Review of Running on Empty (1982) by Steve M — 04 Apr 2006

[b]Stand By Me[/b], directed by Rob Reiner, is another screen adaptation of a Stephen King story. The film is set in the 50's, and revolves around the friendship of four 12 year old boys. Gordie (Wil Wheaton) is the smart kid who's adult self (Richard Dreyfuss) also serves as narrator. Chris (River Phoenix), who comes from a broken home, is the sensitive leader of the group. Teddy (Corey Feldman) is the emotionally fragile one, while Vern (Jerry O'Connell) is insecure chubby kid. They boys gather for a long hike in search for a dead body, all the while trying to ward off Ace (Kiefer Sutherland) and his band of teenage thugs who alwyas try to make their lives miserable.

[i]Stand By Me [/i]is one of the most loved coming-of-age stories for good reason. The script is well written, the boys believable, and the period setting gives the film a timeless nostalgic feel. Boys will be boys, but the script is deep enough to show us things are not as inncocent as they appear on the surface. All of the boys have issues they must deal with, and uncertain futures leading into junior high. Their journey is fun, yet revealing. All of the young actors fare well, with River Phoenix showing the most promise. Keifer Sutherland is memorable as their nemisis. John Cusack also has a small role as Gordie's brother. It's a film for the ages.

[b]Running on Empty[/b], directed by Sidney Lumet, is an excellent, yet woefully overlooked family drama. Arthur and Annie Pope (Judd Hirsch and Christine Lahti) are a pair of 60's radicals who have been on the run from the FBI for 16 years after blowing up a napalm plant. In tow are their two sons, 18 year old Danny (River Phoenix) and 10 year old Harry (Jonas Abry). As authorities close in on them they are forced to move at any given moment, where they all assume new names and identities upon reaching a new city. Things get complicated when Danny falls in love with Lorna Phillips (Martha Plimpton), the daughter of his music teacher. Danny is also a talented pianist who is encouraged by Mr. Phillips to apply to Julliard. Danny becomes torn as he must make a choice, follow his dreams, or stay with his family. If he decides on Julliard he won't likely see his family again.

[i]Running on Empty[/i] is a fantastic little film, one deserving of a much greater following than it has. It's works well as a family drama and a coming-of-age story and features a smart script, fine performances, and excellent direction from Lumet. There are many fantastic moments, and the film flows naturally never feeling forced or overly melodramatic. Not that there are not some emotional scenes, but all are handled with utmost care. This is the best role of River Phoenix's brief career, and Christine Lahti and Martha Plimpton are also very good. I highly recommend this neglected gem.

[b]After Hours[/b], directed by Martin Scorsese, is a black comedy set during one night in a Soho neighborhood. Griffin Dunne stars as Paul Hackett, a mild mannered yuppie who meets the lovely Marcy (Rosanna Arquette) at a coffee shop. His misadventures begin when he decides to meet Marcy at her roommate's apartment. He arrives at the apartment to find Marcy gone, but roommate Kiki (Linda Fiorentino) there. Kiki is a sculptor with a unkish, alterantive lifestyle falir, and Paul finds himself in an uncomprimising position. When Marcy returns Paul loses interest, finding her to be insecure and fragile. He tries to take the train home, but doesn't have the money. He returns to Kiki's apartment to find her gone and Marcy dead of an apparent suicide. He sets out again, meeting a collection of odd characters along the way, and finally he's mistaken for a burglar that has been prowling the neighborhood. The film also features Terri Garr, John Heard, Cheech and Chong, and Catherine O'Hara.

[i]After Hours[/i] starts off promising enough. We have a New York backdrop Scorsese is famous for, an interesting premise, and a collection of odd characters to keep our interest, And it mostly works for about 2/3's of the film with plenty of odd and funny moments. However the film completely loses it's charm in the last act, when Paul is running from a neighborhood mob that mistakes him for a burglar. Perhaps Scorsese didn't know how to end this, but it went from a smart oddball comedy, to silly as soon as he took this route. Too bad.

[b]Atlantic City[/b], directed by Louis Malle, is the highly acclaimed drama about an aging mobster wannabe named Lou (Burt Lancaster) who happens upon a young man named Dave (Robert Joy) who has stolen a large amount of cocaine from the mob. Dave had come to Atlantic City to move the drugs and to stay with his estranged wife Sally (Susan Sarandon) who works at a local casino and hopes to become a black jack dealer. Dave uses Lou's apartment to store the drugs, and also uses Lou to make the first delivery, which nets them $4000. However the mob close in on Dave, killing him when they don't find the drugs. Lou uses the drugs to become a high roller and also moves in on Sally, who has aroused the suspicion of the mob. He becomes her protector, but she isn't wise on Lou. Eventually the mob links the two, leading to a showdown between Lou and the mob.

[i]Atlantic City[/i] isn't a "mob movie" in the tradition of [i]The Godfather[/i] or [i]Goodfellas[/i], and it feels more dated than many of the films of this era, but it certainly has it's moments. Susan Sarandon flashes some of the skills that would make her one of the modern era's most celebrated actresses, but it's really Burt Lancaster that is the heart and soul of the film. He gives a wonderful performance. The biggest problem with the film are some of the supporting characters, which range from uninspring to annoying. I also don't think the film effectively captured the atmosphere of Atlantic City in a way that the similar (and better IMO) [i]Casino [/i]did of Las Vegas. It's an interesting film, worth seeing only for Lancaster and Sarandon's performances, but certainly not as praiseworthy as critics deemed this upon it's release.