My Own Private Idaho

With Keanu Reeves & River Phoenix as a main actors in this film, My Own Private Idaho, directed by Gus Van Sant, is a nice film to watch. Just before you start to watch it, let me remind you that this film is under 18 category, and the background of the plot is gay drama? Whatever! Watch it first and then you interpret it by your own understanding.

Ok, the story is about two street hustlers, Mike (Phoenix) and Scott (Reeves). Mike is a narcoleptic young lad, fully with lonelines, try to dreams of his mother who abandoned him without love. Scott is a mayor son of Portland, has his own agenda to humiliating his father and abandon his hustler friends with their spiritual leader, Bob. Both of them involve in male prostitute for money. However, for Mike, when his friendship with Scott developed closer, plus with his lonelines, he 'desire' for Scott.

In searching for Mike's mom back to Mike hometown in Idaho, both of them having night-camped in the middle of dry land, and here, Mike expressed his feeling and desire to Scott. So how Scott react to it? "Two guys cant love each other" ... but the most important thing during the campfire scene is the meaning of love as a friend and brother that Scott show to Mike. Watch the 2nd clip below which focus on their conversation which i think touching and full with honesty from Mike and Scott. I like the way Mike had been directed during this scene which i think the used of 'soft and falter' voice to express his feeling was so real.

Back home to Mike brother house in Idaho, he got the true story of his mom 'relationship' with his brother, and now he and Scott plan to fly to Italy to discover his mom. In Italy, we can see the real man of Scott when he falling in love with Carmella, and leaving Mike alone again which already 'fragile & crestfallen'. Scott sent back Mike to Portland, and he enjoy his new life with Carmella in Italy. When Scott back home to Portland, he already change to a rich man and important person. So what will happen to his friendship with Mike who still 'struggling' with his narcoleptic, lonelines and hopelessness? Watch this film... i really recommend it to you... it just a matter of... open your mind when you watch it. For me, i like it very much. imdb=6.9 (2March2007)