In hindsight of My Own Private Idaho and what I know of Gus Van Sant - it was easier for me to read Gerry as a romance. I have the feeling that the film would have been more eagerly-accepted as such had the two leads been of opposite gender. With the film's sole two characters as the same gender - it offers some interesting insights into the nature of how males compete, are interdependant and relate - even more interesting when taken in a subtly romantic context. The similar and contrasting qualities both men have (which Van Sant experiments with visually - having Damon's more assertive and "masculine" Gerry stand atop a higher mountain in one scene, as an example) has caused some to theorize that both are really two pieces of the same person. Both interpretations allow for some interesting looks at the film's final sequence (be it erotic, or self-transformation).
Gerry may be an interesting film (or experiment) in its own right, but it's even more interesting as a piece of Van Sant's evolving oeuvre and a look into attitudes on American cinema. Its mixing of several filmmakers creates a melting pot of ideas and ambiguity - which may allow for some flaws, but overall it is for the better, not the worse.
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