott. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. A couple of weeks ago I was going through some movies on my computer. Navigating a volatile world of junkies, thieves, and johns, Mike takes Scott on a quest along the grungy streets and open highways of the Pacific Northwest, in search of an elusive place called home. Phoenix arrived in Portland two weeks before principal photography was to begin to do research and Van Sant remembered, "He seemed to be changing into this character". Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2005. Oct 18, 1991 Artist Name The B-52's Tags The B-52's 1980 Log in to post comments Genres: Drama, Road Movie, New Queer Cinema, LGBTQ. [20] The campfire scene, originally just three pages,[20] was expanded by Phoenix into an eight-page scene in which Mike professes his love for Scott, thereby making the character's homosexuality obvious, as opposed to Van Sant's more ambiguous original version. This movie will be forever my favorite for River Phoenix is absolutely beautiful in it as Mike Waters, a homeless narcoleptic who's in search of his mother that abandoned him and who comes to terms with his sexuality and falls in love with his best friend, Scott Favor played by Keanu Reeves who also gives an awesome performance too as a rich man's son rebelling against his family and travelling with Mike for kicks. This story is like a stream-of-consciousness biography of the two main characters. Mike is like a holy fool or a clown, and his only real attachment is to Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves), another hustler. There's not much to the musical style of this film, but it's well worth waiting for when it does come into play, uniquely substituting original score work with many a decent, entertaining tune that livens up the flavor of this stylistically lively film, like cinematography by John Campbell and Eric Alan Edwards that, while often flat lighting and coloration, is well-toned and framed enough to help draw your eyes toward nifty visuals. Powell, Paige, and Gini Sikes. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. [10] The film's title is derived from the song "Private Idaho" by the B-52's that Van Sant heard while visiting the state in the early 1980s. Mike Waters lives on the street and befriends the somewhat older and streetwise Scott Favor who shows him what is necessary to survive. [37] Zajedno polaze na putovanje samospoznaje i shvataju da se njihov odnos usput uruava. New and Upcoming Science Fiction and Fantasy. [8] In essence, this method involves various story fragments and ideas mixed and matched together to form a unique story. Terms and Policies Along this journey, Mike confesses to Scott that he is in love with him, and Scott gently reminds Mike he only sleeps with men for money. Mike and Scott are soon reunited with Bob Pigeon, a middle-aged mentor to a gang of street kids and hustlers who live in an abandoned apartment building. 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. I loved it. [laughs softly] No. The main problem is that little is done to first establish an emotional connection to the main character. Those brief snippets where anonymous Portland street kids talk about their experiences aren't just meant to look like a documentarythey are a documentary. [6] Rechy's novel inspired Van Sant to change the setting to Portland. It's poignant at times, funny at times, and very sad at times. . He decided to send the script to the agents of Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, figuring that their agents would reject the script. Gus Van Sants groundbreaking 1991 work of New Queer Cinema, which follows the relationship between a narcoleptic haunted by feverish dreams of his past and the rebellious son of a mayor, is showing at the George Eastman Museum. I love the cameos made by actual hustlers from the streets of Portland, OR. I bought the blu-ray just to upgrade from the previous DVD edition, which has pretty much the same extras, but comes from a different transfer. There is no mechanical plot that has to grind to a Hollywood conclusion, and no contrived test for the heroes to pass. 