River Phoenix, My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent film directed by Gus Van Sant, starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. The movie follows the lives of two young men, Mike Waters (Phoenix) and Scott Favor (Reeves), who are hustlers in the Pacific Northwest.
Mike suffers from narcolepsy, which causes him to spontaneously fall asleep, often at inconvenient times. He is on a personal quest to find his estranged mother, believing she holds the key to his past and identity. Scott, on the other hand, comes from a wealthy and prominent family; he is slumming it as a hustler as a form of rebellion against his privileged upbringing, promising to return to his “respectable” life when he turns 21.
Their journey takes them from the streets of Portland, Oregon, to Idaho and eventually to Rome, as Mike searches for his mother and Scott grapples with his identity and future. The film is notable for its dreamlike sequences, unconventional narrative structure, and its exploration of themes like homelessness, unrequited love, and the search for belonging, all infused with a poetic and melancholic tone.
River Phoenix’s portrayal of Mike Waters is consistently lauded as a career-defining performance. Reviewers often describe it as heartbreaking, vulnerable, and deeply authentic, carrying the film’s emotional weight.
Our take – BUY IT!
Available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
