Review of Running on Empty (1982) by Jose M — 07 May 2009

River Phoenix was a blisteringly powerful performer and Running on Empty stands the test of time as an everlasting testament to his potential. As a film, this is a very solid and engrossing performance piece with especially strong performances by Christine Lahti (who was snubbed of recognition in the form of an Oscar nomination for her poignant performance) and River Phoenix, who conveys the intricacy and the internal torment of his character in a very moving and deft fashion.

As the son of fugitive parents who constantly move from town to town, leaving him with few attachments, and very little in the way of stability outside of his familial unit, Phoenix captures every bit of detail in the way only a veteran could have; his Academy Award nomination was justly earned, and I'd have had no qualms with him winning for this performance.

As for the technical aspects, Running on Empty stands as one of the better films made by cinematic master, Sidney Lumet, whose ability to tell a story is unparalleled. The character development is what makes the film so masterful, and that is precisely what Lumet does well here, and the script is just as compelling.

This film comes highly recommended.