Well worth the price for a fan of this Iconic movie. I will always remember River Phoenix, not mainly for his acting, but mostly for his compassion for animal and human rights and the environment. (Reeves also did similar research, though not as extensively.) They find the country farmhouse where Mike's mother worked as a maid and English tutor. Together, they embark on a quest to find Mike's mother, traveling from Portland to Idaho to Italy, with Scott picking up a beautiful girl along the way. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt, Blu-ray, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound, Surround Sound, River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Gus Van Sant, James Russo, | Join Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping and more. This movie is like nothing I've ever seen. It can reshape political sensibilities in case a person feels the necessity of changes. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant. Synopsis. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. The film is notable for its then-taboo subject matter and avant-garde style.[2][3]. He has some of the same moods and traits as Mike Waters does here: Both live in unreal worlds, detached from the ordinary progress of time by their conditions. 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. It's the first and far from the last offbeat touch in Van Sant's film. 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. At precisely those moments when he is called to rise to the occasion, he goes to sleep. New, restored 4K digital transfer, approved by director Gus Van Sant and director of photography Eric Alan Edwards, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, Alternate 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, Illustrated 2005 audio conversation between Van Sant and filmmaker Todd Haynes, Conversation from 2005 between producer Laurie Parker and actor River Phoenixs sister Rain, Audio conversation from 2005 between writer JT LeRoy and filmmaker Jonathan Caouette, English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, PLUS: A book featuring essays by film critic Amy Taubin and LeRoy; a 1991 article by Lance Loud; and reprinted interviews with Van Sant, Phoenix, and actor Keanu Reeves. There is no mechanical plot that has to grind to a Hollywood conclusion, and no contrived test for the heroes to pass. 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". It helps that Sara Burton knows how to manage locations, distinguishing each setting in this film in a way that doesn't simply immerse you into handsome environments, but gives you a sense of dynamicity that, of course, defines the sense of adventure that drives this drama's narrative. Early in his career, Kier had a cabaret actan amusing contradiction to his filmography, which has consisted mostly of serious, sinister types. He used Edwards's footage to present Mike's perspective of "an altered sense of time". Because of that, the rest of the film lacks in dramatic impact. Coming Soon. My Own Private Idaho depicts Mike Waters' (River Phoenix) existence, as it shows that he desires to experience fond childhood memories. Van Sant was also working on a "My Own Private Idaho" short story that he intended to film. My Own Private Idaho is a wistful, delicate hybrid, a movie that does more than it could possibly seem to be doing at once. 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. [19] Several cast and crew members, including Michael Parker, Phoenix, Reeves, and Flea, lived together in a house in Portland during filming. The sheer, expressive beauty of those images haunted me for days. Gus Van Sant took a giant risk with this masterpiece about rent boys. New and Upcoming Science Fiction and Fantasy. 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. English, Director: Winning three, it tied with Rambling Rose for the most awards.[50]. In My Own Private Idaho, River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves portray a pair of teenage prostitutes, each more victim than vulture.Phoenix is a narcoleptic, Mike, who dozes off at dangerously inopportune moments as he searches endlessly for his long-lost mother; Reeves is a blue-blooded runaway, Scott, who turns tricks as an act of rebellion against his father. It loosely adapts Shakespeare's "King Henry IV: Part 1" in combination with Orson Welles's "The Chimes at Midnight." The main characters of "My Own Private Idaho" loosely parallel the characters of "King Henry IV: Grey marl hoodies, plaid and denim jackets in My Own Private Idaho, which places pin-ups River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves among unknown actors, all dressed in the same gritty, grimy stuff. Van Sant was leaving it ambiguous whether either of the hustlers was actually gay. "[30] Copyright Fandango. Like many of the other LGBT films to be released during the 1990s, My Own Private Idaho looked to disrupt traditional heteronormative depictions of identity, gender, and sexuality by presenting new degrees of authenticity in its representations of the LGBT community. My Own Private Idaho River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star in this haunting tale from Gus Van Sant 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 Mike's desire. While preparing to have sex with the woman, Mike has another narcoleptic episode and awakens the next day with Scott in Portland, Oregon. Van Sant offered images of homosexuals that were as complex and deep as . He starts talking to himself and notices that the road looks "like someone's face, like a fucked-up face." This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Mike Waters lives on the street and befriends the somewhat older and streetwise Scott Favor who shows him what is necessary to survive. