Running on Empty

Released 1988
Stars Christine Lahti, River Phoenix, Judd Hirsch, Jonas Abry, Martha Plimpton
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Reviewed June 6, 1998

In 1971 Annie (Christine Lahti) and Arthur (Judd Hirsch) bombed a napalm factory in hopes of damaging the war effort. Unfortunately, a janitor was in the building, and he was blinded and paralyzed. They immediately went on the run from town to town, changing identities with each move. As the film opens, it's fifteen years later, and they have just narrowly avoided the FBI. While on the run, they've managed to have two sons, who live with their day-to-day fear and their sudden moves.

Although the war has ended several years earlier, Arthur's radical views have not softened. He still spouts sixties' rhetoric about fighting the establishment and questioning authority. Instead of waging a large war against the government, however, he's now content with fighting smaller battles. He organizes food co-ops and starts petitions, but some of his more extremist ideals interfere with his sons' lives. For example, he forbids his eldest son from going to a chamber music recital. He feels chamber music epitomes rich, white bourgeoisie, and he won't stand for it. He would prefer Danny (River Phoenix) go to a rock concert instead. Annie, on the other hand, has mellowed. She would like to simply be a middle-class housewife and provide a stable home for her boys, but she can't. As the boys grow older, however, she starts to believe it would be better for the family if she turns herself in.

This is a family that has nothing in the world besides their foursome. They have relatives and friends from the past, but they can't talk to them. The FBI monitors those people in case Arthur and Annie try to contact them. They can't have new friends, because they're constantly moving and changing identities. So, they rely upon each other for everything. Although much of the movie centers around this fierce reliance upon each other, much of it also explores Danny's coming of age. He's seventeen, and he's at a cross-roads. He's a gifted piano player and has the opportunity to attend Julliard, but to do so would mean never seeing his family again. He also finds his first love, which further complicates things. He's torn between his life-time devotion to his family and the need to live his own life. He doesn't have much say in the matter, though, because his father doesn't want to lose him. Arthur has decided Danny will remain with the family. End of discussion.

Arthur is not a pleasant man. He loves his family, but he's burdened with the constant fear of being caught. This fear is all consuming as they stay one step ahead of the police, and it exacts a tremendous toll on him. One's mind can only handle so many worries and fears before overloading, and all of Arthur's resources are dedicated to staying free. This has resulted in him being an extremely autocratic man who makes all of his sons' decisions and won't entertain arguments or discussions. Although he wants to teach his sons to question authority and to think for themselves, he doesn't allow them to. The result is the "big rebel" has raised a timid, withdrawn young man in Danny, who does what he's told when he's told.

There's a lot of love in the family, though, and you see that during Annie's birthday party. Danny's girlfriend, Lorna (Martha Plimpton), comes to the party, and it forces Arthur to play the role of the care-free father. For a short time I think he's able to be the person he'd like to be. After the birthday cake, a James Taylor song comes on the radio, and everyone sings along and dances together. It's quite moving. You see how happy the entire family could be if they only had their freedom. You also see Danny and Lorna touch for the first awkward time. This makes the entire situation even sadder, because you know a move is imminent. One always is, and you know everyone in the room will have to lose contact with someone they love.

This film does does a great job of giving you a sense for what it would be like to on the run. You get the overwhelming feeling that it would have been better to turn themselves in a long time ago and simply do the time. I was pleasantly surprised with how little melodrama there was. There's some, but mostly this is a genuine movie about people in a difficult situation. I don't remember any scenes where they tried to manipulate you to cry. Instead, there are scenes that will compel you to cry with their bleakness or their hope.

Reviewed by Bill Alward  Home
 

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