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At this stage of his career, Keanu Reeves has pretty much cemented himself as the go-to action star, thanks to the impact of the highly acclaimedJohn Wickmovies. But before the actor found his footing in the action realm through movies likeSpeedandThe Matrixfranchise, the actor did showcase his versatility as an actor through projects likeMy Own Private Idaho.
However, tackling a project that deals with such a sensitive topic was a big risk for Reeves, who made a name for himself among the young demographic throughBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. But despite the risks involved, the actor didn’t budge away from the project despite having an intense experience.
Also read:“You go so numb you can’t talk”: MCU Actress Went Through Hell While Working With Keanu Reeves in $60 Million Action Movie
DoingMy Own Private Idahowas an intense experience for Keanu Reeves
AlthoughKeanu Reeveswas adamant about starring inMy Own Private Idahofrom the get-go despite the risks involved, working in the drama was one of his most challenging roles for him to date. Considering the actor was just done filmingPoint Breakand was still in the character of Johnny Utah, the challenge of tackling such a layered role inMy Own Private Idahowas overwhelming for him. But after garnering some boost from his costar River Phoenix and director Gus Van Sant, he did manage to overcome the odds, delivering an exceptional performance as Scott Favor.
“Shooting was a very intense experience.”Reeves explained.“I had just finished Point Break and was still into my character – I felt a bit of anxiety about Idaho. I was overwhelmed at what I had to do—it was like, Oh, no! Can I do this? I was afraid. But Gus and River made me fit in. Said, ‘Let’s do one b*tchin’ movie.’”
But unlike Reeves, who had no problem starring in the drama, convincing River Phoenix to star in the project took some effort fromThe Matrixstar.
Also read:“They reflected back to the viewer what they couldn’t see on screen”: Keanu Reeves led $3B Sci-fi Franchise Designed Tech that Helped Audience See Beyond the Frame
Keanu Reeves traveled thousands of miles to make sure River Phoenix takes the gig
Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix were great pals in the early 90s, as they starred together inI Love You To Deathbefore Phoenix tragically passed away two years afterMy Own Private Idaho. But initially, after the director wrote the script for the film by keeping the two actors in mind, thus sending them the offer, apparently River Phoenix’s agent didn’t want her client to see the story. But after director Van Sant askedThe Matrixstar to pay his pal a visit at his family ranch in Florida, Reeves hop on his Norton Commando motorcycle, traveling thousands of miles to meet Phoenix in person.
Fortunately forThe Matrixstar, it didn’t take a lot of convincing to make River Phoenix agree to play the tragic character of Mikey Waters, a drug addict, and a male pr-stitute, suffering from narcolepsy. Although they were aware of the risk that was involved in tackling such sensitive roles, the two did go on to commit to the material, delivering an excellent job.
“We were excited. It could have been like a bad dream—a dream that never follows through because no one commits, but we just forced ourselves into it.”
Also read:“I got kicked in the teeth and maybe deservedly so”: John Wick Star Keanu Reeves Openly Admits he Deserved Being Bashed for This One Performance
For Keanu Reeves, working inMy Own Private Idahowas a significant turn in his career, as it made him synonymous with handling such layered characters, and the actor remains grateful for that.
My Own Private Idahois available to stream on Apple TV.
Source:Interview Magazine
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2539
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
