In celebration of the festivals three-decade anni. It changed Van Sant's life, too, putting him on the path that would lead to high-profile hits like Good Will Hunting. 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. "My Own Private Idaho. Richard tells a story of a man he claims is Mike's father, but Mike says that he knows it is Richard. [5] After reading Rechy's book, Van Sant felt it was considerably better than what he was writing, and shelved the script for years. Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2022. Drama thrives on the weaknesses of its characters, but what can we make of a hero who suffers from narcolepsy? Released: 1991-09-29. The sheer, expressive beauty of those images haunted me for days. Watching the film, I was reminded of Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, in which Raskolnikov, the murderer of the old lady, suffers from epileptic seizures. The main problem is that little is done to first establish an emotional connection to the main character. Touching Available to rent or buy Rent HD $2.99 Buy HD $9.99 More purchase 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. The movie's visuals are very haunting with the music with scenes of salmon going upstream, rolling clouds and sunset, barns falling from the sky and scenes of the Pacific Northwest and Italy. Laurie Parker, Writer: Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2014. This is without a doubt my favorite film of all time. Those brief snippets where anonymous Portland street kids talk about their experiences aren't just meant to look like a documentarythey are a documentary. That's those independent film guys for you. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". 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. When I hear this music "America The Beautiful" in this movie it is a tearful reminder for me of how we profess this country to be the greatest country in the world and at the same time we are so cruel and hateful to some of its people and combined with fact that River, this beautiful human being has left us. [4] Van Sant's original screenplay was written in the 1970s, when he was living in Hollywood. [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]. He then experiences a narcoleptic episode and dreams of his mother comforting him as home movies of his childhood play in his mind. 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. 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. 'My Own Private Idaho' is one of those films that you will always think about and remember. To add the following enhancements to your purchase, choose a different seller. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Zajedno polaze na putovanje samospoznaje i shvataju da se njihov odnos usput uruava. One was a screenplay about street kids in Portland and was based on William Shakespeare's Henry IV. 'My Own Private Idaho' is a great little off-beat movie. They are constantly on their smart phones texting and talking about the Kardashians unaware of dangerous and cruel hateful things that are trying to be passed by our so called compassionate and very ignorant higher-ups. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. They find themselves in Italy. Van Sant originally had the screen go black when Mike passed out, but was not satisfied with this approach. While preparing to have sex with the woman, Mike has another narcoleptic episode and awakens the next day with Scott in Portland, Oregon. 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. Not with the homosexuality but with the sadness of lifestyle of these two individuals, Mike and Scott. But according to Van Sant, Phoenix really wanted to beef up the impact of the scene. They encounter a young woman from Italy. Read reviews and buy My Own Private Idaho (DVD)(2022) at Target. Richard informs Mike that their mother works as a hotel maid; when Mike and Scott visit her workplace, they learn she went to Italy in search of her own family. Van Sant realized that Prince Hal in the plays resembled Scott and the sidekick was Mike. 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 two stars (Reeves,Phoenix) took a major gamble as starring as said Rent boys. 2.75/5 - Decent. The BD is an improvement in many ways (textures, detail, tonal range, etc), but there's something I actually miss, although some people who've reviewed this title tend to consider in a rather different light: I first saw this film when it was theatrically released in 1991, and I miss the "Kodak palette" yellow-ish hue of the DVD transfer, because (as far as I can recall) it was consistent with the visual experience of the old 35mm projection. I'm a musician myself and understand his passion for music. [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. Matt . Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2016. It grossed $6.4 million in the United States and Canada and $1.7 million in the United Kingdom. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Worn down, Richert finally relented. They are emotional opposites drawn together, yet destined to part. 1991 Directed by Gus Van Sant. Outstanding film! On the 25th anniversary of its release, it reminds us of the risks. Abandoned as a child, he is obsessed with finding his long-lost mother. and the Starring: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves. It's gritty and real! Not with the homosexuality but with the sadness My personal opinion is that this is definitely an Art Film, somewhat temerarious. I would always get such a warm positive A couple of weeks ago I was going through some movies on my computer. [8] Van Sant realized he could blend the two stories together in the manner of William S. Burroughs' "cut up" technique. 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 movie is like nothing I've ever seen. 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. [14] Reeves's agent was amenable to the project, but Phoenix's would not even show it to him. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. I had forgotten how much I loved him. That night, Bob has a fatal heart attack. In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. 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. It's gritty and real! Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. 102min. 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. Surreal character study focusing on the friendship between two male hustlers, Mike and Scott, in Portland, Oregon. It can reshape political sensibilities in case a person feels the necessity of changes. [17], Principal photography took place from November to December 1990, primarily in Portland, Seattle, and Rome. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Powell, Paige, and Gini Sikes. He decided to send the script to the agents of Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, figuring that their agents would reject the script. "Private Idaho" provided The B-52's with the second Hot 100 appearance of their career, with the single climbing to No. 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. Mike grew up in a poor and broken family environment in Idaho, with his mother, Sharon, abandoning him and his much older brother Richard when Mike was a child, her whereabouts unknown. 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. A perfect Road Movie with great acting. He began to dress and groom himself like a grungy street kid, to the point where he was turned away from a nightclub because the bouncer thought he was a bum. Along the way they turn tricks for money and . It can be said that Gus Van Zant is a graduate of the auteur school of filmmaking. 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