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Movies / On DVD / My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho

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My Own Private Idaho (1992)

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Reviews Counted:32

Fresh:27

Rotten:5

Average Rating:7.1/10

Consensus: 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.

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Semi-documentary footage of Seattle street hustling mixes with highly theatrical Shakespearean speech in this very loose adaptation of "Henry IV." In Seattle, Mike, a male prostitute and... Semi-documentary footage of Seattle street hustling mixes with highly theatrical Shakespearean speech in this very loose adaptation of "Henry IV." In Seattle, Mike, a male prostitute and narcoleptic, meets Scott, who is rebelling against his wealthy family by working the streets. The two decide to embark on a search for Mike's long-lost mother, and their journey leads them first to Mike's home in Idaho and then to Italy. [More]

Starring: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, William S. Burroughs, James Russo

Starring: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, William S. Burroughs, James Russo, William Richert, Rodney Harvey, Chiara Caselli, Michael Parker, Flea, Grace Zabriskie, Udo Kier, Mickey Cottrell

Director: Gus Van Sant

Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Laurie Parker
Screenwriter: Gus Van Sant

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Mar 1, 2005

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for My Own Private Idaho

  • T-Meter Critics
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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
N/R

David Ansen

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 03:26 AM

Newsweek

tomato

Variety Staff

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 03 2008 07:51 AM

Variety

tomato

Wendy Mitchell

One of Gus Van Sant's most personal visions.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 03 2008 07:40 AM

Channel 4 Film

tomato
5/5

John A. Nesbit

No review available.

comment Comment | Dec., 11 2007 07:53 AM

Old School Reviews

tomato
A-

Emanuel Levy

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.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 31 2007 05:15 AM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato

Derek Adams

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 09 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

tomato
B

Nick Schager

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 25 2006 08:20 AM

Lessons of Darkness

tomato
4/5

Cole Smithey

Gus Van Sant's best movie.

comment Comment | Nov., 07 2005 06:15 PM

ColeSmithey.com

splat
1/5

Chuck O'Leary

No review available.

comment Comment | Oct., 09 2005 08:17 PM

Fantastica Daily

tomato
93/100

Jon Lap

Works as a brilliant piece of art, and entertainment.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 13 2005 03:16 AM

Apollo Guide

tomato
3/5

Philip Martin

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 06 2005 09:31 AM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

tomato
3/4

Matt Brunson

Homosexual road movie that espouses the family values of a Disney feature and the pop art sensibilities of a Warhol piece — with a dose of Shakespeare added for good measure.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Mar., 18 2005 12:58 PM

Creative Loafing

tomato
4.5/5

Jake Euker

a high-water mark in '90s independent film

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 10 2005 08:18 PM

Filmcritic.com

tomato
3/5

Robin Clifford

No review available.

comment Comment | Nov., 19 2004 07:53 AM

Reeling Reviews

tomato
4/5

Rich Cline

provocative and engaging

comment Comment | Sep., 19 2004 04:29 AM

Shadows on the Wall

splat
2/5

Daniel Eagan

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 29 2004 10:40 AM

Film Journal International

splat
2/5

Frank Swietek

No review available.

comment Comment | Mar., 24 2004 11:05 AM

One Guy's Opinion

tomato
3/5

Spence D.

No review available.

comment Comment | Feb., 10 2004 02:49 PM

IGN Movies

tomato
3/5

Alex Sandell

Bittersweet, considering the fate of Phoenix.

comment 1 Comment | Jan., 24 2004 01:09 AM

Juicy Cerebellum

tomato
4/4

Van Sant casts a gently hypnotic spell that is not easily forgotten.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 30 2003 05:04 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

 
 
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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 for Milk. The day RT sits down with them, the film has just received four... More...

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July 21, 2008: Brush Up On Your Shakespeare With Our List Of The Bard's Best Films
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