TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Wael Katkhuda I used to laugh many times when people (around me) ask me : why do you watch this film too much! And the answer i guess was very simple: because it is a spectacular movie! For Example i still remember that i went to the cinema three times to watch Gravity back in 2013, because it was one of those films that really make you feel something. The first time when i watch a film i took a general look at the whole film ( Story line, Characters, music, etc..) and as for the second and third time, i just watch the actors performance( focusing on their faces expression, how they moved, did they delivered what we need to see, to know and hear, etc...) Running On Empty was one of those films that i had to watch three times, because it's a superb one.the story is about a family who are running away from justice after the explosion they made in a laboratory which made a guy blinded and paralyzed, and since then the family go from city to city in order to live.The movie deliver to us a superb performance by all the actors of the film, especially River Phonenix who was nominated for best supporting actor for this brilliant role. and Christine Lahti ( who was nominated for golden globe ). The character Danny which played by Mr, Phonexi is probably one of my all time favorite male characters on the screen, it gave me the same reaction when i first watched James Dean Character in rebel without a cause 1955, and no wonder why so many people considered Phoenix as the next Jame Dean, it is so sad that both of them died too young, almost at the same Age! (Dean at 24 and Phonexi at 23). But both of them gave us a real great performances in a few films.What is amazing about this film is the relation between the family members they really love each other and despite the problem they are living in, they are happy.And you can feel that they are like a one union. Now the most amazing part (or item) of this film was the music which was done by Tony Mottola (which worked also with James Dean in Giant 1956). he really did an amazing job the music is just superb and very touching and i don't know why he didn't get an Oscar nomination for his brilliant work in this film! Lumet also gave us one of his best films especially the way of telling the story of how Danny became a great pianist, we didn't know at the beginning of the film how he learned music, who taught him or from where he got his talent and at the end you knew that it was by his mother when she plays with him ( it really was a cleaver way to show it for the audience) .At the end if you are a big fan of drama and musical films, or even a piano lover, i would highly recommend this for you, because the story is great, the directing is fabulous and the acting is at the top. not to mention the great music, so what can you ask more.

SnoopyStyle Teenager Danny Pope (River Phoenix) notices that people are following him and he initiates the family to go on the run again. His parents Annie (Christine Lahti) and Arthur (Judd Hirsch) had set fire to a weapons lab credited with creating Naplam in the sixties. The family including youngest son Harry find help from supporters as they set up new identities. Danny's piano talents intrigue music teacher Mr. Phillips who pushes him to audition for Juilliard. He also catches the eye of the teacher's daughter Lorna Phillips (Martha Plimpton). River Phoenix is simply magnetic and Martha Plimpton is sweetly compelling. They have terrific chemistry together in a dramatic coming-of-age movie. The father son relationship could have been pushed harder but it has many interesting moments. This is really a great showcase for a rising superstar.

susannetownsend I was genuinely surprised by how hollow this film was. I was familiar with most of the actors and expected great performances, yet, (apparently) unlike so many other reviewers here, I was never able to believe the characters long enough to immerse myself in the film. There seemed to be a lack of character development on-screen, which led to several points of disconnect that ripped me right out of the plot each time.There were some decent scenes, like the restaurant scene between father and daughter, and overall I can't complain about the performances of either Lahti or Hirsch. But there were way too many other scenes that had me wondering why the actors chose to portray the characters as lacking any genuine feeling. River Phoenix, who was otherwise an impressive young actor, really fell flat for me several times in this way. I was never convinced that he even remotely cared for Plimpton's character. Worse, Plimpton went from sulky and distracted to histrionic so quickly, it had me wondering if the scenes that were supposed to show the evolution of her romantic feelings had accidentally been left on the cutting room floor. I mean, I know teenagers are supposed to be sullen and flighty, but I'm pretty sure most of them warm up a bit before they declare their undying "need" for the other person (amid sobs) while they are being dumped. Character progression for both Phoenix and Plimpton was stilted, to say the least.I can't imagine what was going on here with these otherwise fine actors, so I can only assume the direction failed them. That, and a plot with gaps too big to ask the viewers' imaginations to fill. For example, what were we expected to believe about the thought process behind Hirsch's character's sudden decision to set his son free? The death of Gus (heard on the radio) seemed hardly relevant. If it was supposed to be relevant, it was less than profound.One more thing that was distracting was that, while the piano playing was decent for someone who played as a hobby, it was nowhere near the level required for entry into Julliard. The violinist who auditioned right before "Danny" was clearly in a different league, and it was hard to believe the adjudicators would not have been jarred by the difference. Authenticity should matter in a film, but this director was asleep at the wheel.I am usually a huge fan of slow-paced films, but I just wanted this one to be over. Has visual storytelling come so far in the last 27 years that even mediocre TV dramas outclass this performance? Very disappointing.

Degree7 The premise is something unique, and it's a wonder there aren't more films about fugitives coming to terms with lives based on lies.But this just isn't a big or bold enough telling of such a story. Sure a lot of dramatic things happen along the way, but the writers try a little bit too hard to make the characters goody goody two shoes that need to be rooted for. There isn't exactly a lot of subtlety to the reason why this family is on the run. The family doesn't feel entirely believable as real people. There isn't a lot of faith placed in the viewer's interest. The writers felt that they had to make the parents just bad enough to warrant fugitive status from the FBI, but not so terrible that we lose all sympathy for them. They bombed a lab, but it was a GOVERNMENT lab making NAPALM. They hurt some people, but it was a JANITOR who was only MAIMED by ACCIDENT. How convenient, I hope you like rooting for the bleeding heart liberals. I just would have appreciated, as a viewer, a little bit more depth to their predicament.Other problems were that the family just seemed a wee bit too smart for their own good. Surely a couple that has been on the run for 17 years would be resourceful enough to move to another country, especially with two kids in tow. It's not like they were bound to the US by virtue of staying to visit the grandparents every so often.The cast is good, the chemistry is well played out between the actors, it's just the writing and line delivery that leaves something to be desired. There is only so much induced eye rolling from a particularly corny line or two. And in a subject as delicate as this, that is a death knell for any validity this film would have had.Decent, but forgettable.