reviews_and_ramblings | My Own Private Idaho (1991) directed by Gus Van Sant

Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way.

Director: Gus Van Sant

Writers: William Shakespeare (play "Henry IV"), Gus Van Sant

Release Date: September 1991 (Venice Film Festival, Italy)
27 September 1991 (New York Film Festival, USA)

Genres: Drama, Romance

Storyline: In Gus Van Sant’s masterpiece of homosexual longing, River Phoenix pines over fellow hustler Keanu Reeves. A modern gay classic. From the acclaimed director Gus Van Sant comes this widly adventurous road movie for the 90′s starring America’s hottest young male stars: River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves as two young hustlers who discover friendship and adventure on the twisting, turning road of life. Phoenix is Mike, a narcoleptic street hustler haunted by his idyllic memories of childhood and obsessed with finding his estranged mother. Reeves is Scott, a runaway rich kid who’s on a personal “crusade” to find the meaning of life, biding his time until he inherits his father’s estate. Together they’re lost in a bizarre world of wealthy strangers and stranger than life adventures. They set out to survive the odyssey but along the way come to understand each other and their place in the world, learning life’s lessons as only the road can teach.

Awards: 1991 Critics Award to Gus Van Sant, Deauville Film Festival
1992 Independent Spirit Award as Best Film Music to Bill Stafford, as Best Male Lead to River Phoenix, as Best Screenplay to Gus Van Sant
1992 Independent Spirit Award Nomination as Best Cinematography to Eric Alan Edwards & John J. Campbell, as Best Director to Gus Van Sant, as Best Feature to Laurie Parker
1992 National Society of Film Critics Award as Best Actor to River Phoenix
1993 Nova Award as Most Promising Producer in Theatrical Motion Pictures to Laurie Parker, PGA Awards
1991 International Critics' Award to Gus Van Sant, Toronto International Film Festival
1991 Coppa Volpi as Best Actor to River Phoenix, Venice Film Festival
1991 Leone d'Oro Nomination to Gus Van Sant

@IMDb
@Amazon: Is It Just Me? (2010)
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video

Cast (in credits order)
River Phoenix ... Mike Waters
Keanu Reeves ... Scott Favor
James Russo ... Richard Waters
William Richert ... Bob Pigeon
Rodney Harvey ... Gary
Chiara Caselli ... Carmella
Michael Parker ... Digger
Jessie Thomas ... Denise
Flea ... Budd
Grace Zabriskie ... Alena
Tom Troupe ... Jack Favor
Udo Kier ... Hans
Sally Curtice ... Jane Lightwork
Robert Lee Pitchlynn ... Walt
Mickey Cottrell ... Daddy Carroll
Wade Evans ... Wade
Matthew Ebert ... Coverboy (as Matt Ebert)
Scott Patrick Green ... Coverboy / Cafe Kid
Tom Cramer ... Coverboy
Vana O'Brien ... Sharon Waters
Shaun Jordan ... Cafe Kid
Shawn Jones ... Cafe Kid
George Conner ... Bad George
Oliver Kirk ... Indian Cop
Stanley Hainsworth ... Dirtman (as Stanley Hainesworth)
Joshua Halladay ... Baby Mike
Douglas Tollenen ... Little Richard
Steven Clark Pachosa ... Hotel Manager (as Stephen Clark Pachosa)
Lannie Swerdlow ... Disco Manager
Wally Gaarsland ... Rock Promoter
Brian Wilson ... Rock Promoter (as Bryan Wilson)
Mark Weaver ... Rock Promoter
Conrad 'Bud' Montgomery ... Rock Promoter
Pat Patterson ... Cop
Steve Vernelson ... Cop
Mike Cascadden ... Cop
Eric Hull ... Mayor's Aide
James A. Arling ... Minister
James Caviezel ... Airline Clerk
Ana Cavinato ... Stewardess
Melanie Mosely ... Lounge Hostess
Greg Murphy ... Carl
David Reppinhagen ... Yuppie at Jake's
Tiger Warren ... Himself
Massimo Di Cataldo ... Italian Street Boy
Pao Pei Andreoli ... Italian Street Boy
Robert Egon ... Italian Street Boy
Paolo Baiocco ... Italian Street Boy
Mario Stracciarolo ... Mike's Italian Client
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Heather J. Braden ... Yuppie at Jake's (uncredited)
Kirsten Kuppenbender ... Portland Street Girl (uncredited)
Jesse Merz ... Mean Kid #2 (uncredited)
Tom Peterson ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Eli Swenson ... Street Hustler - Seattle (uncredited)
Gus Van Sant ... Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)