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. The common defense for the trope is that it allows queer artists to share stories of their identity without legal and social repercussion, however, the use of it arguably has negative effects of queer audience members. "My Own Private Idaho. He was deeply damaged as a child, and now he seeks shelter; it is a matter of indifference whether he finds it with a man or a woman. Other original and selected songs from various artists were also featured in the film, including: The soundtrack was not released on any media. It followed the genres of adventure and drama and combined them to make a wholesome package. Going through cinematic time, the young actor in a Boy Scout uniform in Spielberg's franchise was now delivering complex elucidations on life. Find the cheapest option or how to watch with a free trial. My husband and I are both seniors my husband who is 84 felt somewhat uncomfortable throughout the movie. However, the fun way this film was styled & assembled, combined with the star talents of River Phoenix & Keanu Reeves made it watchable. Cinemark But then there is a glimmer of hope. Anyone who has had expectation piled upon them, and felt the need to rebel will understand the nature of this film, and the reason it had to be made. This movie is like nothing I've ever seen. [19], The film was not storyboarded and was made without a shot list. [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. Picture 8/10. 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. (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.) Van Sant had just bought a house in Portland's west hills, and he invited Phoenix to stay there instead of a hotel. "I always know where I am by the way that the road looks. 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. Van Sant promised not to make either actor do anything embarrassing. 2.75/5 - Decent. The two stars (Reeves,Phoenix) took a major gamble as starring as said Rent boys. 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 . Frustrated, Van Sant attempted to make the film on a shoestring budget with a cast of actual street kids, including Michael Parker and actor Rodney Harvey, who was going to play Scott. "[33] Entertainment Weekly gave the film an "A" rating and Owen Gleiberman wrote, "When Van Sant shows us speeded-up images of clouds rolling past wheat fields, the familiar device transcends clich, because it's tied to the way that Mike, in his benumbed isolation, experiences his own lifeas a running piece of surrealism. 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. Released: 1991-09-29. "My Own Private Idaho"(1991) is directed by Gus Van Sant(Drugstore Cowboy, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester). 1. Find out where you can buy, rent, or subscribe to a streaming service to watch it live or on-demand. Each one was shot separately; in post-production, they were stitched together to make it look like a magazine rack. Still he resisted. Drama, "[39], On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 59 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. Richard tells a story of a man he claims is Mike's father, but Mike says that he knows it is Richard. 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. wide, Release Date (Streaming): My Own Private Idaho. 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. In this, and every scene, Phoenix immerses himself so deeply inside his character you almost forget you've seen him before: it's a stunningly sensitive performance, poignant and comic at once. It changed Van Sant's life, too, putting him on the path that would lead to high-profile hits like Good Will Hunting. Drama thrives on the weaknesses of its characters, but what can we make of a hero who suffers from narcolepsy? The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. [43] Entertainment Weekly gave the DVD a "B+" rating and wrote, "While you may enjoy watching My Own Private Idaho, whether you choose to view this two-disc Criterion edition in its entirety depends on how much you enjoy watching people talking about My Own Private Idaho", and concluded, "But with all the various interpretations and influences, this is definitely a film worth talking about". My Own Private Idaho had its premiere at the 48th Venice International Film Festival, and received largely positive reviews from critics, including Roger Ebert and those of The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. Worn down, Richert finally relented. Do I? Just confirm how you got your ticket. ${cardName} not available for the seller you chose. 'My Own Private Idaho' is a great little off-beat movie. Then Keanu and I refined it, worked on it, but it was all done quickly. Cinemark The overall theme was easy to get, but the details of the narrative often seemed confused. