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Amazon.co.uk Review
Mapping the spaces between fortune and degeneracy, Shakespeare and street cant, Europe and the Pacific Northwest, and gay and straight, My Own Private Idaho is the 1991 masterpiece by director Gus Van Sant. River Phoenix gave the most generous and memory-searing performance of his tragically shortened career as Mike Waters, a narcoleptic street hustler in search of his mother. His best friend, Scott, played by Keanu Reeves, is a son of privilege who fosters plans of rejoining the moneyed world of his father after gallivanting with assorted urchins and ne'er-do-wells. The beautifully symmetrical story that emerges between the two is one of friendship, yearning for lost time, and sexual identity conveyed with a poet's eye for landscape. The camera lingers on abandoned houses in golden fields and time-lapse clouds, providing what T.S. Eliot called "the objective correlative", external representations of interior emotional states. We're treated to striking iconic sequences like a barn falling from the sky and still-life scenes of carnal entanglement. The supporting cast is a rogues' gallery that includes Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Udo Kier, director William Richert, and a variety of "non-actors" pulled literally off the street to provide documentary veracity to a film that gleefully careens into riffs on Henry IV. It's beautiful. --Ryan Boudinot
DVD Description
River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star in director Gus Van Sant’s haunting tale of two young street hustlers: Mike Waters, a sensitive narcoleptic who dreams of the mother who abandoned him, and Scott Favor, wayward son of the mayor of Portland and the object of Mike’s desire. Navigating a volatile world of junkies, thieves, and johns, Mike takes Scott on a quest from the grungy streets to the open highways of the Pacific Northwest, in search of an elusive place called "home." Groundbreaking and visually dazzling, My Own Private Idaho is a stirring look at unrequited love and life at society’s margins.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Definitely one of those films you either love or hate; it's a surrealist and uncomfortably explicit road movie about rent boys who have Shakespearean pretensions! Those who like their films straight (in both senses of the word) will probably hate every minute, but saying that it does share a sense of humour with "Withnail and I" and that's loved by pretty much everyone, so who knows. The locations and photography are beautiful, music brilliant, characters larger than life and the script (based on Henry IV) full of wit and tragedy. However, one thing outshines the film itself and stays with you long after the final credits...River Phoenix. He died three years later and so, like James Dean (who he resembles here), is frozen forever in full narcoleptic, übercool glory. It's Phoenix's film and he is absolutely superb and should have been considered for an Oscar - in that same year Warren Beatty was nominated for Bugsy. Tragic.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is a surreal character study, following the misfit lives of a small group of 20 something rent boys. It's a strange sort of film. I have never seen anything else quite like this. The best way to give you a better impression of what I mean is to say that it shares some parallels with Oliver Twist, if the Oliver character was older and gay, if his workhouse was really a brothel where he squatted illegally and where Fabien is really his pimp.
I first saw this film when I was far too young to understand what any of it was about. But, somehow, it made a big impression on me. So, I looked this film up not so long ago to check it out and to see if it left me with the same feelings as it did before.
I found it kind of sad, it's strange, because I find it heart warming and yet some how heart breaking. Sweet yet bitter!
We see the late River Phoenix playing the Oliver typed role, led by his very own Artful Dodger in the form of a young Keanu Reeves.
I was originally touched by the close friendship that they seemed to share. It seemed one of a real love that transcends sexual attraction.
There is some one-sided attraction going on in there; which the other is well aware of and doesn't mind, and I think that's what originally touched me. The concept of a straight guy being friends with a gay guy that is in love with him and it being a non-issue: A true friendship.
Watching this film again however I have a completely different take on it.
Now, it looks to me as if the whole friendship was just as one sided as the sexual attraction and that makes this film even more sad for me.
The only real plot is that one character is in search for his mother while the other tags along to hide from his father.
Even though this film is not for most people I still think that it is well worth a look. It has a bit of every movie genre in there: Road Trip, Coming Out, Coming of Age, Living happily ever after, and those ones that don't really end; the ones where you're faced with the cruel fact of life where not every story has a happy ending.
I first saw this film when I was far too young to understand what any of it was about. But, somehow, it made a big impression on me. So, I looked this film up not so long ago to check it out and to see if it left me with the same feelings as it did before.
I found it kind of sad, it's strange, because I find it heart warming and yet some how heart breaking. Sweet yet bitter!
We see the late River Phoenix playing the Oliver typed role, led by his very own Artful Dodger in the form of a young Keanu Reeves.
