Running On Empty (1988)

Plot Summary

River Phoenix rose to stardom -- and an Academy Award-nomination -- in this poignant drama from director Sidney Lumet ("The Verdict," "Dog Day Afternoon"). Ex-radicals Judd Hirsch ("Independence Day," "Taxi") and Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Christine Lahti (TV's "Chicago Hope," "Swing Shift") have raised their family in hiding, constantly moving and changing aliases to flee facing charges from an inadvertent crime they committed as war protestors 15 years earlier. As their eldest son (Phoenix) comes of age, he is torn between running with his beloved fugitive parents, or developing his musical talents and pursuing his own life, which includes new girlfriend (Martha Plimpton, "The Mosquito Coast," "Goonies"). Nominated for two Oscars and 4 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture, Actress and Director, Siskel & Ebert call this "...one of Lumet's best films...one of the best movies of the year...the acting in this film is wonderful," while the Los Angeles Times praises this as "...one of those rare films likely to mean as much to teens as it does to their parents...uncommonly tender, funny and lifelike...a major American film."