Review of My Own Private Idaho (1991) by David H — 11 Feb 2010

If this film doesn't prove that River Phoenix was one of the greatest talents to ever grace Hollywood, then I don't know what does. His character in My Own Private Idaho, works on every level. It is a well written character, an original character, and a well acted character. With Phoenix's performance at the helm, My Own Private Idaho takes us on a journey into an interesting world.

In the film, Phoenix plays Mike, a male prostitute with narcolepsy...not two things that you would usually put together. Mike runs around with a group of street kids who like him do what they have to for money. The movie, which was directed by Gus Van Sent has a very Shakespearian feel to it. The dialogue is very prophetic and thoughtful and the backdrop or I guess the look of the film is beautifully shot. Just as Shakespeare gave very vivid detail, Van Sent shows it.

The film is set in Portland where the "family" of teens live with their leader, an older man named Bob played by William Richert. We also meet Scott (Keanu Reeves) Mike's best friend and one true love. On a trip to Idaho to see Mike's brother, we see not only the effect that narcolepsy has on Mike, but his true feelings on life and people come out (the scene itself was written by Phoenix). In Idaho, we learn that Mike's brother is actually his father. There is anger between the brother's, but there is also a sense of helplessness, as neither of them have ever had a true parental figure in their lives. The confrontation between brother's leads Mike to go on a search for his mother. As Scott tags along, their search brings them to Italy, where everything seems to unravel.

My Own Private Idaho is a gorgeous film that is well acted. It is a story that in the wrong hands could have been a huge flop, but Van Sent who has never portrayed the American life in a good way, ends up being the perfect director for this film. Now my review may downplay how graphic and sexual this movie is, but to me those scenes really had no effect on me. It was the scenes where Phoenix and Reeves were interacting that really drive this movie. My Own Private Idaho is one of the best films of the nineties and a must see, especially due to Phoenix's gritty and real performance.