My Own Private Idaho

Name: My Own Private Idaho
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: October 18, 1991
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Keanu Reeves, River Phoenix

1991

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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My Own Private Idaho

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Movie Details & Credits

Fine Line Features | Release Date: October 18, 1991 | R

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.

Director: Gus Van Sant

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Vincent Canby

The film itself is invigorating - written, directed, and acted with enormous insight and comic elan. [27 Sept 1991]

100

Dave Kehr

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]

Hal Hinson

Van Sant's sensibility is wholly original, wholly fresh. "My Own Private Idaho" adds a new ingredient: a kind of boho sweetness. I loved it. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

It's a daredevil's ride that keeps you glued with fascination. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

No matter what you've been used to, Idaho is something completely different, a film that manages to confound all expectations, even the ones it sets up itself. [18 Oct 1991]

Philip Thomas

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. Read full review

Julie Salamon

This is all very strange and a little tedious. Yet there is something arresting and oddly poignant in Mr. Van Sant's playful vision of the road to nowhere. [3 Oct 1991, p.A14(E)]

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User Reviews

AngelikiCoconi

Jun 9, 2012

Very loosely and even more creatively based on Shakespeareâ

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bradleywade1991

Sep 18, 2010

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 theA 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

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Justinavery7074

Mar 31, 2011

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.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Douglasspompeu

Jun 10, 2020

A touching story about someone searching some basement in his life, it will surely open your mind and heart. Here River Phoenix gives his best at acting and the result is impressive, it's a really must-watch film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Halfwelshman

Feb 16, 2012

My Own Private Idaho is a dark, complex and emotional film journey. It centres on a spellbinding, honest and tender performance from River Phoenix, playing Mike, a young gay street hustler with narcolepsy who goes on a journey across the USA, and eventually to Europe, to find his long-lostMy Own Private Idaho is a dark, complex and emotional film journey. It centres on a spellbinding, honest and tender performance from River Phoenix, playing Mike, a young gay street hustler with narcolepsy who goes on a journey across the USA, and eventually to Europe, to find his long-lost mother. He is accompanied by his best friend, and object of his unrequited love, Scott (Keanu Reeves), who is the son and heir of a rich and elderly aristocrat. Over the course of their journey, the unlikely pair encounter an array of colourful characters, and discover many things about themselves, and their place in the world. The film works primarily because of the strength of its two central performances, and the believability of their relationship - had Mike and Scott not been empathetic, the film would have crumbled early on. While Phoenix is the real highlight, Reeves gives an extremely charismatic performance as Scott, and William Richert also impresses as Bob Pigeon, a brilliantly eccentric **** figure who leads the gang of street hustlers who Mike and Scott associate with. I was not surprised to learn that writer/director Gus Van Sant loosely based his screenplay on the works of Shakespeare - at numerous points in the film, you certainly feel like you're watching a play, with its intricate dialogue presented in the form of monologues, and with the extreme flamboyance of some characters (particularly Bob and Udo Kier's Hans). While this is always entertaining, I found myself feeling that My Own Private Idaho would work better, and have far more impact on stage. While Van Sant's direction is always striking, it does sometimes get in the way of the story, and a stripped back stage production, free of unnecessary stylistic distractions would keep the characters and themes of this tale at the forefront of your mind. The film does drift a little in the middle section as well - while the scenes in Italy were necessary for Scott's character to evolve, Mike is given very little to do, and as he is the main focus of the story, this results in a slight loss of momentum. Van Sant redeems himself for this slight blip in a fine fashion shortly afterwards, though - the film's finale is powerful, moving and bittersweet. My Own Private Idaho is, for the most part, an extremely worthwhile, provocative viewing experience. Phoenix and Reeves both give the performances of their career, and their characters, though complex, are relatable and easy to root for on their life-changing journey. The difficult themes covered over the course of the film are handled by Van Sant sensitively, without ever appearing patronising, and he appears keen to provoke further thought and debate on the viewer's behalf. It's only a slightly unfocused middle section and slight over-emphasis on stunning visuals that detracts from the characters and their story. Generally, though, the film remains an immensely satisfying, very human affair.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

RobertBrogan

Oct 5, 2015

My Own Private Idaho is an interesting mix of acting, directing, setting, and subject matter. It is an interesting watch but the elements don't cohere very well or make for a solid movie. The main problem is that little is done to first establish an emotional connection to the mainMy Own Private Idaho is an interesting mix of acting, directing, setting, and subject matter. It is an interesting watch but the elements don't cohere very well or make for a solid movie. The main problem is that little is done to first establish an emotional connection to the main character. Because of that, the rest of the film lacks in dramatic impact. Things happen, the film ends, and the impression is that while the film was decent enough, it could have been better.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

bataguila

May 6, 2019

De hueva, no trata de nada, es para homosexuales drogados, solo asi se puede apreciar, creo yo

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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