River Phoenix

Blog dedicated to the rare and wonderful soul that will forever be River Phoenix + films of the 70s, 80s & 90s

[rivjudephoenix]

“River Phoenix was often mocked in his day. As the vegan environmentally aware actor who made careful film choices based on his personal politics, he was seen as a little wacko, an eccentric still suffering the psychological effects of growing up in the cult, Children of God. Now he seems ahead of his time. Not only that, an exemplary figure to be revered more than ever, both for his film work and his messages. […] He remains an inspiration for those of us looking for a new masculinity. This wasn’t a man set out to compromise what was in his heart and mind to fulfil any expectations of what a young man must be” — “River Phoenix remains the antidote to Toxic Masculinity”, The Book of Man, Oct 2018

[xshayarsha]

gustave moreau’s pietà // keanu reeves and river phoenix photographed by bruce weber // jean broc’s the death of hyacinthos.

[mega90sidols]

some rare pics from Sky 🥺🥺

[rivjudephoenix]

Rare clip of River and Rain performing the original version of Lost in Motion 

[neverfeelinplace]

Watch "ALEKA'S ATTIC | RIVER PHOENIX 50" on YouTube

[rivjudephoenix]

Q: You’ve been called a sex symbol. Curious words. What do they mean to you?

RIVER: I don’t know. Anyhow, how could I be, when I’m sitting here with this thing (a knit cap) on my head, cross-eyed and confused?”

— US Magazine, September 1991

[rivjudephoenix]

Rare photos from an Aleka’s Attic show at the Bad Boy Club in San Marco, Florida

[marypickfords]

The Watermelon Woman (Cheryl Dunye, 1996)

[albertserra]

Criterion Channel is offering some of their black-centered films for free right now

Body and Soul (1925) dir. Oscar Micheaux

The Scar of Shame (1929) dir. Frank Perugini

note the director was white but the cast is all-black

Portrait of Jason (1967) dir. Shirley Clarke

note that I’ve seen this and the doc itself is a bit exploitative and hard to watch in the director’s treatment of Jason but imo still worth a watch for Jason alone

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm Take One (1968) dir. William Greaves

Interesting concept but be warned of rampant homophobia esp. use of the f slur

Black Panthers (1970) dir. Agnès Varda

Again white director but she gives the party room to speak for itself

A Well Spent Life (1971) dir. Les Blank

Suzanne, Suzanne (1982) dir. Camille Billops, James Hatch

Cane River (1982) dir. Horace Jenkins

Losing Ground (1982) dir. Kathleen Collins

My Brother’s Wedding (1983) dir. Charles Burnett

Daughters of the Dust (1991) dir. Julie Dash

The Watermelon Woman (1996) dir. Cheryl Dunye

Down in the Delta (1998) dir. Maya Angelou

And When I Die, I Won’t Stay Dead (2015) dir. Billy Woodberry

Black Mother (2018) dir. Khalik Allah

EDIT: I am in the US and know that Criterion Channel is only available in certain countries, but someone added it wasn’t region locked for them so its worth a try if you’re not in America/dont have a VPN

[rivjudephoenix]

In 1997, Van Sant was doing a reading at a bookstore from his novel Pink. (Dedicated to River, the book starred a thinly disguised version of him.) An audience member asked him who had hoisted River Phoenix’s body into the car

“I was hoping that viewers would project themselves into the film and decide for themselves who it was,” he told her. “Okay, then,” she replied. “Who picked him up in your version?” Van Sant paused. “In my version… in my version, I pick him up”

- Last Night at the Viper Room (2013)

[rivjudephoenix]

The Viper Room, Halloween 2017 Twenty four years later

[rivjudephoenix]

River backstage for an Aleka’s Attic concert at North Carolina State University with Caroline Crumpler (left) and a friend, Sept 1991

[riverpheonixs]

“I think it’s very important for the gay community to have random characters that represent nothing more than people…I think it’s part of a wave that will set a precedent of some sort so that you will no longer need a label.” - River Phoenix (The Face, 1992) River Phoenix photographed by Abigayle Tarsches

[standbyphoenix]

“Rest peacefully River. My aunt took these beautiful photos of River Phoenix back in 1991 when she had seen the band he was in, Aleka’s Attic, perform at UM. Today would have been River’s 47th Birthday and I wanted to share two of the photos she had taken that day. River has a light about him that continues to shine. His kind, caring, compassionate heart has continued to touch the lives of many. It was so special for me to see all the pictures my aunt had taken, capturing a moment in time that will last forever. Happy Birthday River Phoenix, continue to shine brightly ☀️”

- Rare photos of River in 1991 via @ loeganphotography.

[foreverthe80s]

Running On Empty (1988)

[rivjudephoenix]

Rare photo of River playing an Aleka’s Attic show at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C, 1989 [x]

[rivjudephoenix]

“It was River Phoenix who wanted his character to be gay, or to be in love with Keanu’s character. Originally the characters were both straight. River wanted there to be this affection, this love, and to have his character tell Keanu that he loved him. [smiles] Maybe he wanted to tell Keanu that…" - Gus Van Sant