Running on Empty

Even the happy moments in this film made me cry, even as I laughed. Warm and difficult and amazing. Christine Lahti was amazing, I would love Judd Hirsch for this and Ordinary People alone, Martha Plimpton is incredible, and as for River Phoenix, he died much too early and when he did we lost one of the best actors of our time. Sidney Lumet is a phenomenal director. This just became one of my favorite films.

Formidable coming of age movie, very well-made. As always, Lumet is able to bring out stunning performances from everyone in the cast - excellent actors are even more excellent when put in this director's hands.

A pretty good family drama. Competently made in every regard, but nothing really stands out to me aside from River Phoenix's acting.

Simultaneously tender and somber, 'Running on Empty' touches on many different dynamics and topics in a holistic fashion, barreling straight past potential melodrama into a sincere narrative. The film is carried by tear-wrenching performances, notably from Phoenix and Lahti.

Well-performed, quiet, plausible drama.

Excellent film and probably River Phoenix's best role.

80.000

I hadn't heard of this movie until I stumbled upon it by chance. Color me impressed. It veers into some cliches, but generally it's all handled with authenticity and sincerity. Some great performances helped me care about what happened to the characters. River Phoenix was a talented actor and the film world is worse off for having lost him.

Running on Empty is a rarefied tender, moving drama in which a choice must be made between staying together or splitting apart and perhaps realizing a long-deferred possibility. The parents never met whatever potential they had, owing to their fugitive life. Now, are they warranted in making their son forsake his own future?

A little too clunky and heavy-handed at times to be truly great (thank the lord there's only one classroom scene, I was very concerned during the Madonna moment), but there are some great scenes throughout and the plot is genuinely interesting from start to finish. Lumet's direction is better than some of the other trash he directed during the '80s but it's still sadly anonymous and unremarkable compared to his hey-day.

A small family drama, filled with conflicted characters and emotions. Well acted and well crafted, it just lacks magic that would truly set itself above the crowd.

This film should be called Running on Full! These actors are giving amazing performances. This made me realize why people loved River Phoenix so much.

The story is really good, and so is Phoenix in the lead role.

A very unique plot of never being able to put down roots, it's a solid drama with a great cast. The good moments are sweet and the bad moments are tragic, especially for a kid who needs to find their place and start making some choices instead of feeling so uprooted all the time. Kept thinking about what would have happened with River if he was still acting today. He's so good in this movie and it made me quite sad!

A fascinating concept with great, deep characters and relationships. Parents who were members of a domestic terrorist organization similar to Weather Underground who are wanted for a bombing with unexpected consequences have to stay on the run while raising two kids. They're all exceptionally acted. It's about sacrifice, both of parents for their children and children for their parents. Another winner from Lumet.