Running on Empty (1988)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer:

Naomi Foner (written by)

Release Date:

9 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

In 1971, Arthur and Annie Pope blew up a napalm lab to protest the war... Ever since then they have been on the run from the FBI. They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his.

Plot:

The eldest son of a fugitive family comes of age and wants to live a life of his own.

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam War | Government | On The Run | Fugitive | Family Relationships

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Christine Lahti	...	Annie Pope / Cynthia Manfield
River Phoenix	...	Danny Pope / Michael Manfield
Judd Hirsch	...	Arthur Pope / Paul Manfield
Jonas Abry	...	Harry Pope / Stephen Manfield
Martha Plimpton	...	Lorna Phillips
Ed Crowley	...	Mr. Phillips
L.M. Kit Carson	...	Gus Winant
Steven Hill	...	Donald Patterson
Augusta Dabney	...	Abigail Patterson
David Margulies	...	Dr. Jonah Reiff
Lynne Thigpen	...	Contact at Eldridge St.
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	School Clerk
Sloane Shelton	...	Mrs. Phillips
Justine Johnston	...	Librarian
Herb Lovelle	...	Hospital Clerk

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Finland:S | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Empire Stages of New York, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Double Play

Trivia:

Director Sidney Lumet writes in his book "Making Movies" about an argument between River Phoenix and writer Naomi Foner. A scene in the movie concerns the character played by Phoenix being interrupted while practicing a classical piano solo. In the script, when he is caught, he breaks into a jazz riff to cover his "embarrassment" at being caught doing something serious. Phoenix fought hard against this, feeling that his character would never be embarrassed about working at the piano. Lumet was so impressed by the point Phoenix made, he shot the scene the way Phoenix wanted it.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Arthur returns home drunk one night, he stumbles backwards, falls and shatters the living room table. A short while later he is shown sitting next to the intact table when Danny comes home from being with Lorna.

Quotes:

Lorna: ...So, now that we've determined that I belong here, let's talk about you.

Movie Connections:

References Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Soundtrack:

Oh Pretty Woman

Some great acting, a troubled plot

On TV, in the late 1980's, "Roseanne" and "Punky Brewster" gave us back-talking, disrespectful kids and anti-hero parental figures. The ratings went through the roof so the media started catering to the lowest common denominator on TV and in films. It has never looked back. I remember seeing this film in the 80's and distinctly thinking it was a harbinger of things to come. At the time it was shocking to hear the profane words coming out of the mouth of a beloved "Taxi" figure. (Judd Hirsch) Now profanity in place of dialogue has become the norm, and strings of curse words are used to convey deep emotion. This film helped start the trend for films with expected younger audiences.

Hirsh plays an "Abbie Hoffman" type in the film and a drunken nod is given to Hoffman's crisis of self. Of course, it is no wonder, as Abbie Hoffman had recently come out of hiding. The joke was... no one really cared. (I clearly recall a lampoon in the paper about Hoffman coming out of hiding and jokes about no one knowing who he was. "Wasn't he in Kramer vs Kramer" it read.) Had Hoffman not come out of hiding, I doubt this film would have been made. (I doubt he would have killed himself, as well.)

Knowing that the FBI had lost a lot of interest in old radicals by the time it was filmed made the subject matter more palatable to the studios while still seeming "hip."

The actors perform well but the character of the parents were nearsighted and selfish for most of their lives, and the ending can't really undo that much damage. Thankfully, though, the mother truly loves her sons and she does her best to give her elder son some type of stability in an unstable situation. The younger son seems a throwaway in the plot.

The film has more than its share of ugliness (The sleazy blond radical is disgusting) and Martha Plimpton's character is annoying more often than not. Some scenes are beautiful in the extreme, where truths are revealed. River's loyalty seems to mirror his real life experiences, once again. His character struggles to do right when all he has been raised with is wrong. If you live with a lie every moment of your life, your psyche will fracture. Phoenix does a credible job of bringing that fact to our attention as he struggles to find balance. He is both wizened and youthful in the role. Unfortunately it has become impossible to watch the actor through pristine lenses - hindsight being what it is. He was one of the greatest actors ever filmed, and like Hoffman, he has become forgotten in less than 10 years by any but true fans.