My Own Private Idaho (1991)

This was the first Gus Van Sant movie I saw, It is an amazing piece of work. I am a fan of Van Sants movies, and he rarely has gotten better than this (I’m going to watch Milk tonight, stay tuned y’all). My Own Private Idaho is a great mix of his love (boner) for sweet young things that are sexually confused, his love of diy-street culture (Beat influenced meets 70’s hustlers), and pretentious bullshit (half assed Shakespeare references made by questionable actors…Flea?) .

But overall it really works, the cast of real actors all turn in solid performances (River Phoenix turning in his most heartbreaking performance, Udo Kier, even Keanu doesn’t suck in the context of being a dumb 20 year old), and the bulk of the nonactors are great too.

The story focuses on two homeless guys in their very early 20’s who float around the Northwest turning tricks and generally being punks. River has some Mommy issues and narcolepsy, Keeanu has Daddy issues and is a trust fundie waiting to cash in. River is actually gay and in love with Keeanu and Keeanu is actually straight and a total dumbass.

They go on a search for Rivers Mom, they run in packs of feral street urchins, rob and fuck and drink. And it is all beautifully filmed and edited. Greater than the sum of its parts, it is a gorgeous film. Considering the time that it came out its an amazing “Fuck You” to the homophobic family values set. I didn’t think of this as a “gay” film when I saw it when I was fourteen and on what must be my fourth or fifth viewing I kinda still don’t. Not to rob it of its Queer street cred but this transcends and is just about love and humanity.

Flea is annoying and Keeanu is lame, but I still can’t recommend this highly enough.