In only his third feature, New Queer Cinema icon Gus Van Sant lassoed two rising Hollywood stars for his dreamy-eyed arthouse film about two Portland hustlers. River Phoenix – Gen X’s James Dean, achingly vulnerable – plays a narcoleptic who falls in love with his straight best friend (Keanu Reeves), a Prince Hal-esque rich kid tender with his friend’s feelings ... until he’s not. Delectably off-kilter and teeming with gosh-wow visuals (a house falls from the sky, clouds skitter by in time-lapse, porno mags talk back), the film’s most special effect is capturing Reeves and Phoenix in full, luscious bloom of youth. The campfire scene will gut you. – Kimberley Jones
