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My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho Image
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Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Keanu Reeves, River Phoenix
  • Summary: In this loose reworking of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Reeves stars as the prodigal son who slums in the Pacific Northwest's junkie lowlife milieu with Phoenix, who plays a narcaleptic hustler.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    100
    Beautifully wrought, darkly funny and finally devastating, My Own Private Idaho almost single-handedly revives the notion of personal filmmaking in the United States. [18 Oct 1991]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Vincent Canby
    100
    The film itself is invigorating - written, directed, and acted with enormous insight and comic elan. [27 Sept 1991]
    All this critic's reviews
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Philip Thomas
    60
    With a more accomplished script and an actor of rather more technical prowess than Reeves (nabbing the Prince Hal role), this may just have worked. Here, it is just squirmingly embarrassing stuff.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. bradleywade1991
    10
    A truly sad and touching film that can make you giggle at unexpected times, My Own Private Idaho is a testament to Van Sant and his two leads. Gallantly addressing narcolepsy, incest, drug use, sexuality, homelessness and prostitution in one film, it couldn't have worked were it not for the talents of Reeves and Phoenix. An engaging and thought provoking piece of art, this movie will never die, and like it's star Phoenix, live immortalised in infamy.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. Justinavery7074
    10
    Van Sant scores once more with this amazing movie. It's just remarkable. Another close masterpiece for Gus Van Sant. Everything that I wanted in an indie movie is here. And River Pheonix is incredible. Quite possibly one of the few times that Keanu Reeves is actually good.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 4 User Reviews

Trailers

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