Review of Running on Empty (1988) by Harry W — 15 Feb 2013

The only real flaws with Running on Empty is are that it has slow pacing, and unfortunately if the viewer isn't in the proper state of mind, that does end up affecting the viewer. Running on Empty also focuses mainly on River Phoenix, and although he is interesting, it seems that there's less effort in the subplots and they could have expanded on the rest of the family a little more. It also relies on the actors to bring the drama into it without supplying them with sufficient plot dynamics in the first place.

What keeps the viewer watching is the fact that this low budget drama is acted excellently as features one of the greatest performances by River Phoenix's in the actor's tragically short career. Rarely is an actor this young able to achieve such talent and the ability to transition into adult roles so flawlessly, and it just makes it all the more sad that he only lives until 23.

Christine Lahti and Judd Hirsch also did great jobs playing convincing parents dedicated to the cause even though it has affected their lives so much, and their family chemistry is very convincing and makes it seem as if they are a real family to the viewer.

Martha Plimpton also did a great job playing opposite Phoenix, and she supplied great emotional drama to her own character and character motivation to Phoenix's. The gradual building attraction between each character and loving chemistry makes their relationship rise above a shallow teenage romance and becomes tearfully believable and as mature as any adult relationship can be in a film.

Running on Empty is made very well for it's fairly low budget and has a consistently strong screenplay which draws much strength, as well as excellent direction by Sidney Lumet. But it seems as if with Running on Empty that since the premise, screenplay and acting is so strong, he didn't need to give much. He could have put more focus into pacing the film properly though.

But one of the saddest things about Running on Empty is that in the sequence where Phoenix tells Plimpton that he'll never be able to see her again, it reminds us that we won't be able to either, as Phoenix died in 1993, and that makes me cry.

Running on Empty succeeds because of it's exploration of developing from a teenager into an adult and it's study of emotions and complicated family relationships, and because of the heart wrenching drama that comes with it.

So to summarise, Running on Empty was a good low budget drama that provided a front for an excellent performance by River Phoenix and covered many themes very well. This is definitely a film I'll remember, and one I'll probably like more the next time I see it.