Running on Empty

source: Running on Empty

Running on Empty

When I was 16, I used to hang out with a tough crowd and my best friend at the time was a real trouble maker, we would always get into fights with other guys our age and sometimes men, and he was a really tough kid, anyway one night he calls me and tells me that he watched the saddest movie he had ever seen, he said it was the first time he actually cried since he saw E.T. I was laughing at him continuously, until I watched it and got so profoundly effected by it that even thinking about that last scene makes my eyes water. I really feel that this film was a major catalyst for many changes I made during my progression from teenager to young adult. Running on Empty is quite an achievement in filmmaking, it is as real a film as you could watch and everyone involved should be absolutely proud of it. River Phoenix will forever be missed.

This is a beautifully told story. Like one of the posters stated, it seems crazy to reiterate what everyone else has said. This film appealed to me because it concerns the protests that went on in my college days. For me, it's a story about how the choices one makes can change your life, haunt you forever, and affect those you love. The best scene in the movie, as far as I'm concerned, was between Christine Lahti and Steven Hill, who plays her father. Steven Hill has always been a favorite of mine, and in this film, he is magnificent as he comes face to face with a daughter he hasn't seen in years - and to boot, the last time she saw him, she insulted him. The scene is powerful, but what happens when Lahti leaves the restaurant is unexpected and will break your heart. It's unforgettable. There aren't any easy answers in life, and this movie won't leave you with an easy feeling. But you'll be glad you saw it.