"My Own Private Idaho" (1991)

Still miss River. Wonder where he'd be now? Cleaned up? Oscar winner like Leo?

I imagine a fair amount of DL'ers were too young to remember this movie. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad (pretty much sums up every Gus Van Sant movie).

Seeing how Phoenix's character at the end is kind of heart broken still kills me a little bit every time I watch this move.

R2, number of DLers, not amount.

I'm actually one who appreciates proper grammar so thanks R3, you are correct.

I'm drunk posting is my only defense. :)

I've always appreciated the unique vibe of this movie; dreamy and cozy at some points with quirky, bleak humor scattered throughout, heartbreaking and lumbering at other points, it really showcased the screen compatibility of River's expressive face and both River and Keanu's beauty in a passive, painterly way.

I also like how it really represents the strange rhythm of that kind of transient lifestyle, another world in another time space on the margins of society. And visually, it's really beautiful. It's hard to say common phrases like "it's aged well" because it was already such an oddball film to begin with. I guess it's just stood out more over time, straddling lots of cultural relics of the period -- I always love seeing "outdated" places, like old diners and restaurants shown in older movies because it really gives you the sense of culture accumulating and curating over time, our desire to bring certain things with us, the 70's decor still lingering in pockets of places into the 90's -- yet remaining pretty attractive, visually, in its own right.

I like that River insisted on wearing some scruffy boots in it, that he understood that the "wardrobe" of a prostitute (or a kept person) is an accumulation of things given to you and things left behind. This mirrored the hodge-podge visual aesthetics of the multi-era, non gentrified surroundings. Like the main characters, you also just sort of go along for the ride to see where circumstance takes you next.

I really feel like Gus Van Sant understands American culture in a complex way. He understands the romanticism, then shows it in both an honest, cynical way but with affection. Do you know what I mean? He's laughing at some of the absurdities of our culture but he's also admitting his personal relationship with it, his love for an imperfect, quirky character (American culture), as well. It's like he's married to it and has accepted it with its imperfections because real love does that.

Something else I appreciate about it is how different River's acting was compared to how hyper-conscious many young actors are today. You can tell many actors today were socially trained on social media because they rehearse how to "act hot". It's obvious and labored. Many young actors who would try this part today would clearly try to go for the angle of making Mike desirable.

The difference was that River was hot but was not acting hot. Prostitutes know engagement with them is a sure thing, it's work. So there's the hook, the act but not a sense of victory; it's outside the norm of social, sexual interactions. River understood this and focused on emotions rather than stylized emoting. I don't know if it's just that so many young stars grew up coddled but maybe River's sort of feral childhood gave a reference that you have to really live to understand (or personally know others who have lived it.)

The campfire scene breaks my heart every time. It’s one of my favorite pieces of acting ever.

There’s some stunning moments in this film.

I saw the film in a small arthouse cinema and I remember being shocked by the artsiness of the film. I had a huge crush on Keanu so seeing him play a gay hustler was a dream come true... until I saw the film and he turned out to be a total asshole in the end. I could totally identify with River's character, though, and still do. I had this poster on my wall for a few years after that. And I've seen the film many times since.

The scene in Italy with the girl under the tree -- "I understand." -- is also heartbreaking. River was amazing, a quiet beautiful intensity (before he fucked it up -- his work in that last bad country music film was abysmal and I knew something was up even then).

As much as it should have been groundbreaking at the time, I remembered being kinda “meh” about it. For a movie about hustlers, it was kinda antiseptic and boring.

It wasn't as beloved as it became later, once River died. Not even an Oscar nod for him and he'd had one already. Gus needed more of a cohesive storyline -- though I am one that still adores it.

I remember the first time someone talked to me about it. The film itself was a letdown. Not a big fan of movies a-driftin.

R5 proves my point. Talking about the movie is more interesting than the film itself.

R14 But the ambiguous style and open story line of it inspires that. It allows you space to project and then, reflect on those projections. It's sort of like a dream in that way, giving audiences space to work out daily problems.

I guess if mentally, you need to "get somewhere", it's not the film to watch for that. If you're open to experiencing a transient week-in-the-life, appreciate visual beauty and ambiance onscreen for the sake of it, have no expectations on where you expect to go, it can be cathartic. Maybe it's about mood and need and the film changes per viewer based on both.

R15 "...have no expectations on where you [need to go]..."

R13 I can see that. If you need lots of structure in a film to satisfy you, MOPI will likely not be an enjoyable watch.

Wow I’d forgotten about this film. I really liked it but I also didn’t think it was “all that”.

I haven't seen this movie in years. I loved it.

The whole Henry IV angle was seriously weird. It never quite seemed to fit.

R2 but how could one improve MOPI to make it great? I can’t think of anything I’d change..

Saw it in the theater, it was SOOO transgressive back then

I haven't seen it and I have been around the block a few times.

[quote]As much as it should have been groundbreaking at the time, I remembered being kinda “meh” about it. For a movie about hustlers, it was kinda antiseptic and boring.

People loved it for what they wanted it to be, not what it was.

It was then I knew I wanted to impregnate River Phoenix.

More gossip on River, please! I am obsessed!

Beauties

River is one of those celebrities deaths that I never truly gotten over. I guess because we're the same age. I wonder what he would be like at 50 now. I thought he was one of the most beautiful men I never seen. I wish he had gone to rehab. I just recently read a book about his manager. He was surrounded by a bunch of enablers.

I wonder if River hasn't done that movie he'd still be alive. Because there was so much drug use while filming it.

R9.. i remember that great photo of river on the road... would love to have it as a poster and framed... reminds me of a james dean aura kind of photo..

i remember seeing this movie in a art house film and scratching my head at the time not quite understanding, a movie one has to see a few times to "get it"...

i also remember the beautiful tragic rodney harvey in this movie as well.. sad....

Yes, I remember being completely bored by it.

It can be a little boring. But it's one of Rivers last performances where you can actually really see him. He still had that glimmer in his eyes. His later movies you can really tell he was using. A thing called love was just horrible. Didn't even seem like him.

Now we're stuck with Keanu in action movies and reboots.

If you have the Criterion channel, you can watch it. I watched it the other day and, as much as I would like to love it, there are too many issues. The Italian section is beautiful and so are the Idaho sections. it is an imperfect film but very watchable. RP really takes your breath away. Such a sad performance.

The photo of River walking in the middle of the road is a rip off of James Dean doing the exact same thing in Giant.

They always tried to make River the new James Dean but it was like Joan Collins v.s. Elizabeth Taylor. He just wasn't quite as good .

[quote] I saw the film in a small arthouse cinema and I remember being shocked by the artsiness of the film.

Wait.... what?

The "Henry IV" angle didn't work very well because they had Keanu be the son of the mayor of Portland (which is not a hereditary position like being king is). The film would have been better without it.

I loved the Henry IV allusions. Van Sant made a very personal, often beautiful piece of art.

I miss River.