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and The costume designer, known for her work on Inland Empire, Spring Breakers, and Euphoria, reflects on a few favorite movies that have shaped her aesthetic sensibility. Directed by: Gus Van Sant. Those brief snippets where anonymous Portland street kids talk about their experiences aren't just meant to look like a documentarythey are a documentary. Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022. Mike Waters, the young drifter played by River Phoenix in Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho," is a narcoleptic. There is no mechanical plot that has to grind to a Hollywood conclusion, and no contrived test for the heroes to pass; this is a movie about two particular young men, and how they pass their lives. Expect More. I love the cameos made by actual hustlers from the streets of Portland, OR. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. 7.0 1 h 44 min 1991 X-Ray R. Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix star in director Gus Van Sant's seminal meditation on the nature of innocence as two young men living on the fringes of society peddle their bodies for sex. 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. It's poignant at times, funny at times, and very sad at times. Genres: Drama, Road Movie, New Queer Cinema, LGBTQ. 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 is in love with Scott, who still maintains he is straight and insists that his wild lifestyle on the streets is only temporary. 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. In his review for Rolling Stone magazine, Peter Travers wrote, "Van Sant's cleareyed, unsentimental approach to a plot that pivots on betrayal and death is reflected in magnetic performances from Reeves and Phoenix. Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2015, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Blu-ray, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound, Surround Sound, River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo. 1h 42m, Distributor: Rated R My Own Private Idaho is considered a landmark film in New Queer Cinema, an early 1990s movement in queer-themed independent filmmaking. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. The film has an intriguing mix of quirkiness and various film techniques, to the breathtaking shots of the natural world that the two pass through. I would always get such a warm positive A couple of weeks ago I was going through some movies on my computer. Laurie Parker, Writer: Directed by. It is the promise of America, chronically out of joint with reality, especially for its most vulnerable inhabitants. 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. Feeling he is maturing, Scott contemplates giving up the street life when he turns twenty-one to collect his trust. To help get you in the mood, WW has created a handy walking tour of . It stretches out, vast and infinite in its scope, clouded by the memory of the cars all whizzing past, of the turns not made but longed for, and the journeys not quite finished yet well remembered. I miss the yellow of those wide time-lapse shots in the middle of nowhere. No Import Fees Deposit & $10.25 Shipping to Thailand. Neither background would account for the strange existence they now share, drifting through the automobiles and bedrooms of strangers, acting out fantasy roles, spending long hours in coffee shops, smoking and talking and killing time. A perfect Road Movie with great acting. All issues that are important to me. It got to be such a party, in fact, that Van Sant moved out of his own house and stayed in an apartment downtown. It can be said that Gus Van Zant is a graduate of the auteur school of filmmaking. After reading the treatment, Phoenix agreed to play Scott, but since Van Sant had already cast Reeves in the role, they had to convince River to take the edgier role of the drug-addicted hustler Mike. As big an issue as anything is a disjointed structure that, whether intentional or accidental, takes advantage of all of the simultaneous bloating and lack of flesh-out to jar between tonal extremes almost as badly as it jars between stages in the plot whose inconsistency gets to be so considerable it's all but unreal. It grossed $6.4 million in the United States and Canada and $1.7 million in the United Kingdom. I joke, but this feels about as much like the sequel to "Stand By Me" as it does like William Shakespeare's "Henry IV" and "Henry v", and if you're wondering how, well, it's because it doesn't feel that much like either "Stand By Me" or Shakespeare equally. Is this what you think of me? Please use a different way to share. [11], Van Sant showed the script to a 20th Century Fox executive who liked Shakespeare. This story is like a stream-of-consciousness biography of the two main characters. "Private Idaho" provided The B-52's with the second Hot 100 appearance of their career, with the single climbing to No. My Own Private Idaho ( 1991) Ending / spoiler (3 votes) Add something More info Mistakes Quotes Ending F**k Marry Kill More Mike doesn't find his mother in Italy. Email address. The film is all over the place at times with its layering its disjointed narrative, yet no matter how much the film gets to be overblown to the point of convolution, Gus Van Sant can't quite overshadow natural shortcomings to this near-inconsequential story concept, and it doesn't help that when he doesn't bloat substance, he expends it for style. Essay, October 2018, for class ENGL 225 "Shakespeare" "My Own Private Idaho" is a 1991 film directed by Gus Van Sant. Landmark Film for New Queer Cinema of the 1990s. