Ah, what a beautiful, powerful film. So profound and poetic. River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves are incredible, delivering an unbelievable performance together. After watching My Own Private Idaho, I fully understand why it’s become a cult classic of the ’90s.
Directed by Gus Van Sant, the film breathes with vibrant colors and an unconventional storytelling style. It draws from Shakespeare in its dialogues, monologues, and certain story elements, but the screenplay and narrative are Van Sant’s own creation.
River Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix’s older brother, passed away just two years after this film, at 23, from a drug overdose. His untimely death has only added to the film’s legendary status. River was already being hailed as one of his generation’s best actors, and My Own Private Idaho clearly shows why. He plays Mike Waters, a homeless hustler struggling with narcolepsy, who could fall into a sudden sleep episode at any moment. Phoenix captures Mike’s fragility, loneliness, and yearning with such haunting grace.
Mike is a lost boy searching for a home, a family, and a sense of belonging; calling this a coming-of-age story wouldn’t feel right, as Mike is forever a child in many ways.
Keanu Reeves plays his best friend, Scott Favor, another sex worker who lives on the streets with him. Scott’s background is uniquely complicated: he comes from a wealthy family, with his father even serving as Portland’s mayor. He’s biding his time, waiting for his father to die and inherit his wealth. Scott’s rebellion is complex, and so the film includes lines from Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Henry V, with Scott echoing the strained father-son dynamics. Reeves is absolutely captivating in the role, full of charisma and allure.
The film focuses on the relationship between Mike and Scott, capturing not only the streets they roam but the journeys they take together and the paths they seek. Yet, the other characters—those who share their lives on the streets—are equally fascinating, each with richly detailed backstories. Van Sant makes homeless people, addicts, and the eccentrics his heroes. The scenes where the hustlers recount their first experiences with paid sex are striking; though they narrate traumatic events, the director presents these moments as everyday conversation, making them even more impactful.
River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves are a mesmerizing duo. My Own Private Idaho finds an incredible harmony between the dreamlike and the harsh realities of life, leaving a lasting impact that I shiver to recall. This film has deepened my appreciation for life in ways I hadn’t expected.