My Own Private Idaho

On chasing the illusion of home. Endlessly inventive and still emotionally resonant. I was sort of in awe of how deeply human I found this film to be considering the vast amount of ground it covers. Best thing I've seen in a while.

The shakespearian feeling made it an interest watch, but otherwise I felt that it wanted to be too many things without really accomplishing that feat. It had some powerful shots, and the whole "life's a road, use it" feeling was quite refreshing due to the narrative structure, which otherwise would have been, well, a bit of cliché, I guess. Didn't find the depicted milieu Intriguing, though.

This is the most effective "road movie" I have ever seen. It juggles this weirdly romantic, Shakespearean dreamscape very well, all while strongly embedded in Phoenix's potent and sincere performance (and wonderful hair). This film is a very dark coming-of-age tale, but there's always a glimmer of hope present in it. I really loved this and find it to be very contemporary even now, and it is probably one of my favorite films.

Artistically, it's a marvel, with an abundance of creative captures: The talking magazine covers, the sex motion-picture-stills, the stunning nature time-lapses, the bar shot half indoors, half window reflection. Story-wise, it's a mixed bag: The outsider characters are unique and refreshing (Phoenix shines), but the narrative is choppy and often hard to follow. The Shakespearean second act drags, but the separation of Mike and Scott in the third act is poignant (see the contrasting funerals).

Through a broad yet gorgeous scope, captured is the endless road of life that travels back and forth among the coming-of-age. Not far below the surface, is a melancholic journey that grasps tightly at any sliver of hope. What a joy this would be to create.