26. My Own Private Idaho

26. My Own Private Idaho

Keanu Reeves puts paid to the idea that he's a limited or one-dimensional actor here, a mere two years after he gained that reputation from 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.' 'My Own Private Idaho' is the kind of film that independent cinema exists for and was far ahead of its time when it was released in 1991.

Gus Vant Sant brought us this movie, which is another case of Shakespeare's classic texts being borrowed; this time it's 'Henry IV Part 1'. It's a gritty tale which focuses on male prostitutes trying to make a better life for themselves while refusing to recognize their own sexuality, considering it to be a profession more than an orientation. Bringing it to the screen was almost a lifetime of work for Van Sant; he wrote the original screenplay during the 1970s. He had to completely re-write it after reading a John Rechy novel named 'City of Night' and discovering he'd accidentally plagiarized part of it.

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Did You Know...

I

To insure one’s house, one’s car or to underwrite a life insurance policy, that is common practice. But who would pay an insurance premium for his/her thumb, legs or smile? Stars, of course.

II

At the top of the ranking are the legs of Mariah Carey, worth 810 million USD: The diva became, in 2006, the Gillette brand muse for the advertising campaign «Legs of a Goddess». She then took out an insurance policy with London Lloyds to protect her legs, a decision that is far from being insignificant. Among its customers, the London insurer then included several icons of music, such as Bob Dylan or Rod Stewart.

III

David Beckham’s body insured for 195 million USD: European champion with Manchester United in 1999, David Beckham was in 2006 the most renowned footballer of the planet. In relation to his sporting activities, he took out an insurance cover for his legs. The huge amount paid for his insurance would reportedly exceed the 103 million USD disbursed by Real Madrid for the cover of Christiano Ronaldo in 2009. The fashion model would later extend his insurance cover to his entire body.

IV

15 million USD in insurance for Kim Kardashian’s curves: The curves of Kim Kardashian are her number one beauty asset. The reality TV star, who is crazy about plastic surgery, has underwritten an insurance policy worth 15 million USD to protect her famous butt.

V

The culinary critic Egon Ronay assured his taste buds: The famous Hungarian culinary critic has insured his taste buds since 1957, for the amount of 400 000 USD. An original insurance policy which allows him to cover his sense of taste without which he will no longer be able to practice his job.

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