My Own Private Idaho (1991)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Gus Van Sant (written by)

Release Date:

29 SZEPTEMBER 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world.

Plot:

The movie is set in Portland. Many local characters are included as both personalities and actors.

Plot Keywords:

Hustler | Male Hustler | Gay | Love | Portland Oregon

Awards:

8 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

River Phoenix	...	Mike Waters
Keanu Reeves	...	Scott Favor
James Russo	...	Richard Waters
William Richert	...	Bob Pigeon
Rodney Harvey	...	Gary
Chiara Caselli	...	Carmella
Michael Parker	...	Digger
Jessie Thomas	...	Denise
Flea	...	Budd
Grace Zabriskie	...	Alena
Tom Troupe	...	Jack Favor
Udo Kier	...	Hans
Sally Curtice	...	Jane Lightwork
Robert Lee Pitchlynn	...	Walt
Mickey Cottrell	...	Daddy Carroll

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sensuality, language and drug use.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo | Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:6 (DVD rating) | Singapore:(Banned) | New Zealand:M | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:R | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Maupin, Oregon, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

On the rooftop when Mike is waking up and Bob is returning to the city with Budd, 'Matt Dillon''s voice can be heard on a television in the distance. The scene which can be heard is from Drugstore Cowboy (1989), an earlier film by Gus Van Sant.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Bob approaches Scott in the bar near the end of the film, two marks of black gaffer tape can be seen on the floor.

Quotes:

Bob Pigeon: I'm afraid if I shared your wine, I might catch this awful disease you appear to have. My jacket would grow little zippers all over it and my toes would have jingle bells on them like those there.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: The Pilot (#1.1)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

The Funerals

"Wherever, whatever, have a nice day, River Phoenix"

I watched this film on TV 5 years ago, when I was only eleven years old, and I remember that I was especially impressed by River Phoenix's magnificent performance. I had already watched "Stand By Me" (one of my favorites), and it was very interesting watching him older in such a daring film. I think he was the best actor of his generation but, unfortunately, he died too young.

"My Own Private Idaho" is a poetic and bittersweet road movie, one of Gus Van Sant's best (it's hard to believe that this film is directed by the same man who made the dreadful remake of "Psycho"). Here in Brazil it received a bad title, "Garotos de Programa" (something like "Rent Boys"). Yes, the main characters are rent boys, but this is not what defines them. "My Own Private Idaho" (what a beautiful title!) mostly deals with loneliness, virile sexuality and friendship, and paternity. It's much more than "a film about rent boys". Besides, watching it the so-called "modern boys" would realize that Keanu Reeves isn't Neo from "The Matrix", but a versatile actor; and, perhaps, they'd discover that boyish friendship may be truly sincere.