My Own Private Idaho (1991)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Gus Van Sant (written by)

Release Date:

29 September 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world.

Plot:

The movie is set in Portland. Many local characters are included as both personalities and actors.

Plot Keywords:

Portland Oregon | Friendship | Hustler | Narcolepsy | Love

Awards:

8 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

River Phoenix	...	Mike Waters
Keanu Reeves	...	Scott Favor
James Russo	...	Richard Waters
William Richert	...	Bob Pigeon
Rodney Harvey	...	Gary
Chiara Caselli	...	Carmella
Michael Parker	...	Digger
Jessie Thomas	...	Denise
Flea	...	Budd
Grace Zabriskie	...	Alena
Tom Troupe	...	Jack Favor
Udo Kier	...	Hans
Sally Curtice	...	Jane Lightwork
Robert Lee Pitchlynn	...	Walt
Mickey Cottrell	...	Daddy Carroll

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sensuality, language and drug use.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo | Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:6 (DVD rating) | Singapore:(Banned) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:R | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Maupin, Oregon, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

For its initial American video release, this gay themed movie was packaged as a straight film, with both of its stars Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix in clinches with women on the video jacket.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Scott is spotted exiting his limo, Bob says, "If it isn't Scottie Favor... dressed in a three-piece suit..." In the next frame Scott walks towards the camera with his Italian wife wearing a double-breasted two-piece suit.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Mike Waters: I'm a connoisseur of roads. I've been tasting roads my whole life. This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Neighbours: My Own Private Eye to Hoe (#1.5066)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Der Adler

My Own Private River

For many of us - Idaho - changed everything. I was still in High School when the movie came out and, like so many of you; I was never the same again. However great the script and direction, the lighting and camera shots, (motorcycle scene and campfire to name a few) there is no doubt that this is River's movie. No disrespect to Van Sant or anyone involved. I realize the movie would not be the same or nearly as perfect without them - particularly Gus. The truth is, however, River made this movie everything to us. Never has a movie touched us so deeply or any one person's unrequited love so deeply resonated. I think I can safely say that I was not the only teenager in the world whom would have given anything to be in the camp fire scene with River. In reality though you know? No movies, no actors, no props or fake lights and as far away from Hollywood as possible. Simply, River and me alone by a fire a million miles away from fear.