Running on Empty |  | Director: Sidney Lumet
Actors: River Phoenix, Christine Lahti, Judd Hirsch, Jonas Abry, Martha Plimpton
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $0.01
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Rating:  52 reviews
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Pan & Scan
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 116 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.6 x 0.4
MPN: 11843
ISBN: 6305308853
UPC: 008539118432
EAN: 9780790739922
Theatrical Release Date: September 9, 1988
Release Date: March 30, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 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 PlimptonRunning Time: 117 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 Age: 085391184324 UPC: 085391184324 Manufacturer No: 11843 |
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Product 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 PlimptonRunning Time: 117 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 085391184324
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
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 52
 Awesome transaction. May 30, 2009
Jeffrey P. Heisler (Kenmore, WA)
The DVD arrived quickly and as stated, the DVD was in excellent condition. I am proud to have this movie in my DVD collection. Thank you.
 Underated gem! May 29, 2009
Frank Barron (Los Angeles, CA USA)
One of my favorite movies from the 80's. Judd Hirsh is fantastic! An interesting story of pseudo-radicals from the 60's who are deeply commited to their cause. The trouble is time and society have passed them by.
River Phoenix gives a good performance.
A Well-Acted, Powerful Story April 18, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
I thought this was a powerful movie about '60s radicals on the lam for 14 years and a crisis that develops when the family's 17-year-old son is talented enough to enter Juliard School Of Music which means, because of identity problems, they may never see him again. Judd Hirsch and Christine Lahti play the husband and wife and River Phoenix and Jonas Abry are their kids.
There is excellent acting in this film and particularly by young Phoenix. The story shows us a good portrait of what it must be like to live in hiding. Politically, people will view this movie as they think (conservative or liberal) because it could be viewed a number of ways.
To me, it showed the worst of what could have happened to young people in the '60s who believed they were doing the right thing but broke the law....and paid the consequence. The sad part, as this shows so vividly, is how it affects the rest of the family and others.
I think the most powerful scene in the film is when Lahti meets her dad after 14 years in hiding: very, very emotional stuff and one of the most intense short scenes I've ever seen on film.
Magic in the best sense of the word.... October 7, 2008
Angel (L.A.)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just now discovered this movie...and it is a masterpiece - a rare gem. The story sucks you in and keeps you interested. And the acting is so good...it makes you care(which is rare these days). I'm so glad I found this movie and have it in my dvd collection. I feel like this is River's finest work - and I'm honored to be able to watch it over and over again. His performance alone is worth seeing this film...but there is so much more to it...it will leave a lump in your throat and you'll know you just watched a masterpiece.
Phoenix on a Full Tank July 6, 2008
C. CRADDOCK (Bakersfield)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Running on Empty is about a family on the run. Annie and Arthur Pope (Christine Lahti and Judd Hirsch) are political activists who have bombed a napalm factory to protest the Viet Nam war. Though it was 17 years ago, and the war is over, the FBI is still searching for them. Their two boys, Danny & Harry (River Phoenix and Jonas Abry) have lived their whole lives on the run, There is an incredibly tight family bond, but it is tested when Danny shows great musical talent and his music teacher tries to get him to go to Julliard. Plus, he is falling for his teacher's daughter, Lorna Phillips (Martha Plimpton). Danny's mother, Annie, was also musically talented, but she had to give up her dreams of Julliard and a career in music for their fugitive life. She doesn't want the same thing to happen to Danny, but it would mean that she and the family could never see him.
River Phoenix did an excellent job in this film, and was nominated for an Oscar. He was uniquely qualified for this, as his own family was also very tight, and at one point they all went to South America when their parents joined a religious cult. In spite of what his parents put him through, they had a tight family bond, and he always remained loyal to his family.
