Review of My Own Private Idaho (1991) by Stuart K — 31 Mar 2010
From Gus Van Sant, whose career has weaved in and out between the mainstream and independent, comes his second film, which was a follow up to his critically acclaimed Drugstore Cowboy (1988). This was ever-so loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, as well as John Rechy's 1963 novel, City of Night,.
It's very provocative, and captures the mood of American youth in the early 1990's. It's about 2 male prostitutes, Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves). Mike is a narcoleptic, who is prone to nodding off at any given moment, he was raised in Idaho by his mother who he's been searching for.
Scott introduced Mike to the world of hustling, and he's from a well-to-do family, his father is Mayor of Portland, Oregon. Scott has decided to turn his back on the hustler lifestyle when he turns 21 and inherits from his father.
But, before that, he helps Mike to look for his mother, and it takes them to Italy. It's a bare-basic story, but it's filmed beautifully for it's low-budget, and Phoenix and Reeves make a great pairing.
It put Van Sant on the road to greater things, and look out for appearances from Flea and Udo Kier.
This review of My Own Private Idaho (1991) was written by Stuart K on 31 Mar 2010.
My Own Private Idaho has generally received positive reviews.
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