Running on Empty

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Cast & Crew

Christine Lahti

Annie Pope, Cynthia Manfield

River Phoenix

Danny Pope, Michael Manfield

Judd Hirsch

Arthur Pope, Paul Manfield

Martha Plimpton

Lorna Phillips

Jonas Abry

Harry Pope, Stephen Manfield

Ed Crowley

Mr. Phillips

L.M. Kit Carson

Gus Winant

Steven Hill

Donald Patterson

Augusta Dabney

Abigail Patterson

David Margulies

Dr. Jonah Reiff

Sidney Lumet

Director

Amy Robinson

Producer

Griffin Dunne

Producer

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Critic Reviews for Running on Empty

Audience Reviews for Running on Empty

• Apr 25, 2022

  Lumet's sympathies obviously lie with the politics of the radicals but he allows the narrative to honestly deal with the fallout of their choices. River Phoenix is really good here, convincingly playing the heart of the movie.
  

  Super Reviewer
• Sep 19, 2012

  A passable effort from the late great Sidney Lumet. Delves too much into movie of the week type of fare.
  

  Super Reviewer
• May 09, 2011

  Annie Pope: What are we doing to these kids? They've been running their whole lives like criminals, and they didnt do anything!  "They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his." I seldom cry during a movie, and I never cry upon repeat viewings of a film. That is unless it is Running on Empty. There's two parts of this movie that I tear up at every time. There's the scene near the middle where the family and Lorna dance to "Fire and Rain" because it directly ties to the ending, which is the second scene I always tear up to. That scene in the middle is one of my favorite scenes of all-time, and easily one of the most touching. Running on Empty is also one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. Arthur and Annie Pope are activists that blew up a napalm plant in the late 60's. A mistake was made and a janitor was blinded and paralyzed. The two have had run ever since, with little to no contact with their parents. They have two sons, Danny, who is a senior in high school, and Harry, who is ten. The two kids have grown accustomed to leaving town and changing their identity and we are shown that right at the start of the film. We see Danny riding his bike home, where he spots cars posted up outside his house. He knows exactly what to do because he has had to do it before. The family leaves their house, their dog, and all their belongings behind. They make off for a new place to live, where they will have different hair colors and different names.  This film isn't about the parents or their mistake. It is about their oldest son, Danny. Danny has been moving around like this since he was two years old, so it isn't anything new to him. He is used to leaving friends and pets behind. He knows not to get to close to people or let people get to close to him. That all changes when he chooses music as his elective at the new high school he is attending. See, Danny is a very gifted piano player, and his music teacher takes a liking to him right away. Soon Danny takes a liking to the teachers daughter, and she likes him back. The teacher also is hassling Danny to apply to Juilliard, which isn't really an option because that would mean leaving his family behind, and possibly never seeing them again. It is a very character driven film. The father wants desperately for the family to stay together and does want to hear anything about Danny leaving them and going to college. The mother feels guilt for putting her kids through all this and wants to make it up to them. Both of them are great parents though. They have raised their kids with good, strong values, and you can tell from how they act that they have been raise well.  Running on Empty is underrated and under seen film. It is a Sidney Lumet film and really doesn't come up in the discussion of his best films. Everyone talks about Network and Dog Day Afternoon. I've always found it hard to choose between my favorite Lumet film. It's always been close between Dog Day Afternoon and Running on Empty. Well upon another viewing of Running on Empty, this is my favorite. It is so wonderfully uplifting, sad, and powerful. It is beautifully acted by everyone. River Phoenix gives a tremendous, Oscar nominated performance. In my opinion, he deserved the Oscar. Kevin Kline was great in A Fish Called Wanda, but the range of Phoenix's performance is astounding. Christine Lahti and Judd Hirsch are wonderful as the parents.  I strongly recommend everyone to watch this film. You may not have heard of it and it may not be the easiest movie to track down. But if you get a chance to watch it, take it. I don't believe you will regret it. Arthur Pope: Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. Don't let anyone tell you different. 
  

  Super Reviewer
• Aug 31, 2010

  I really like this movie a lot. Sure, it's mostly because of River Phoenix and his extremely deep performance, but it's really a different type of movie. I think the family on the run scenario works well here. Not knowing the whole story at first makes it such a suspenseful storyline. You have these almost scarily selfish parents who rob their kids of a life in order to escape police capture. While you ultimately feel sorry for them, you almost feel just as angry that Danny can't have any real emotional attachments or relationships.
  

  Super Reviewer