Film Review: My Own Private Idaho

Director: Gus Van Sant

A 1991 independent film that was written and directed by Gus Van Sant, he went to great lengths to persuade young up and coming actors River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves to join the project. Van Sant bypassed their agents to deliver the scripts direct to them in a hope of convincing them which seemed to work. He also had problems with financing for a risky project about a potentially controversial subject but after the success Drugstore Cowboy studios attitudes softened.

Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves) are best friends who end up forming a relationship as they search for Mike's mother in a trip that takes them all the way across Idaho and further. The film also deals with Mike's past as a street hustler working with Bob Pigeon (William Richert) who looks after groups of street hustlers in an abandoned apartment building. Mike's sudden narcolepsy means he loses huge chunks of days and leaves him with some incredibly vivid dreams.

Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves)

The film is like a modern version of Shakespeare's Henry IV and Henry V in its themes and references, unfortunately many of these feel rather forced than subtly conveyed. River Phoenix completely throws himself into the role of the troubled Mike with great results whilst Keanu Reeves seems to just passively drift through the film with no feeling or contribution.

The pacing is incredibly uneven with the film falling into huge lulls, which at times create nice individual set pieces, but overall dont really lead anywhere before working towards an incredibly rushed final 20mins. At times the film is visually stunning but that alone cannot make up for the shortcomings of this promising film.

1.5/4 Slow and bumbling before reaching an incredibly rushed climax