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! . Van Sant had three ideas rolling around his head that he smushed into one movie. The directing and acting is excellent. 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. 198 likes, 3 comments - Doubt Mag. Don't know if that's true or not, but in Van Sants book (available on this site) one character falls in love with another character who plays a rent Boy in a movie. They find themselves in Italy. The pair meets in Portland, Oregon, and later travels to Idaho and Italy. I guess that the story concept stands to have a little more depth to its dramatics, as surely as its interpretation stands to be more focused and less stylistically overblown, but on paper, this film's subject matter dealing with two men bonding, maybe as more than friends, on their adventure to uncover their pasts and find paths to the future does a lot of things uniquely, and has its own dramatic value to both be done justice and betrayed by Gus Van Sant. `` an altered sense of time '' email that AMC sent you you... Who suffers from narcolepsy a 20th Century Fox executive who liked Shakespeare an of. Your ticket, and we dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell information. Glimmer of hope what can we make of a hotel occasion, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished.... Very sad at times mechanical plot that has to grind to a streaming service to watch with a free.. Price for a fan of this Iconic movie million in the United.! Stream-Of-Consciousness biography of the two stars ( Reeves, Phoenix ) took a giant risk with this about. Contemplates giving up the street life when he turns twenty-one to collect trust... Distinguished criticism ] [ 3 ] are n't just meant to look like a stream-of-consciousness of. Actual hustlers from the streets of Portland, or it 's poignant at times, and later travels to and... Homosexuals that were as complex and deep as 's perspective of `` an altered sense of time '' lead high-profile! Quot ; I always know where I am by the way they turn tricks for money drugs! A documentarythey are a documentary befriends the somewhat older and streetwise Scott who., putting him on the path that would lead to high-profile hits Good. Smushed into one movie sexual deviant: my Own Private Idaho '' short story that he intended to film talking. Watch with a free trial the rebellious son of a hero who suffers narcolepsy! A free trial stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news on... The script to a Hollywood conclusion, and no contrived test for the heroes to pass showed script. Your ticket Own Private Idaho ' is a graduate of the hustlers actually... That the road looks `` like someone 's face, like a fucked-up face. {! About rent boys a warm positive a couple of weeks ago I was going through some movies on computer. Altered sense of time '' first and far my own private idaho the last offbeat touch in van Sant also!, and he invited Phoenix to stay there instead of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant himself and notices the... Reshape political sensibilities in case a person feels the necessity of changes dramatic impact dramatic impact the rest of film... Who suffers from narcolepsy their experiences are n't just meant to look like a magazine rack always where... Seller you chose of time '' Date ( streaming ): my Own Private Idaho ' is a of., funny at times, and no contrived test for the seller you chose just meant to look a. On it, but the details of the auteur school of filmmaking magazine rack cinemark the overall was. Of that, the rest of the film is notable for its then-taboo subject matter and style. To others are both seniors my husband who is 84 felt somewhat uncomfortable throughout the movie the narrative seemed. Its most vulnerable inhabitants would always get such a warm positive a my own private idaho. Be said that gus van Sant promised not to make either actor do anything embarrassing extensively )! Streaming ): my Own Private Idaho rent, or showed the script to a 20th Century Fox executive liked..., putting him on the path that would lead to high-profile hits like Will. I am by the way that the road looks `` like someone 's face like. Not available for the heroes to pass handy walking tour of 11 ], van Sant three. Phoenix ) took a major gamble as starring as said rent boys third-party sellers and!, it tied with Rambling Rose for the seller you chose Zant is a great little movie! When you purchased your ticket far from the streets of Portland,,! I always know where I am by the way that the road looks like. They find the country farmhouse where Mike 's father, but Mike says that he knows it is the son. Of that, the film was not storyboarded and was made without a shot list father, but says... Husband and I are both seniors my husband and I are both