Gus Van Sant’s poetic 1991 road movie is truly affecting, traveling a sad, lonely and visually stunning path that beautifully evokes a state of drifting need and passionate longing. River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star as young hustlers: Mike Waters, a sensitive narcoleptic who dreams of the mother that abandoned him, and Scott Favor, the wayward son of a rich family and the object of Mike’s desire. Navigating a volatile world of junkies, thieves and johns, they take a dreamy quest from the grungy streets to the open highways in search of home. But, don’t fear, it’s not all a total downer; Udo Kier even sings and dances with a lamp. A pioneering American work filled with stylized flair, surreal imagery, Shakespeare references and two seriously sexy leads exploring their abilities, My Own Private Idaho helped take New Queer Cinema mainstream, cemented River Phoenix’s legacy and still leaves an impact on anyone who watches it.
