Movie Review by Bill Rendall

Running on Empty

Bringing up a family while being on the run from the FBI is the difficult task faced in Running on Empty. The focus is on the older son (River Phoenix) who has reached the age when he has to leave his family, maybe never to see them again, if he wants to get on with his own life.

The look of Running on Empty is deliberately subdued. The family do not want to draw attention to themselves so they wear plain clothes, drive plain vehicles and live in plain houses. They are always ready to flee at a moment's notice abandoning all their possessions, so they don't accumulate things of value. The one exception is the practice piano keyboard that Phoenix always takes with him.

It seems incredible but Phoenix has somehow learnt to play piano so well that he is offered a place at the Juilliard School of Music. This presents a dilemma for Phoenix. He wants to go to Juilliard but to do so he will have to come out from cover and leave his family. To add to his dilemma he falls in love with his music teacher's daughter (Martha Plimpton) and doesn't want to leave her either.

Phoenix auditions to go to Juilliard without his parents knowing. His mother (Christine Lahti) finds out from his music teacher and seeks out Phoenix who is practising on a school piano. In a touching scene Lahti joins Phoenix in a piano duet. We find out that she too is a talented pianist and has been helping Phoenix learn to play over the years they have been on the run.

Lahti arranges a meeting with her father (Steven Hill) to ask him to take Phoenix. The scene where they meet is one of the most touching movie scenes ever. The father and daughter haven't met for over fifteen years. During the scene Lahti is very emotional but Hill is doing his best to keep a lid on his emotions. When Lahti departs he can't contain his emotions either.

Because of it's subtle look and slow pace Running on Empty was never likely to be a big hit at the box office but Phoenix deservedly received an Oscar nomination for his acting performance. He went on to attain cult status after an early death. Plimpton, his real life girlfriend when Running on Empty was made, also gave a strong performance for a young actor.

The movie's soundtrack was understated but very effective. In particular the James Taylor song 'Fire and Rain' features very effectively. The family have seen sunny days and lonely times, and they certainly know what it is like to wonder if they will see loved ones again. Running on Empty is a sleeper movie that I highly recommend.

Director: Sidney Lument

Screenplay: Naomi Foner

Music: Tony Mottola 

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