'My Own Private Idaho' is one of those films that you will always think about and remember. Mike works as a male prostitute, and it goes without saying that narcolepsy is not an asset in his line of work. The characters have been compared by one critic to Prince Hal and Falstaff - to the errant heir and his lowlife companion. Overall, the film is either seriously underdeveloped or seriously overblown, to the point of providing both unevenness in focus and pacing, as well as tone, and a feel for certain natural shortcomings that are brought more to life by much too much overstylization, which hold the final product shy of a rewarding state that is still all but achieved, thanks to the solid soundtrack, handsome cinematography, immersive taste in location, and worthy subject matter that is driven by highlights in Gus Van Sant's scripting and direction, and by many a strong performance, - the strongest of which being courtesy of the charming Keanu Reeves and the outstanding River Phoenix - that make "My Own Private Idaho" an entertaining, often biting and all around borderline, if only borderline rewarding human drama. Do I? Composition [ edit] The B-52's are from Athens, Georgia, and never played a concert in Idaho until September 13, 2011, when they played at Eagle River Pavilion in Eagle, Idaho. [18] Scenes of the Idaho road depicted in the film were shot near Maupin, Oregon, on Oregon Route 216. One night, Bob sees Scottie entering an up-scale restaurant in fancy clothes. Because of that, the rest of the film lacks in dramatic impact. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. The result was so intriguing that he put some of that footage into the film. I had seen a handful of his movies when he was here, "Indiana Jones", "I Love You To Death", "Running On Empty" and "Sneakers". Favor comes from a rich family and is rebelling against his own background. At the end of the film, Mike is once again alone, lying unconscious on the highway. To director Gus Van Sant-You made a masterpiece in "My Own Private Idaho" with River shining his brightest, and to River Phoenix- You are the greatest River of them all and may all your tributaries spread throughout this earth and beyond. However, the fun way this film was styled & assembled, combined with the star talents of River Phoenix Good movie. My Own Private Idaho Full Movie (1991) FREEWATCH FULL MOVIE FREE! https://snagmovies.xyz/movie/tt0102494/WATCH MORE MOVIES NOW! https://www.youtube.c. 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. My Own Private Idaho depicts Mike Waters' (River Phoenix) existence, as it shows that he desires to experience fond childhood memories. So instead he made Drugstore Cowboy, about a roving band of junkies who rob pharmaciesa premise with more mainstream appeal, apparently. Reeves and others soon joined, and the place became an almost nonstop house party with jam sessions every night. Having watched the campsite scene again in My Own Private Idaho, I noticed Phoenix's body-language, and his improvisation acting skills and intonation, and i realised that he (Phoenix) was one of the greatest actors in the history of motion pictures. That's those independent film guys for you. Reeves cruel rejection obviously destroys the character played by River Phoenix. They have no concept. My Own Private Idaho - Trailer (Criterion Remaster) Sean Rawlinson 133 subscribers Subscribe 218K views 7 years ago A remastered trailer for My Own Private Idaho, directed by Gus Van Sant (Milk. Additional Sources: Interview Magazine The next day the hustlers hold a rowdy funeral for Bob, while in the same cemetery, a few yards away, Scott attends a solemn funeral for his father. 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. It is about street life and hustling, homelessness and marginalization, homosexuality, and friendship, and much more. Though Reeves sometimes struggles to immerse himself fully into the character, his screen presence is riveting. [17], Principal photography took place from November to December 1990, primarily in Portland, Seattle, and Rome. It is heartbreaking for me at the end of the movie as he's lost his love and best friend, his mother abandoned him, he's homeless and then two guys steal what he has left, his bag and his shoes while he's asleep. Coming Soon. Visually dazzling and thematically groundbreaking, My Own Private Idaho is a deeply moving look at unrequited love and life on societys margins. Among the group, Mike and Scott are best friends. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. I bought the Blu-ray version. In My Own Private Idaho, Van Sant seems to think one may be an expression of the other. On the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast some years ago, Van Sant even posited that Mike and Scott might not have sexualities in the conventional sense. Mike's search for his mother takes them all the way from Portland, Oregon to Rome, Italy. 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 Finally, Mike is back on the deserted stretch of Idaho highway. Touching Available to rent or buy Rent HD $2.99 Buy HD $9.99 More purchase Scott is the son of the mayor of Portland and is simply hustling to make his father angry, but he's about receive his inheritance. 