Running on Empty (1988)
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A teenage boy struggles to forge an independent identity while his parents live as fugitives from the FBI.
The story
In the 1980s, Annie and Arthur Pope are fugitives from justice who fled after a 1971 anti-Vietnam War protest bombing of a napalm laboratory. They live under assumed identities in the New Jersey town of Waterford, supported by an underground network. Their seventeen-year-old son, Danny, is a talented pianist who catches the attention of his high school music teacher, Mr. Phillips. As Phillips pushes Danny to audition for Juilliard and begins probing into his mysterious background, Danny finds himself caught between his family's secretive lifestyle and his desire for an independent future.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Annie and Arthur Pope are fugitives who fled in 1971 after a protest bombing of a napalm laboratory accidentally blinded and paralyzed a janitor. Now living in Waterford, New Jersey, under aliases, they raise their sons, Danny and Harry, with the help of an underground network. Danny, using the alias Michael Manfield, is a gifted pianist. His teacher, Mr. Phillips, discovers his lack of academic history and encourages him to audition for Juilliard. During this time, Danny falls in love with Phillips' daughter, Lorna, and eventually reveals the family's fugitive status to her. Annie, a former musician herself, eventually agrees to let Danny pursue his dreams. However, Arthur is resistant to the risk. When the FBI begins searching for a comrade, Gus Winant, the Popes prepare to flee. After hearing that Gus has been killed, Arthur realizes it is best for Danny to start his own life. The family says goodbye to Danny, allowing him to stay behind as they head off to find their next identity.
- First release year
- 1988
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sidney Lumet
- Writers
- Naomi Foner · writer
- Cast and characters
- River Phoenix · Danny Pope/Michael Manfield; Judd Hirsch · Arthur Pope; Christine Lahti · Annie Pope; Martha Plimpton · Lorna; Steven Hill
- Genres
- drama; coming-of-age
- Themes
- Parental passion vs. children's independence; The cost of radicalism; Identity and secrecy; Letting go
- Tone and mood
- Sensitive; Serious; Emotionally overpowering
- Setting
- Waterford, New Jersey, in the 1980s
- Premise and plot tags
- Counterculture; Fugitives; Coming-of-age; Music; FBI pursuit
- Source material / true-story basis
- Inspired by the Sterling Hall bombing of 1970 and loosely modeled after Weather Underground leaders Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn.
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, particularly for River Phoenix's performance. It was praised for its emotional impact and sensitive portrayal of the radical movement's transition into parenthood, though some critics questioned the realism of the protagonist's musical virtuosity.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 81% · review count: 31; Metacritic · score: 67 · scale: Metascore · review count: 17; User Score · score: 8.3 · review count: 15
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Awards · Best Supporting Actor · 61st · Nomination; Academy Awards · Best Original Screenplay · 61st · Nomination; Golden Globe Awards · Best Screenplay · 46th · Win; Young Artist Award · Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The idea for the film began after producers read a newspaper story about the arrest of two fugitive radicals in upstate New York.; The Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa cited Running on Empty as one of his 100 favorite films.; The film's birthday party scene was filmed at Empire Studios in Long Island City, Queens.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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