Running on Empty | River Phoenix, Christine Lahti | Notes from the Underground....

Running on Empty | River Phoenix, Christine Lahti | DVD format

DVDs:

Running on Empty

	Running on Empty River Phoenix, Christine Lahti Warner Home Video, 1999 average customer review:based on 49 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Two fugitive radicals must face the painful consequences of their teenage son striking out on his own. Year: 1988 Director: Sidney Lumet Starring: Christine Lahti, River Phoenix, Judd Hirsch, Martha Plimpton

Notes from the Underground....

This movie about 70's radicals living life underground and on-the-run with their two sons in tow, after their bombing of a napalm factory resulted in the paralysis and blinding of a janitor who wasn't supposed to be there, is actually a unique and beautifully told family drama, with a superbly chosen cast and some very fine writing to commend it.

River Phoenix plays the oldest son Danny, who is a gifted pianist and is old enough to begin resisting the fugitive life that has been thrust on him, Jonas Abry as his little brother, Christine Lahti as his beautiful mother and Judd Hirsch as his still true-believer father. The details of how they live their lives underground, ready to run at any instant, working the gray areas of the economy for cash as fry cook or receptionist or whatever is convincing. Yet they have a warm and rich family life.

Although the events and situations that bring enormous stress into this family, fracturing what has been a functioning, albeit odd, modus operandi revolve around the rise of the undeniable talent of Danny and his desire to pursue his own dreams, it is also a result of the numbing strain of 17 years on the run that is felt especially by Lahti's Annie. A once Julliard-caliber musician, like her son, she threw her life away with her "act of conscience". The resolution of all this rings true.

If for no other reason, this movie is worth seeing for one scene, which I consider one of the finest moments by two actors ever captured on film, and that is the scene between Christine Lahti and Steven Hill as her father. This brief meeting in a very high class New York restaraunt with the fugitive daughter and her prominent industrialist father, who hasn't seen or heard from her in many years, is gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, devastatingly honest and about as "true" a moment by both actors as I have ever seen. It is remarkable.

There are many good scenes in this film, and Sidney Lumet elicits superb performances here as he always seems to do in his best work. This is a lovely film, and it is well-worthwhile.

for more information click here

DVD format

This DVD is only available now in 1.33 full-screen. I've read that this actually gives you MORE visual data than the theatrical version (as the film was supposedly originally shot in full-screen and then had the top and bottom of the screen lopped-off in theatrical rectangular shape -- and was presumably shot with this intention. And as such, the full-screen version is as good or better than what we'd get from a widescreen format.)

Turns out that all of the above is not true. The full-screen version is in fact Uber-cropped.

At any rate, despite the miscasting of Judd Hirsch as the ex-'60s-radical-turned-father, the movie itself is one of those rarefied things that's so good it tends to escape hype --- or even adequate attention. The drama is understated and River Phoenix is as gulp-inducing as ever.

Sad, sad, sad...

for more information click here

A film to grow, laugh, cry and live by, eviscerated my memories

So yeah, I have wanted for sometime to review this movie. I was around 11 or so when I first saw it with my mother. I remember trying to hold back tears at the final scene, when Judd drives away in the car, and I couldn't. I was so hiding back the huge lump in my throat and the water in the corners of my eyes, but I did regardless; and I knew then, that movies, beyond all conceivable recognition, can shape, mold and understand who we are really. That scene evokes every emotion any man can muster, and if it doesn't well, then perhaps a little head examining is in order. Why can't these movies get more appreciation than they do, (of 314 reviews, 212 people gave Travolta's Face off Five Stars, sigh)

During the early years of River, and not to long before Empty, when he was in Stand By Me and the absolutely remarkably engaging 'Mosquito Coast', a little gem called "Running On Empty" found its way into some people's hearts. Now I am not one for definitive research. I know what I know (and that's not very much) and I just go with the flow from watching the films, rather than doing research on them. With that being said, I must tell you that I wish, especially in this day and age, more films were made with such sincerity and such magic, that we, as movie lovers, can see some of the actors we may or may not know very well and completely and utterly come out and dance with their talents, and this movie here, this one that you should buy instantly, is such a film.

