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My Own Private Idaho

My Own Private Idaho

Drama · 1991

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

Movie details

My Own Private Idaho

“Wherever, whatever, have a nice day.”

1991 Drama 1h 44m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over My Own Private Idaho?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Gus Van Sant

Written by

Gus Van Sant

River Phoenix

River Phoenix

Mike Waters

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves

Scott Favor

James Russo

James Russo

Richard Waters

William Richert

William Richert

Bob Pigeon

Rodney Harvey

Rodney Harvey

Gary

Chiara Caselli

Chiara Caselli

Carmella

M

Michael Parker

Digger

Court is in session

Put My Own Private Idaho on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.