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[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/running_on_empty.jpg]]

->''"Why do you have to carry the burden of someone else's life?"''
-->-- '''Lorna'''

A 1988 drama film directed by Creator/SidneyLumet, dealing with the difficult family life of the Popes, who've been running from the FBI for many years because parents Arthur (Creator/JuddHirsch) and Annie (Creator/ChristineLahti) blew up a napalm lab in a protest against UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar. Together with their sons Danny (Creator/RiverPhoenix), now 17, and Harry they keep moving from place to place, assuming new identities every time in order to keep the authorities off their heels.

Loyalities are finally put to the test when Danny meets a dedicated teacher at his new school who wants to help him get into Juillard, where Danny can make some use of his gift for piano playing. Danny falls in love with the teacher's daughter, Lorna (Creator/MarthaPlimpton), who makes him question his life and the relationship with his parents for the first time. In the end, he has to decide between his family and his future.

Having earned UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Creator/RiverPhoenix) and Best Original Screenplay (Creator/NaomiFoner), this family drama is about responsibility, loyality and growing up.

No relation to the album and song of the same title by Music/JacksonBrowne, outside of its providing inspiration for the movie's title.

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!!This film features examples of:

%%* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Danny to Lorna, as he's revealing the truth to her.
%%* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Harry.
%%* BadassFamily
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The entire Pope family count. As does Lorna.
* CodeName: The Popes put the name "Sam" on all of their birthday cakes because [[spoiler: they change their names everytime they move.]]
* ConflictingLoyalty: A central point of the plot.
-->'''Danny:''' They need me.
-->'''Lorna:''' ''I'' need you.
* CoolTeacher: Mr. Phillips, Lorna's dad, who becomes Danny's [[TheMentor mentor]] when he notices Danny's musical talent.
%%* DaddysGirl: Lorna hates being this.
* DoesntLikeGuns: Arthur. [[ThouShaltNotKill He teaches it to his sons, too.]]
%%* TheEighties
* GoneHorriblyRight: Arthur and Annie succeeded in blowing up a napalm lab as they had planned, but since they accidentally blinded a man [[DidntSeeThatComing who wasn't supposed to be there]], this single act has forced them to keep running from the authorities for years.
* GrammarCorrectionGag: After Arthur tells Annie his mother passed away, he reminisces about how she once flew to see him on a moment's notice, even though she was terrified of flying, and when he told her, "I wish it was easier," she responded, "You wish it ''were'' easier."
* {{Hypocrite}}: When Arthur refuses to let Danny go to a chamber music concert his teacher is hosting (that Lorna invited him to), Danny points out how full of it he's being, and when Arthur, upset, tells him not to talk to him like that, Danny points out, "Aren't we supposed to question authority? You taught me that!"
%%* GoodIsBoring: How Lorna thinks about her family.
%%* HippieParents
%%* {{Jerkass}}: Arthur.
* KeepingSecretsSucks: Danny is sick of having to change his identity every few months. Annie has problems with it too, but copes in order to [[ThickerThanWater protect her family.]]
* KickTheDog: The Pope family abandons their dog in a parking lot in order to get rid of tracks leading back to them.
%%* KnightTemplar: Arthur. Annie used to be one.
* LongLostRelative: Annie is this to her parents. At the end of the movie she gives her son into their care.
%%* NoMoreLies: Danny, to Lorna.
%%* PapaWolf: Arthur.
* PrecisionFStrike: Arthur's reaction when Gus wants his help to rob a bank is, "Are you out of your FUCKING MIND?!"
%%* {{Reckless Pacifist}}s: Arthur and Annie used to be these.
* ShirtlessScene: Danny while in bed and while dealing with drunk Arthur.
* SoundtrackDissonance: There's only soft piano music throughout most of the film.
* SpySpeak: Arthur uses this to get the underground movement to help him by calling them up and saying, "The cat needs to be fed."
%%* StepfordSnarker: Lorna.
* SternChase: Arthur and Annie are still being pursued by the FBI for their bombing after more than a decade has passed.
%%* SugarAndIcePersonality: Lorna.
%%* TiredOfRunning
%%* WackyParentSeriousChild
* WhamLine:
-->'''Danny:''' If you want to go back, that's fine with me.
-->'''Lorna:''' You're a bully.
-->'''Danny:''' No. I'm a liar.
%%* WhiteSheep: Danny, in the end.
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