Christine Lahti knows how to play a mom perfectly, she screams mother in all her warmth and tenderness, and still manages to understand the complexity of teenage life, as only a real mother could. The added duress the boys and her are under is so present in her moods, her actions, her on screen stress reactions to given situations, you can feel this struggle building up in every part of the film [especially when she meets her father in the restuarant for lunch, and I must say I was hypnotized and choked up and this chemistry, this magic wonderment that every teenager dreaming of acting and to be 40 feet tall on the big screen should watch and learn from this. They play off each other so well, and even though the scene is what, less than a few minutes, you are instantly transported into both their heartache and understand what they are both going through, instantly]. That, my friend, that in its estatic boldness, is what I believe the essential craft of two people playing off each other is about.

I can sit sometimes in a theatre, and want to reach out for some actors and shake them this way and that and to and fro, and tell them, "come on, I know you have more than that upstairs..."

I once set eyes on Juillard, I dreamt of it and believed in myself so much. I told everyone I was going there regardless of where the road led. To know Danny's (River's) dream to defy all conventional odds and be great at his fingered gift, and see this dream spilled out to us in his minds eye and have it, essentially, become reality, really hits home. I envied him.

Judd Hirsh is superb as the stand-offish, domineering father, who's most important intrinsic belief is sticking together. If they are not cohesive in their building block of family, than they are nothing. Nothing without each other. They must be one, they must be complete, for one entity to let go is for a piece of the puzzle to be missing, and that, in his world, is utterly unacceptable, at all cost. You can see that wall, that brick foundation if you will, slowly and surely break down throughout the film, yet done graduely and professionally. What great understanding Sidney Lumet has with his actors. I wonder how many takes were, "Ok Judd, Ok Christine, River, just go with your emotions...see where it takes you." I am sure quite a few. In one scene in particular, River and Judd exchange very odd dialouge in regards to him sleeping with (Lorna) Ms. Plimpton; River is straight forward and direct to his father, and you can tell by both of their demeanor that River has lied to him before, and it was not accepted well. To be able to write that in a review, and to get that from a film, to predict in this imaginary world in which we are allowed to view, what happened to these characters in younger years and at odd intervals in their thwarted lives, shows me how painstakingly beautiful the world of cinema can be; either that or I need to up my lithium. :)

It is a shame to know what 'could have' been for River. The Academy sure understood this pure, refined, magical talent in Mr. Phoenix. It's one of those small time movies that shows a roll can move montains, similiar to that of Leo's nomination in "Whats Eating Gilbert Grape." That sort of 'breakthrough' role that set them on pace with some of the greats.

It is not often a film can make me cry and cry and think and dream and wonder, and realize how amazing life can be if we truly put our hearts into something. Maybe I am stretching this a bit far, but if you have never seen this film, and I understand there are many who have not, I implore you with every joint I can muster, buy it, watch it, delve into its magic, let it open your heart and tug at it for a bit, and let it sit there on your shelf, next to the classics, next to the tear jerkers, and allow it to magically pull you in too, as it did me, over and over again.

Cheers.

Ken

P.S. keith right on: "He was an actor whose tank never would have run out." --Keith Simanton

for more information click here

Magic in the best sense of the word....

I just now discovered this movie...and it is a masterpiece - a rare gem. The story sucks you in and keeps you interested. And the acting is so good...it makes you care(which is rare these days). I'm so glad I found this movie and have it in my dvd collection. I feel like this is River's finest work - and I'm honored to be able to watch it over and over again. His performance alone is worth seeing this film...but there is so much more to it...it will leave a lump in your throat and you'll know you just watched a masterpiece.

Phoenix on a Full Tank

Running on Empty is about a family on the run. Annie and Arthur Pope (Christine Lahti and Judd Hirsch) are political activists who have bombed a napalm factory to protest the Viet Nam war. Though it was 17 years ago, and the war is over, the FBI is still searching for them. Their two boys, Danny & Harry (River Phoenix and Jonas Abry) have lived their whole lives on the run, There is an incredibly tight family bond, but it is tested when Danny shows great musical talent and his music teacher tries to get him to go to Julliard. Plus, he is falling for his teacher's daughter, Lorna Phillips (Martha Plimpton). Danny's mother, Annie, was also musically talented, but she had to give up her dreams of Julliard and a career in music for their fugitive life. She doesn't want the same thing to happen to Danny, but it would mean that she and the family could never see him.

