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Returning home is an important theme shown in "My Own Private Idaho" *Spoiler alert
2020.04.11
What River Phoenix brought to you
We can't forget the contributions of two major stars, River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. They co-starred after starring in ` `I Love You '' (1990), and although neither of them were A-rank stars at the time, they were still supported by young audiences, and the films they starred in were also hits. Actor on sale. Phoenix says her agent objected to her taking on the risky role of a male prostitute at such a time. However, he fell in love with the script and secretly appeared in the role without telling his agent and took on the role without any pay.
Mike, played by Phoenix, is not only a male prostitute, he is separated from his parents, has become increasingly lonely, and is also suffering from an incurable disease called narcolepsy, which causes sleepiness due to extreme stress. They are Outsider who are overlooked, abandoned, and forgotten in general society. Phoenix completely immersed himself in the role and went into filming. His acting was highly praised and he received high praise, including winning the Best Actor Award at the Venice International Film Festival.
"My Own Private Idaho" (c)Photofest / Getty Images
As I mentioned earlier, the filming location was filled with a free atmosphere, and everyone was able to come up with ideas. Phoenix makes a suggestion when filming an important scene in the story. This is the scene where Mike and Scott sit around a bonfire during their trip. Mike confesses his love to Scott, but the original script did not specify that Mike was gay. That was an idea added at Phoenix's suggestion. This is how the heartbreaking famous scenes that left a strong impact on the viewers were created.
Scott, on the other hand, has a friendship with Mike, but everything about him is the complete opposite. Comes from a wealthy family. He has a sociable personality and is good at promoting himself, attracting many people. If there is a negative point, it would be that she is rebellious towards her father. Although he is a wealthy character that could be seen as a negative, Reeves embodies this as a full-blooded person, and at the same time shows that he has good compatibility with Phoenix.