One thing that really intrigues me about this film is when it was released: 1991 — almost 15 years before "Brokeback Mountain," which we all tend to think of as the breakthrough "gay" movie using popular straight actors as the male leads. "Idaho" was notable because it took two teen idols — River and Keanu — and cast them in queer roles. (Apparently, Keanu accepted the role immediately, but River had to be talked into it). "Idaho" is talked of as a "gay classic," and its director is obviously highly esteemed — so the film has prestige through that connection, but the artsier "Idaho" was not a mainstream sensation like "Brokeback," despite the wildly popular actors in it. Do you have any thoughts on that (apart from the "artsy" factor)?
And do you think of it as a "gay" movie?
(My own experience, on second viewing, is that the gay theme is almost incidental in "Idaho" and is crucial in "Brokeback.")
Incidentally, the campfire scene in "Idaho" — two "cowboys" in the wilderness — made me think of "Brokeback."
6 comments:
The campfire scene reminded me of "Brokeback," too.
I did not really think of it as a "gay" movie. Unlike the characters in "Brokeback," the guys in "Idaho" were on the fringe of society, homeless, doing drugs, turning tricks. And that seems more important than the gay element.
That might be one reason this movie wasn't a mainstream hit like "Brokeback": the characters weren't as "respectable" and relatable.
Also, weren't Keanu and River sort of teen heartthrobs with primarily teenage fanbase? That could have had something to do with it.
I got the impression that the characters made a clear distinction between being gay and being a gay prostitute. And I felt like the film had an almost anti-gay feel to it -- as though unfortunate circumstances could make one a gay prostitute, but you had to be really messed up to actually be gay.
That feel is quite different than the vibe I got from Brokeback Mountain, where being gay was a tragedy only because of society's prejudices.
I think Erin's right. The prostitution confused the issue and may have cheapened the audience's ability to see the feelings Mike had for Scott.
I also remember River specifically as one of those teen heartthrob types in the era of the Coreys and Kirk Cameron. I thought it was an interesting turn to take. "'This will get me off the cover of Tiger Beat,' he is reported to have said," according to ever-reliable Wikipedia. (I get kind of a perverse twist out of picturing mullish teenage girls going to see the film anyway and being greeted with that opening shot of a blow job.)
Yeah, a blowjob from a sweaty, aging old dude with a beer gut!
Until I saw that scene, I didn't realize that you could get paid for getting a blow job! That sounds like a great, uh, job.
Oh my God! You are delightfully naive. Hehe
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