River Phoenix did an excellent job in this film, and was nominated for an Oscar. He was uniquely qualified for this, as his own family was also very tight, and at one point they all went to South America when their parents joined a religious cult. In spite of what his parents put him through, they had a tight family bond, and he always remained loyal to his family.

Also, Phoenix was very involved in music. This offered him tons of insight into his character, Danny. He felt really strongly about his character, at one point he was supposed to be caught playing classical music, and embarrassed, switch to something jazzy. River argued that his character would never be embarrassed about his music, and director Sidney Lumet made the change. He does, however, throw in a jazzy ending when showing his music teacher Mr. Phillips (Ed Crowley) that he can play, but it is not out of embarrassment. In the scenes where he is playing, it looks like it is actually River Phoenix playing. Though a professional player may have dubbed in the music, his fingers appear to be hitting the correct keys. Whether or not he was actually playing, he shows remarkable emotional range and sensitivity in his acting. River Phoenix was born to play this role, and his untimely death was so tragic, like James Dean's or Heath Ledger's.

Director Sidney Lumet has made a great number of movies, often with a politically left stance. This movie is more about the consequences and the effects of political actions on the family. Whether or not it was the right thing to do is a question that remains unsettled. There is still a lot of anguish over what happened, because a janitor who was not supposed to be there, according to their plan, was seriously injured. And when a radical from their past shows up to ask them to partake in a bank robbery, they reject him and any involvement with guns. This movie doesn't preach about politics too much. It is more about family. One of the most wrenching scenes is when Annie meets with her father, who she has barely seen for 15 years.

All of the actors are good in this drama, but River Phoenix really stands out, and I liked Martha Plimpton a lot. Judd Hirsch did a great job as the fugitive father. He is very familiar from the TV program Taxi, where he played cab driver Alex Reiger. That show had a lasting impact, due to him and other cast members such as Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and the wildly eccentric Andy Kaufman. Judd Hirsch was in another sit com called Dear John that some might remember, or currently he can be seen as the father of a math professor and an FBI agent who team up to solve crimes on Numb3rs. On one episode they all watch TV and he makes popcorn as they watch, what else, a re-run of Taxi. According to his bio, he does have a degree in Physics. Perhaps it qualifies as irony that in Running on Empty he is running from the FBI, but on Numb3rs, his son is an FBI agent?

The family moment that stands out for me in Running On Empty is when they all sing along to You've Got a Friend by James Taylor. They also sing Happy Birthday, which they had to obtain the rights to use. Madonna and Roy Orbinson are also heard from, but for some reason, they didn't use Jackson Browne's Running on Empty, though it would have been perfect for the beginning or end, roll the credits.

TEN FILMS THAT PERTAIN TO THE ACTORS OR DIRECTOR OF RUNNING ON EMPTY

Sneakers (1992) .... Carl Arbegast was portrayed by River Phoenix.
My Own Private Idaho (1991) .... Mike Waters was one of River's best roles, and he became very close friends with both Keanu Reeves and director Gus Van Zant.
Dogfight (1991) .... Eddie Birdlace is a marine about to ship out to Viet Nam in 1963.
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade - Widescreen Edition (1989) .... After playing Young Indy he became very close friends with Harrison Ford.
The Mosquito Coast (1986) .... Charlie Fox was played by River in another award winning performance. Martha Plimpton played Emily Spellgood. Besides Plimpton, this movie is also like Running on Empty as it concerns a father who uproots his family to follow him on a quixotic quest. This time, the father is played by Harrison Ford, who has said that this is his favorite film, of all that he's done.
Stand By Me (Special Edition) (1986) .... Chris Chambers was played by River in another award winning performance.
King Of The Gypsies (1978) .... Judd Hirsch is Groffo, the King of the Gypsies, and Eric Roberts plays his son. Brooke Shields is also in this film.
Ordinary People (1980) .... Judd Hirsch played Dr. Tyrone C. Berger in this Oscar winning family drama.
Daniel (1983) .... Directed by Sidney Lumet, this is the most similar to Running on Empty, as it concerns a son trying to find out what happened to his parents who were convicted of being communist spies. But instead of going for the emotion, the son is rather aloof, and the movie is less effective.
Network (1976) This Sidney Lumet film takes a whole different approach to radical politics. In this one, the TV Networks are encouraging terrorism because they are getting great ratings. A very black comedy that targets the media's role.

Arthur Pope: Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. Don't let anyone tell you different.

for more information click here