Review of My Own Private Idaho (1991) by Anand B — 21 Dec 2007

I saw this movie on opening night in Toronto in 1991, and it really had an effect on me. This is certainly Van Sant's finest movie of the '90s -- and possibly to date, but I haven't had the courage to see "Elephant" yet.

There can be no denying, however, that this was the late River Phoenix's finest moment, and even Keanu Reeves was passable. I like to think that Bill Shakespeare himself would be pleased with this take on Henry IV.

Falstaff is beautifully realized here, and Shakespeare's themes are proven to be universal, given how well this story works and its perfect integration with the experiences of gay characters. I debated whether to give this 4.

5 or 5 stars. In the end, I had to go with 5 because this film really is a masterpiece.