10 Irresistible Movies Inspired By The Genius Of Shakespeare
5. My Own Private Idaho
Gus Van Sants very loose adaptation of Henry IV Part One, Henry IV Part Two and Henry V earns its looseness by being a near perfect piece of cinema which depicts the 20th Century drifting scene.
Setting aside my dislike for Keanu Reeves (I know he is a nice guy, I just do not think he can act), Reeves and River Phoenix excel as Van Sants script explores homosexuality, drifting and a sense of numbed identity. Any clichés are conquered by the sincerity both Reeves and Phoenix imbue the characters. The Shakespearean influence take a back-seat here to a brilliant example of Van Sants directorial ability and Phoenixs acting skills, but the seeds are there, and the Bard's influence in the original material is as obvious as the director's flair in the execution.