I was originally touched by the close friendship that they seemed to share. It seemed one of a real love that transcends sexual attraction.
There is some one-sided attraction going on in there; which the other is well aware of and doesn't mind, and I think that's what originally touched me. The concept of a straight guy being friends with a gay guy that is in love with him and it being a non-issue: A true friendship.
Watching this film again however I have a completely different take on it.
Now, it looks to me as if the whole friendship was just as one sided as the sexual attraction and that makes this film even more sad for me.
The only real plot is that one character is in search for his mother while the other tags along to hide from his father.
Even though this film is not for most people I still think that it is well worth a look. It has a bit of every movie genre in there: Road Trip, Coming Out, Coming of Age, Living happily ever after, and those ones that don't really end; the ones where you're faced with the cruel fact of life where not every story has a happy ending.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
what can i say, this is a fantastic flim. the only real problem with this film is the plot...there isn't one really....but it does plod along smoothly and Phoenix and Reeves do a spiffing job. i think this is Phoenixs best role, he is very believeable and he should recive more credit for this film. in fact the film hasn't recived much credit at all and i really dont know why, its beautifully shot and gives realistic feel of the cold dreary lives of these poor hustlers. very moving.
the films about narcoleptic Mike (Pheonix), a hustler in search of his mother. Scott (Reeves) is also a hustler, but with one difference, he has a huge amount of cash waiting for him on his 21st birthday. Scott tags along with Mike to find his mother. as they travel, they try to come to terms with reality, sexuality and their desperate need to belong. one is bound to be hurt as the other drifts away into luxuary leaving his past behind.
i have waited YEARS for this film to be realsed on dvd and so glad it finally has. it certainly makes an impact and i really recommened to ANYONE who is a fan of Gus Van Sants work or Phoenixs beautiful acting talent which was tragically cut short
the films about narcoleptic Mike (Pheonix), a hustler in search of his mother. Scott (Reeves) is also a hustler, but with one difference, he has a huge amount of cash waiting for him on his 21st birthday. Scott tags along with Mike to find his mother. as they travel, they try to come to terms with reality, sexuality and their desperate need to belong. one is bound to be hurt as the other drifts away into luxuary leaving his past behind.
i have waited YEARS for this film to be realsed on dvd and so glad it finally has. it certainly makes an impact and i really recommened to ANYONE who is a fan of Gus Van Sants work or Phoenixs beautiful acting talent which was tragically cut short
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
bad film, good actors and director
This is a poor film at best, unless you like watching strange films about homosexuals
. It has little point or any real conviction, I'm glad it was cheap, because id have... Read more
. It has little point or any real conviction, I'm glad it was cheap, because id have... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Col Cool
Getting to know Keanu
At first I was not sure this was going to be that good; however after a short time you actually feel you know Keanu. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rudolph Hucker
Private Ihaho
Wonderful soundtrack.
Good images at times.
Strange homosexual prostitute type"rape" type beginning,quite disturbing,anyone who gets upset easy skip first few... Read more
Good images at times.
Strange homosexual prostitute type"rape" type beginning,quite disturbing,anyone who gets upset easy skip first few... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Alison
Peculiar
I love both actors and have enjoyed many of their films. This one was obscure. I forced myself to watch it twice in case I had missed something fundamental. No, it was weird. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Amanda
Two diverse subject matters which are not often covered
I remember watching this film when i was younger, i was a great fan of River Phoenix, and Keanu came around about the same time. Read more
Published 16 months ago by laurey
Beautiful
I watched this by myself in the dark spaces of my bedroom, it totally got me on edge!! I loved the performances from Keanu and River, they worked perfectly together! Read more
Published 17 months ago by AniAnhai
Wierd film - not good at all!
Didnt expect to see River Pheonix getting pleasured by another man, and it wasnt a welcome surprise!
Published 21 months ago by J. Austen
Not quite what I'd ordered.
The DVD itself worked absolutely fine, but the box and actual DVD was Dutch, when the picture showed it to be english. Read more
Published on 21 April 2010 by Mr. Edward P. Crook
Totally enthralling
Seen this film so many times, and never get tired of it. It can get a little out there at times, but always keeps you watching. A classic.
Published on 2 July 2009 by S. Nicholls
Very Gus Van Sant
Not the most uplifting film. I wanted to see it for a long time but was unable to find it in the local video hire store/library etc. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2009 by Jack
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