Van Sant promised not to make either actor do anything embarrassing. My Own Private Idaho came out in 1991, long before gay marriage was legalized and during the AIDS epidemic. "[30] "[31] Vincent Canby, in his New York Times review, wrote, "The performances, especially by the two young stars, are as surprising as they are sure. "Private Idaho" provided The B-52's with the second Hot 100 appearance of their career, with the single climbing to No. It's character-driven rather than plot-driven, but the fine cinematography and the unquestionably excellent acting of River Phoenix carry the movie. It can be said that Gus Van Zant is a graduate of the auteur school of filmmaking. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Gus Van Sant. [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. Still, he's less "wooden" here than in other films of his I've seen. [12] Ultimately, while editing Drugstore Cowboy, he combined the scripts for Modern Days and Storytown with the "Idaho" short story. (Parker wasn't narcoleptic, though another friend of Van Sant's was.) The story follows two friends, Mike and Scott, as they embark on a journey of personal discovery that takes them to Mike's hometown in Idaho and then to Italy in search of Mike's mother.Subscribefor new updates. Plenty of supporting players, such as the charismatic William Richert or the affecting Chiara Caselli, have their time in the spotlight, but that's mostly reserved for leads Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, who both share dynamite chemistry and flaunt just as electric individual charisma, with Phoenix particularly standing out with some powerful emotional highlights that drive a sense of anxiety in someone struggling with his identity as an unconventional lover, and as a young man seeking the truth about his past. New Line Cinema, Sound Mix: Mike and Scott meet a variety of clients, including one who likes his apartment kept very, very clean. Van Sant offered images of homosexuals that were as complex and deep as . Genres: Drama, Road Movie, New Queer Cinema, LGBTQ. There are some funny parts in this movie too. Van Sant knew some of the local street kids and had them on set as advisers and extras. 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. 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. What is the Hindi language plot outline for My Own Private Idaho (1991)? I'm not one for absolutes but this might be my favorite movie ever and this criterion release is as elegant as this film deserves. Going through cinematic time, the young actor in a Boy Scout uniform in Spielberg's franchise was now delivering complex elucidations on life. I also knew this fat guy named Bob, who had always reminded me of Falstaff and who was crazy about hustler boys". (Van Sant said Kier originally used a blue flashlight; they changed it to a lamp to avoid comparison to Blue Velvet.) [9] Eventually, he toned down the Shakespearean elements and modernized the language. [laughs softly] No. 'My Own Private Idaho' is one of those films that you will always think about and remember. In celebration of the festivals three-decade anni. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. His script ended up as a restructuring of the Henry IV plays. His condition has given him a certain dreamy detachment; there is no use getting too deeply involved in events you may end up sleeping through. [25] It also received screenings at the 17th Deauville Film Festival, 16th Toronto International Film Festival[26] and the 29th New York Film Festival. 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. Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2014. Expect More. I never remembered hearing about this movie when it came out in 1991. All rights reserved. Trailer. He sketches a world where sexuality is less a characteristic and more a tool for getting by. I just want to kiss you, man, says Mike softly. 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. The overall theme was easy to get, but the details of the narrative often seemed confused. 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. Existence originates from a biological father and mother that conceive offspring which they nurture into childhood and later adolescence. In one of the most significant scenes, his best friend. The sheer, expressive beauty of those images haunted me for days. Amiable, none-too-bright street hustler Mike Waters (Phoenix) works . Another source (to which Van Sant had already given the title "My Own Private Idaho") was another screenplay about street hustlers, one older and one younger, who travel to Spain looking for one's mother. Feeling he is maturing, Scott contemplates giving up the street life when he turns twenty-one to collect his trust. However, the fun way this film was styled & assembled, combined with the star talents of River Phoenix Good movie. My Own Private Idaho (1991) Parents Guide Add to guide Showing all 13 items Jump to: Certification Sex & Nudity (7) Violence & Gore (2) Profanity (2) Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking (1) Frightening & Intense Scenes (1) Certification Edit Sex & Nudity Moderate 35 of 68 found this moderate Meanwhile, Mike yearns to find his mother, so he and Scott leave for Idaho to visit Mike's older brother, Richard. [5], Early drafts of the screenplay were set on Hollywood Boulevard, not Portland, with working titles such as Blue Funk and Minions of the Moon. 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. 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. Read critic reviews. However, the fun way this film was styled & assembled, combined with the star talents of River Phoenix & Keanu Reeves made it watchable. [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. [4] Van Sant's original screenplay was written in the 1970s, when he was living in Hollywood. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. I love the cameos made by actual hustlers from the streets of Portland, OR. He gives the movie its emotional edge, and there's just something very haunting about the performance he gives. For some reason, Phoenix became fixated on the idea of Richert playing Bob Pigeon in My Own Private Idaho, even though Richert was not an actor. It's a long scene." For one thing, it was only 70 pages long, which would translate to about a 70-minute movie. Drama, Comedy, LGBTQ+. [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. It followed the genres of adventure and drama and combined them to make a wholesome package. During his narcoleptic seizures, he dreams of his own private Idaho. They find themselves in Italy. William Shakespeare, Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2015. Among the group, Mike and Scott are best friends. Mike (River Phoenix), a teenage hustler given to bouts of narcolepsy, and Scott (Keanu Reeves), a slumming preppy prince, are huddled over a campfire. I had forgotten how much I loved him. Saving Private Ryan (Sapphire Series) (Blu-ray) $16.99. 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. River Phoenix was an extra-ordinary actor. Gus Van Sant took a giant risk with this masterpiece about rent boys. 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. 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: Phoenix has said that neither he nor Reeves felt uncomfortable with Idaho's queerness. [19], The film was not storyboarded and was made without a shot list. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant. 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. The directing and acting is excellent. Existence originates from a biological father and mother that conceive offspring which they nurture into childhood and later adolescence. This is a new, restored 4K digital transfer.This disc has audio commentary with the director and some features, including the making of the film, an interview with film scholar Paul Arthur, a conversation between the producer Laurie Parker and River Phoenix's sister Rain, deleted scenes and an audio conversation between JT Leroy and Jonathan Caouette. Fine Line Features, Production Co: We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. They go on a quest along the grungy streets and open highways of the Pacific Northwest, in search of an elusive place called home. "[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. 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". My Own Private Idaho is considered a landmark film in New Queer Cinema, an early 1990s movement in queer-themed independent filmmaking. I still haven't seen "Stand By Me" to this day. Amazon's Choice highlights highly rated, well-priced products available to ship immediately. 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. He starts talking to himself and notices that the road looks "like someone's face, like a fucked-up face." He had the magazine covers mocked up on large panels of Plexiglass, then had the actors stand behind them. Lgbtq+. Purchase My Own Private Idaho on digital and stream instantly or download offline. My Own Private Idaho ressuscite le premier ge du cinma de Gus Van Sant : baroque, mlodramatique, hallucin, mais dj hautement conceptuel. Things happen, the film ends, and the impression is that while the film was decent enough, it could have been better. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. Gus Van Sant took a giant risk with this masterpiece about rent boys. By creating an account, you agree to the For if River Phoenix was here today he would be very aware of this and be standing up for people's basic rights. Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2016. What My Own Private Idaho does to Henry IV is highlight just how far class inequity has gone in modern America. Amazon has encountered an error. I came across the movie "Sneakers" I was instantly reminded of River Phoenix. My Own Private Idaho. "[36], Conversely, USA Today gave My Own Private Idaho two and half stars out of four, calling it "nothing but set pieces; tossed into a mix whose meaning is almost certainly private". Yeah, as if "Stand By Me" didn't feel a little fruity already, enjoy this spin-off in which Chris Chambers goes gay and hooks up with Keanu Reeves. Find out where you can buy, rent, or subscribe to a streaming service to watch it live or on-demand. This is brave movie making. They travel together extensively - Waters is driven by the need to find his biological mother - and spend time in Italy. Gus Van Sant" The risks paid off. An amazing Gay Iconic movie with Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix! In the script, Van Sant made the Scott character a rich kid, also fashioned after street hustlers Van Sant had met in Portland. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022. I guess this film is a dramedy. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! It's poignant at times, funny at times, and very sad at times. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price. Com uma trilha sonora que acompanha a desestabilizao emocional que o filme traz, "Cattle Call", parece um canto de sereias vindas da fantasmagrica cidade perdida de Atlntida, e que desejam nos levar para um novo mundo ou um novo e estranho estado mental. Scottie leaves the streets because he inherits his money. They have no concept. 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. Gus Van Sant, Producer: [14] Reeves's agent was amenable to the project, but Phoenix's would not even show it to him. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. My Own Private Idaho ending got a lot of viewers wondering what it actually meant. My Own Private Idaho is an interesting mix of acting, directing, setting, and subject matter. 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 Gus Van Sant is supposed to have fallen in love with him. . Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant. [19] Several cast and crew members, including Michael Parker, Phoenix, Reeves, and Flea, lived together in a house in Portland during filming. Later, after being fellated by a client in Seattle, Mike returns to his favorite spots to pick up clients. 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