Running on Empty

Amazon.com essential video

It's difficult to watch this involving family drama and not end up mad at River Phoenix. He was such an incredibly talented, believable, available actor that it makes you mad at him for leaving us so soon. He's particularly good here as Danny, a talented musician and the eldest son of a couple of former war protestors (Christine Lahti and Judd Hirsch). Their bombing of a napalm plant during the Vietnam War makes their small, nuclear family act as fugitives, never letting themselves settle down, never leaving traces, one step ahead of the law. This works for the splinter group of rebels until Danny meets a teacher who believes in his talent, and meets the teacher's daughter, Lorna (played by Martha Plimpton). Danny's love for Lorna and his aspirations to attend Juilliard put the family in jeopardy of finally being tracked down. It's saying something that in this impressive ensemble cast, ably directed by Sidney Lumet, Phoenix sticks out. He was an actor whose tank never would have run out. --Keith Simanton

Description

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

Customer Reviews:

A film to grow, laugh, cry and live by, eviscerated my memories.......2007-06-19

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

Notes from the Underground...........2006-07-29

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.

DVD format.......2006-02-16

This DVD is only available now in 1.33 full-screen, but as I understand it, this actually gives you MORE visual data than the theatrical version as the film was apparently 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. As such, the full-screen version is as good or better than what we'd get from a widescreen format. (The same is true for certain other films).

At any rate, 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...

running on empty.......2005-09-27

a dvd i ordered arrived in a case with cling wrap cellotaped an no dvd in it.not impressed at all.

Superior drama that shows how it's done.......2005-09-15

One of the best things about this film is found in the details. When Judd Hirsch, as the patriarch of a family constantly on the run from the FBI, throws a couple of vegetables to his son played by River Phoenix, the director, Sidney Lumet, doesn't use that old cut trick--one hand throwing, another hand catching. He actually has River catch the stuff that's thrown to him. When River plays the piano, Lumet doesn't cut away from the keyboard to show the actor's face, then cut again to the sight of hands playing. He shows River playing the piano. It's a real pity River's not here anymore. He had gallons of talent.

This is a film whose emotional base is rock solid because the characters are flesh and blood, with real feelings--warmth, dignity, fear, and hope--that give the story tremendous depth and substance.

One sidenote of interest. The young actor who plays the younger son in the family, Jonas Abry, was coached for this film by my mother who is a children's acting coach. (He does a great job, if I do say so myself!)

Everyone in the cast is fine, but the two standouts are River Phoenix and Christine Lahti. As Judd Hirsch's wife, she is not only perfectly cast, but fits her role like a hand in a kid glove. You can't see anyone else doing this as well. Maybe Sissy Spacek, but this unique combination of toughness and warmth is not quite a Spacek character--nor is it quite a Jodie Foster character either. It's Lahti's role all the way and she's really great.

One of the best things about this DVD is that it's really inexpensive. My advice is to buy it; you can't do much better than this for solid American drama at a great DVD price.

Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

The Mosquito Coast/Running on Empty
Starring: Harrison Ford , Helen Mirren , River Phoenix , Conrad Roberts , and Andre Gregory
Director: Peter Weir , and Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0000E6FPN
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Charlie Rose with Pete Peterson; Howard Rubenstein (July 15, 2004)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Pete Peterson; Howard Rubenstein (July 15, 2004)

Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Charlie talks about the effects of a rising deficit on Social Security and Medicare with Pete Peterson, who is the author of Running on Empty. And then, there is a conversation on public relations with Howard Rubenstein, of Rubenstein Associates. Rubenstein has worked in public relations for more than 50 years.

Running On Empty-and How To Overcome Job Stress

Average customer rating:

Running On Empty-and How To Overcome Job Stress

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FZEMWC
Release Date: 2006-05-31

Description

This documentary follows the men and women who work the night shift at Detroit_s Receiving Hospital, a level 1 shock trauma center. These individuals deal with stress levels higher than most of us could imagine and they have a lot to say about stress management. This documentary goes inside the ER and suggests ways that workers on distress deal with stress and burnout. Included are ways to fight demoralization, depression, and exhaustion in any workplace. Produced by veteran filmmaker David Hoffman.

Average customer rating:

Running on Empty

Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000GAKBRQ
Release Date: 2005-11-29

DVD:

DVD

DVD