Do you want to see ‘My Own Private Idaho’?

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 5

A tantalizing glimpse of a talented director and his stars all at the top of their respective games, Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV is smart, sad and audacious.

100

Average Rating: 8.7/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0

A tantalizing glimpse of a talented director and his stars all at the top of their respective games, Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV is smart, sad and audacious.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 36,086

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

Gus Van Sant's dreamtime riff on Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Parts I and II" features River Phoenix as Mike Waters, a narcoleptic male hustler who is first seen drifting on a stretch of highway in Idaho. Mike shifts from Seattle to Portland, where he has taken up with Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves), who is also a hustler. The difference between them is Mike's sleepy state betrays an uncertain future, while Scott is ready to inherit a fortune from his father within a week. Mike feels a real affection

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Directed By: Gus Van Sant

Written By: Gus Van Sant

In Theaters: Oct 18, 1991 Wide

On DVD: Mar 1, 2005

Fine Line Features

My Own Private Idaho Trailer & Photos

Cast

River Phoenix
Mike Waters
Keanu Reeves
Scott Favor
James Russo
Richard Waters
William Richert
Bob Pigeon
Rodney Harvey
Gary
Chiara Caselli
Carmella
Jesse Thomas
Denise
Flea
Budd
Grace Zabriskie
Alena
Pao Pei Andreoli
Italian Street Boy
James A. Arling
Minister
Paolo Baiocco
Italian Street Boy
Mike Cascadden
Cop
Jim Caviezel
Airline Clerk
Ana Cavinato
Stewardess
George Conner
Bad George
Mickey Cottrell
Daddy Carroll
Tom Cramer
Coverboy
Sally Curtice
Jane Lightwork
Missimo de Cataldo
Italian Street Boy
Matt Ebert
Coverboy
Robert Egon
Italian Street Boy
Wade Evans
Wade
Wally Gaarsland
Rock Promoter
Scott Patrick Green
Coverboy/Cafe Kid
Stanley Hainesworth
Dirtman
Joshua Halladay
Baby Mike
Eric Hull
Mayor's Aide
Shawn Jones
Cafe Kid
Shaun Jordan
Cafe Kid
Udo Kier
Hans
Oliver Kirk
Indian Cop
Conrad "Bud" Montgomery
Rock Promoter
Melanie Mosely
Lounge Hostess
Greg Murphy
Carl
Vana O'Brien
Sharon Waters
Stephen Clark Pachosa
Hotel Manager
Pat Patterson
Cop
Robert Lee Pitchlynn
Walt
David Reppinhagen
Yuppie at Jake's
Mario Stracciarolo
Mike's Italian Client
Lannie Swerdlow
Disco Manager
Douglas Tollenen
Little Richard
Tom Troupe
Jack Favor
Steve Vernelson
Cop
Tiger Warren
Himself
Mark Weaver
Rock Promoter
Michael Parker
Digger
Jesse Merz
Mean Kid (uncredited)
Brian Wilson
Rock Promoter

Critic Reviews for My Own Private Idaho

All Critics (36) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (5) | DVD (17)

One of those ambitious, over-reaching disappointments that is more interesting than some more conservative successes.

July 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

The performances, especially by the two young stars, are as surprising as they are sure.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

An essential testament to the beauty and chops of the late River Phoenix...

May 12, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

The achievement of this film is that is wants to evoke that state of drifting need, and it does.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Even though it falters toward the end, it soars above the fray.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

My Own Private Idaho is a seminal movie for many people. It certainly has been for me.

September 17, 2011 Full Review Source: House Next Door

| Comment

Dan Callahan

House Next Door

Delicate portrayal of street hustlers isn't meant for kids.

January 26, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Sierra Filucci

Common Sense Media

One of Gus Van Sant's most personal visions.

July 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Wendy Mitchell

Film4

One of Van Sant's best films, a richly dense, poetic evocation of friendhsip that retells Shakespeare's Henry IV in an original and intriguing way; River Phoenix gives his most riveting performance.

January 31, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The film's uniqueness lies in its remarkable emotional open-heartedness.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Derek Adams

Time Out

A quite stark, poetic rumination on the unyielding desire for home.

January 25, 2006 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness

| Comment

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Gus Van Sant's best movie.

November 7, 2005 Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Works as a brilliant piece of art, and entertainment.

May 13, 2005 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment

Jon Lap

Apollo Guide

a unique, poetic work of great intimacy and sadness

March 20, 2005 Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk

| Comment

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for My Own Private Idaho

View All

Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho is less a film about the physical and more about the spiritual. Loosely based on Shakespeare, it's a beautifully-shot independent film with something to say. I can't really admit that I liked the film all that much. It takes a while to get going and there are long pauses where it

February 3, 2012

Tim Salmons

Super Reviewer

Beautifully shot and with great performances, this uneasy story pulls you in. A surprising role by Udo Kier is an extra bonus.

October 27, 2011

Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

My Own Private Idaho Quotes

View All

No quotes approved yet for My Own Private Idaho. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Submit a Quote from 'My Own Private Idaho'

A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.

Example:

Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.

Character	Quote
	Enter quote here...	Delete

Add another line to this dialog...

Let me know when its ready...

We can send you a notification e-mail when your quote has been reviewed by our editors.


or

Use my Facebook e-mail to contact me

Hide

DVD

Top Rentals

35%	The Hangover Part II
25%	Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Par...
81%	Kung Fu Panda 2
44%	Cowboys & Aliens
83%	Rise of the Planet of the Apes

More…

New On DVD This Week

25%	Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Par...
88%	Lady and the Tramp
69%	A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
21%	Fireflies in the Garden
45%	The Rebound

More…

Latest News for My Own Private Idaho

January 22, 2009:

RT Interview: Gus van Sant and Dustin Lance Black on Milk
Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black look rather exhausted at this stage in their publicity whirlwind...