~by Gregg Rowe~
With glee I get to design my Bower:
Private theme My Own Private Idaho --
Wont be a place where the air is sour,
Nope, displayed males fluorescent lights will glow!
It would be a step from where I come from --
Least there would be an immaculate shower,
Bedroom, headroom, high ceilings, -- loo for fun
Where is the King where I can deflower
Hark! There he is! Placing my wallpaper
On my wall thus marking my destiny
Then with my breath an exit of vapour
Sit choose a bottle from the winery
Then he says to me everything is fine
On my door appears number sixty-nine
Author notes
My Own Private idaho
http://www.myownprivateidaho.com/
Synopsis
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=My_Own_Private_Idaho&printable=yes
Story
The film follows two street hustlers, Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves), as they embark on a journey of personal discovery that takes them to Mike's hometown in Idaho and then to Italy in search of Mike's mom. Scott is based on Prince Hal, the son of the king in the Shakespearean history Henry IV. He is the son of the wealthy mayor of Portland, Oregon and claims his street behavior, which includes prostitution to male clients, is largely rebellion. Mike, however, is gay, narcoleptic and has no other means of support. The two develop a strong friendship that is tested by Scott's ambivalence to street life and his forthcoming inheritance, as well as Mike's romantic affection for his companion.
Production and release
The screenplay originally consisted of two separate scenarios: the first was called Modern Days and it recounted Mike's story; a second one updated the Henry IV plays with Scott's story. Van Sant realized that he could blend the two stories together in the manner of the "cut up" technique used by writer William S. Burroughs. In essence, this method involves various story fragments and ideas mixed and matched together to form a unique story. The idea to combine the two scenarios formed in Van Sant's head after watching Orson Welles' Chimes at Midnight.
Initially, no studio would touch the script because of its potentially controversial and off-beat subject matter. After Drugstore Cowboy received such favorable critical raves and awards, studios started to show some interest. However, they all wanted their own versions made and not Van Sant's. This frustration prompted the filmmaker to attempt the feature on a shoestring budget with a cast of actual street kids filling out the roles. Fortunately, New Line Cinema were in the process of branching out into producing arthouse films and decided to back Van Sant's vision with a $2.5 million budget.
Once the financial backing was secured, Van Sant faced the problem of casting the two central roles. He decided to send the script to the agents of Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, figuring that their agents would reject the script. However, Reeves' agent was amicable to the project, but Phoenix's agent wouldn't even show the screenplay to the young actor. Once Van Sant got by their agents and talked to the two actors he realized that they were up to the challenge. Reeves and Phoenix had their doubts about such a risky venture but decided to take the plunge and made a pact to do the film.
My Own Private Idaho, like many arthouse movies, did not enjoy a wide release but did garner its share of critical acclaim, particularly for the photography and the performances by the actors. Critics of the film described the story as weak and meandering, and the ending as unnecessarily ambiguous. Van Sant was also criticized for his mixing of Shakespearean dialogue with more modern vernacular, in lines such as "this bike was caught with much ease." Nevertheless, the film became an instant classic of gay cinema. The performance by Phoenix, which was considered one of the finest of his career, permanently cemented his position as a gay icon.
Another memorable performance in the film is that of William Richert as the "street tutor" named Bob, a character based on Shakespeare's character Falstaff, and German actor Udo Kier.
In a list
A contest entry
- The Bowers of HUGUELOT Contest by huguenauties.
525 points, ended February 28, 2007, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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You deserve applause for working humour into sonnet form, and describing your bower with concrete imagery. It seems the perfect spot for whatever you have in mind.
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Nice flow. Very wimsicial, though serious too. I like the old timey language. The synoposis is interesting.
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What a priceless entry! I'm glad you were able to participate in the contest. Now that I think about it, I believe I still owe you a couple of reads from one of my contests you entered a while back. Wow, I will have to make a note to myself on that one.
Good luck and best wishes,
~J.
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lol great write! now i truly loved this one.
Til
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Heard of the movie but never saw it (I tend to avoid everything with Keanu "I can't act" Reeves, lol.) But I think I know the song. B52's wasn't it?
I shall leave you and the King to yourselves.
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Lol... This is cute, Gregg... and I'm so glad you've felt up to writing an entry into the contest And even a most interesting and informative author comment, too
You barely made it, my friend, but you did make it. Good luck in the contest
love and
Dee
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GOODONYA GREGG
Dear Gregg, You are in BIG trouble scaring me the way you did earlier! But I'm glad you're OK and I'm happy to see you managed to get your entry in before it closed, at least you made the effort dear Brother and I'm proud of you because I know how hard it's been for you to write.
Love to you.
PS. I almost forgot.
I love your poem.
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Dear CODPCE,
Thankyou for your entry in this Huguenauties contest.
As I do not own a computer but use Hugh’s from time to time, I have asked Hugh to comment on my behalf on each entry to save my travelling across town each time.
Thankyou for understanding and excusing me.
Good luck in the contest.
Regards, Heathcote.
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Dear Gregg,
The King applauds your heroism
with a Huguelot ovation
though you used much Wikipedia
in overt collaboration.
That you rose from your bed of pain
to do your very best,
the King salutes your entry in
this castle bower contest.
Your bower will have all that you need
to write, to draw and paint,
and all the other things you do,
however weird or quaint.
If anyone should criticise
your use of Van Sant's plot,
your bower they soon will realise
is the gayest at Huguelot!
The King regrets that you're too late
His Highness to deflower.
His chastity was lost to mate
Queen Edna in her bower.
~~~
Knowing the effort it has taken you to enter,
I thank you buddy and wish you best of luck in the voting.
Love, Hugh R.
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