Also, Phoenix was very involved in music. This offered him tons of insight into his character, Danny. He felt really strongly about his character, at one point he was supposed to be caught playing classical music, and embarrassed, switch to something jazzy. River argued that his character would never be embarrassed about his music, and director Sidney Lumet made the change. He does, however, throw in a jazzy ending when showing his music teacher Mr. Phillips (Ed Crowley) that he can play, but it is not out of embarrassment. In the scenes where he is playing, it looks like it is actually River Phoenix playing. Though a professional player may have dubbed in the music, his fingers appear to be hitting the correct keys. Whether or not he was actually playing, he shows remarkable emotional range and sensitivity in his acting. River Phoenix was born to play this role, and his untimely death was so tragic, like James Dean's or Heath Ledger's.
Director Sidney Lumet has made a great number of movies, often with a politically left stance. This movie is more about the consequences and the effects of political actions on the family. Whether or not it was the right thing to do is a question that remains unsettled. There is still a lot of anguish over what happened, because a janitor who was not supposed to be there, according to their plan, was seriously injured. And when a radical from their past shows up to ask them to partake in a bank robbery, they reject him and any involvement with guns. This movie doesn't preach about politics too much. It is more about family. One of the most wrenching scenes is when Annie meets with her father, who she has barely seen for 15 years.
All of the actors are good in this drama, but River Phoenix really stands out, and I liked Martha Plimpton a lot. Judd Hirsch did a great job as the fugitive father. He is very familiar from the TV program Taxi, where he played cab driver Alex Reiger. That show had a lasting impact, due to him and other cast members such as Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and the wildly eccentric Andy Kaufman. Judd Hirsch was in another sit com called Dear John that some might remember, or currently he can be seen as the father of a math professor and an FBI agent who team up to solve crimes on Numb3rs. On one episode they all watch TV and he makes popcorn as they watch, what else, a re-run of Taxi. According to his bio, he does have a degree in Physics. Perhaps it qualifies as irony that in Running on Empty he is running from the FBI, but on Numb3rs, his son is an FBI agent?
The family moment that stands out for me in Running On Empty is when they all sing along to You've Got a Friend by James Taylor. They also sing Happy Birthday, which they had to obtain the rights to use. Madonna and Roy Orbinson are also heard from, but for some reason, they didn't use Jackson Browne's Running on Empty, though it would have been perfect for the beginning or end, roll the credits.
TEN FILMS THAT PERTAIN TO THE ACTORS OR DIRECTOR OF RUNNING ON EMPTY
Sneakers (1992) .... Carl Arbegast was portrayed by River Phoenix.
My Own Private Idaho (1991) .... Mike Waters was one of River's best roles, and he became very close friends with both Keanu Reeves and director Gus Van Zant.
Dogfight (1991) .... Eddie Birdlace is a marine about to ship out to Viet Nam in 1963.
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade - Widescreen Edition (1989) .... After playing Young Indy he became very close friends with Harrison Ford.
The Mosquito Coast (1986) .... Charlie Fox was played by River in another award winning performance. Martha Plimpton played Emily Spellgood. Besides Plimpton, this movie is also like Running on Empty as it concerns a father who uproots his family to follow him on a quixotic quest. This time, the father is played by Harrison Ford, who has said that this is his favorite film, of all that he's done.
Stand By Me (Special Edition) (1986) .... Chris Chambers was played by River in another award winning performance.
King Of The Gypsies (1978) .... Judd Hirsch is Groffo, the King of the Gypsies, and Eric Roberts plays his son. Brooke Shields is also in this film.
Ordinary People (1980) .... Judd Hirsch played Dr. Tyrone C. Berger in this Oscar winning family drama.
Daniel (1983) .... Directed by Sidney Lumet, this is the most similar to Running on Empty, as it concerns a son trying to find out what happened to his parents who were convicted of being communist spies. But instead of going for the emotion, the son is rather aloof, and the movie is less effective.
Network (1976) This Sidney Lumet film takes a whole different approach to radical politics. In this one, the TV Networks are encouraging terrorism because they are getting great ratings. A very black comedy that targets the media's role.
Arthur Pope: Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 52
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