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 discovery that takes them from Portland, Oregon, to Mike's hometown in Idaho, and then to Rome in search of Mike's mother. Gus Van Sant took a giant risk with this masterpiece about rent boys. Picture 8/10. Watch an exclusive clip of a conversation between Todd Haynes and Gus Van Sant below: Movies Interviews Evergreen Want more. Gus Van Sant, Producer: Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! For one thing, it was only 70 pages long, which would translate to about a 70-minute movie. Meanwhile, Mike yearns to find his mother, so he and Scott leave for Idaho to visit Mike's older brother, Richard. River Phoenix was an extra-ordinary actor. It can be said that Gus Van Zant is a graduate of the auteur school of filmmaking. [19] One of the film's directors of photography, Eric Alan Edwards, recalled that Phoenix "looked like a street kid", and "in a very raw way he wore that role. The film was a moderate financial success, grossing over $8 million, above its estimated budget of $2.5 million. They are emotional opposites drawn together, yet destined to part. My Own Private Idaho was the result of three projects coming together. Some will embrace this film , some will not, to see it or not can only be a personal choice. Who am Ia politician? (Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea was a cast member, after all; he and Reeves played bass while Phoenix played a guitar he picked up at a Portland music shop.) Mike's narcolepsy kicks in and he's . Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2012. Style isn't the only thing placed over focus in this film, as filler all too often claims the focus of the narrative, thinning it, until storytelling slips into bland aimlessness that would be less frustrating if all of this bloating didn't eventually lead to unevenness. Trailer. When professional actors got involved, Parker was relegated to the ensemble (he plays a hustler named Digger), but he continued to help Phoenix research the role and understand the character. Mike (River Phoenix), a teenage hustler given to bouts of narcolepsy, and Scott (Keanu Reeves), a slumming preppy prince, are huddled over a campfire. In the script, Van Sant made the Scott character a rich kid, also fashioned after street hustlers Van Sant had met in Portland. River Phoenix (Stand by Me) and Keanu Reeves (The Matrix) star in this haunting tale from Gus Van Sant (Mala Noche), about two young street hustlers: Mike Waters, a sensitive narcoleptic who dreams of the mother who abandoned him, and Scott Favor, the wayward son of the mayor of Portland and the object of Mikes desire. "Across The Way" performed by River's band, Aleka's Attic is a masterpiece. My Own Private Idaho (1991) Rated R For Strong Sensuality, Profanity and Drug Use 105 minutes Cast Rodney Harvey as Gary River Phoenix as Mike Waters Chiara Caselli as Carmella William Richert as Bob Pigeon Keanu Reeves as Scott Favor James Russo as Richard Waters Produced by Laurie Parker Photographed by Eric Alan Edwards John Campbell Music by Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy . I love the cameos made by actual hustlers from the streets of Portland, OR. As a bonus, heres Kier performing the same song on television in 1985. Purchase My Own Private Idaho on digital and stream instantly or download offline. The performances from River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves are simply outstanding and the simple message the. After getting some attention with his micro-budget debut, Mala Noche, Van Sant wanted to make My Own Private Idaho next. The road is both a refuge and a prison in My Own Private Idaho, the seminal 1991 drama by director Gus Van Sant. It got to be such a party, in fact, that Van Sant moved out of his own house and stayed in an apartment downtown. Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022. For Strong Sensuality, Profanity and Drug Use, Ebertfest Welcomes Molly Cornyn as its New Project Coordinator, Starz's Blindspotting Returns to Stake Claim to Television's Top Tier, The Towering Fear: Makoto Shinkai on Suzume, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Figures It Out in Smart Final Season. [16] Producer Laurie Parker shopped the script around and, at the time, New Line Cinema was in the process of branching out into producing arthouse films and decided to back Van Sant's vision with a $2.5 million budget. 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. 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. My Own Private Idaho ending got a lot of viewers wondering what it actually meant. With the money they receive from Hans, Mike and Scott travel to Italy. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Just confirm how you got your ticket. 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