One of Gus Van Sant's most personal visions.
My Own Private Idaho (1992)
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Synopsis: Semi-documentary footage of Seattle street hustling mixes with highly theatrical Shakespearean speech in this very loose adaptation of "Henry IV." In Seattle, Mike, a male prostitute and narcoleptic, meets Scott, who is rebelling against his wealthy family by working the streets. The... Semi-documentary footage of Seattle street hustling mixes with highly theatrical Shakespearean speech in this very loose adaptation of "Henry IV." In Seattle, Mike, a male prostitute and narcoleptic, meets Scott, who is rebelling against his wealthy family by working the streets. The two decide to embark on a search for Mike's long-lost mother, and their journey leads them first to Mike's home in Idaho and then to Italy. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, William S. Burroughs, James Russo, William Richert
DVD Info
Release:
Jan 3, 2005
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- 2-Disc Set
Additional Products:
- Booklet - 64 Page Booklet With Essay by JT LeRoy and Film Critic Amy Taubin, 1991 article by Lance Loud and reprinted interviews with Gus Van Sant, River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
- Disc 1: MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO
- Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
- Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
- Disc 2: THE SUPPLEMENTS
- Deleted Scenes
Additional Release Material:
- Audio Interview - 1. Gus Van Sant - Director
- 2. Conversatio between JT Leroy - Writer and Jonathan Caouette - Filmmaker
- Video Interview - 1. KING OF THE ROAD
- 2. Laurie Parker - Producer
Reviews
The film's uniqueness lies in its remarkable emotional open-heartedness.
One of those ambitious, over-reaching disappointments that is more interesting than some more conservative successes.
One of Van Sant's best films, a richly dense, poetic evocation of friendhsip that retells Shakespeare's Henry IV in an original and intriguing way; River Phoenix gives his most riveting performance.
A quite stark, poetic rumination on the unyielding desire for home.
Homosexual road movie that espouses the family values of a Disney feature and the pop art sensibilities of a Warhol piece — with a dose of Shakespeare added for good measure.
Van Sant casts a gently hypnotic spell that is not easily forgotten.
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