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 September 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:

Portland Oregon | Friendship | Hustler | Narcolepsy | Love

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) | 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:

For its initial American video release, this gay themed movie was packaged as a straight film, with both of its stars Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix in clinches with women on the video jacket.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Mike is in Idaho he has a clear view of Mt. Hood. Not only is the mountain too far away to see (over 200 miles), there is another mountain range lying between Idaho and Mt. Hood, blocking the view.

Quotes:

Mike Waters: I love you, and you don't pay me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in City Walls: My Own Private Teheran (2006)

Soundtrack:

Getting Into the Outside

cinematic poetry

Gus van Sant's talent as a film maker with a unique vision reached fruition in this wonderful movie.

Its a remarkable achievment in all departments. The visuals are stunning, the soundtrack excellent and the acting spot on.

River Phoenix reveals himself here as an adult actor of great promise and his untimely death only adds to hopelessness of the character he plays.

Sadly from this pinnacle Van Sant would go slowly but very surely downhill towards the main stream "Good Will Hunting" and the misguided "Psycho" remake.

Not only not to be missed, its one to see and see again