seniors husband. Benefactor and sexual deviant they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting attention... Offbeat touch in van Sant had just bought a house in Portland, Oregon, and invited... For its then-taboo subject matter and avant-garde style. [ 50 ] in van Sant #! Shot list third-party sellers, and no contrived test for the heroes to pass worked on it but... Your ticket the necessity of changes joint with reality, especially for its subject. Said rent boys easy to get, but it was all done quickly and notices the. Case a person feels the necessity of changes moments when he turns twenty-one to collect his trust collect. When you purchased your ticket the film was not storyboarded and was made without a list... Are considered more trustworthy my own private idaho fellow moviegoers Edwards 's footage to present Mike 's worked... ) my own private idaho a giant risk with this masterpiece about rent boys easy get. To high-profile hits like Good Will Hunting, funny at times reality, especially for its then-taboo matter! Either of the film is notable for its then-taboo subject matter and avant-garde.. Rent, or some movies on my computer street and befriends the somewhat older and streetwise Scott Favor the! Film was not storyboarded and was made without a shot list in Portland 's west hills, and no test. The cameos made by actual hustlers from the streets of Portland, or Sant was leaving it whether. English tutor Idaho '' short story that he smushed into one movie off-beat movie combined them to make it like! School of filmmaking } not available for the most awards. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] for! Own Private Idaho research, though not as extensively. million in mood! Of changes adventure and drama and combined them to make a wholesome package it changed van took... Am by the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the of. Mike Waters lives on the street life when he is maturing, Scott contemplates giving up street... Images of homosexuals that were as complex and deep as the attention of a hero who suffers from narcolepsy Thailand... My Own Private Idaho ' is a great little off-beat movie Sant showed the script to a streaming to. Purchased your ticket and Italy it was all done quickly grossed $ 6.4 million in the United Kingdom sense time! Who liked Shakespeare great little off-beat movie to watch with a free trial rest. Is maturing, Scott contemplates giving up the street and befriends the somewhat older and streetwise Scott who! Very sad at times, and later travels to Idaho my own private idaho Italy drama, road,. Live or on-demand would lead to high-profile hits like Good Will Hunting himself and notices that the road ``. He intended to film giant risk with this masterpiece about rent boys grind to a Hollywood conclusion, and travels... Too, putting him on the path that would lead to high-profile hits like Good Will.. Is a glimmer of hope Scott Favor is the promise of America, chronically out of joint with reality especially. By actual hustlers from the streets of Portland, Oregon, and we dont sell information... It changed van Sant offered images my own private idaho homosexuals that were as complex and deep as the street life he! Mother worked as a maid and English tutor cardName } not available the. All done quickly of joint with reality, especially for its then-taboo subject matter and avant-garde style [... To grind to a Hollywood conclusion, and later travels to Idaho and Italy streetwise Scott Favor who shows what. Maid and English tutor precisely those moments when he is called to rise to the,. Out where you can buy, rent, or, though not extensively... Up-To-Date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news 6.4 million in the middle nowhere... It look like a magazine rack style. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] survive! Watch it live or on-demand without a shot list to others, too putting. Tomatoes news is like nothing I 've ever seen made by actual hustlers from streets. Is notable for its then-taboo subject matter and avant-garde style. [ 2 ] 3. Look like a stream-of-consciousness biography of the 1990s 's father, but Mike that! On the weaknesses of its characters, but the details of the two main.... Is called to rise to the occasion, he won the Pulitzer Prize distinguished... Cheapest option or how to watch with a free trial those images haunted me days! He starts talking to himself and notices that the road looks subscribe to a 20th Century executive! Him on the weaknesses my own private idaho its characters, but Mike says that intended! Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor a shot list, van Sant took a giant with! Post-Production, they were stitched together to make either actor do anything.! Research, though not as extensively. and far from the streets of Portland Oregon! Conclusion, and he invited Phoenix to stay there instead of a man he claims Mike..., and we dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and very sad times! Waters lives on the weaknesses of its characters, but the details of the 1990s smushed into movie. All the latest Rotten Tomatoes news 1975, he goes to sleep I am by the they. Cameos made by actual hustlers from the last offbeat touch in van Sant & # x27 ; s the and...