Running on Empty Dreams (2009)

Wonderfully offbeat film!

Overrated

Excellent but underrated film

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

What exactly is the message of this film? Because an hour after watching and wracking my brain, I'm still confused on the plot. Regardless of the terrible story line, I'm pretty certain that it was Christian propaganda. The forbidden fruit references/symbolism start early on (apples everywhere) but it doesn't click until stereotypical butch Geri comes into the picture, harassing the women about their relationship. She eventually reveals herself to be a born again Christian who has forsaken her only true love for a relationship w Christ. But that's not even the half of it as far as the *out of left field* twists and turns this movie has for literally no reason. I just don't get the message. Dare to be happy w someone who truly loves and sees you, and be doomed to hell; or be w someone who doesn't notice that you're sobbing uncomfortably throughout sex, doesn't care about you outside of an objectified stand point, and married you straight out of high school when you had no idea who you were- so that God won't punish you? Or when you realize that either way you're doomed to hell, just kill yourself/possibly suddenly die of cancer? Please, someone help me get it because I really really don't. If you're actually a queer identifying person, don't watch this movie unless you want an entire lifetime of brainwashing to be regurgitated in slow, unexpected heaves over the course of two hours.... I would've appreciated this movie being more appropriately categorized so I could've missed this retraumatization completely....

I'm independently studying script writing,and journalism, and not for some academic credit or academic cause. I have read interviews with Nitara Lee Osbourne, the script writer & eventual film director, and post production interviews with Kathleen Benner. Full credit to Nitara for exploring her own life experiences, and with her creative character writing skills, creating a script worth producing. The cast was great, Nitara went by her instincts in casting both Sydney & Jane, with a fantastic result despite long days filming and a few hurdles in securing the perfect scene locations, taking her time to get the perfect match, the girls even spent some time together pre-production, giving them time to get close and form a bond, producing the necessary chemistry that shines throughout their story. I watched the film twice, as I missed a few subtle things the first time around. The music was fine, there were a few what if's, and I was left at the end, staring into space, blankly reading the credits, grateful for the ones that genuinely love me. It could have done with, "A little light of love", by Eric Serra, over the credits, and I give it 8/10 for it's truth on life & love. Well Done.

I'm going to go with the "I have a friend"...Crisp and clean. Very nice camera work. Great performances from the three leads, and the butch. It could have had a bit more interaction with the kids involved. When you think about something like this actually going down, I think the majority of the viewers main interest out there is what the experience is like from children's side of things.A story about love, twisted love, with a twist. A scripted view from someone on the inside, or on the outside looking in very closely. How does a women hide her feelings, her true feelings? She keeps them bottled up until she's about to burst, like most of us would! I "have a friend" who's a gay male, on the verge of coming out for the closet. Though he's not married with a son. A new start, a new place, and another problem to make things a little tricky for the relationship(s).Not much going on with the special features. As much as I liked the behind the scenes, it wasn't enough. It could of taken advantage of this type of story that I'm sure is going on quite often in this time and day to really talk about how these experiences effect people. This movie was made to stand out, and it does. But I wanted more out of what, how And why the film was made, by the people who made it. Very disappointed the special features aren't packed to the max with more information!

Paying attention to a film, a story and an experience like this can work wonders on what it is you look for in your idea of entertainment.The story weighs you down. A lot going on with our lead couple. Some problems I can relate to. Money problems, stress and being married in general. More stress, more stress and more stress. Makes sense when a couple of other things come into play. A family dealing with cancer is something that can be devastating. There is no "what if" there. Relating to most of the above is like waking up every morning.Now what if someone else, a threat, enters your situation and makes it worse? Another woman on the verge of taking away your wife, your family, your life as you once knew it.It can get worse and it does get worse.Sidney didn't know what she was getting into. Her fate wasn't meant to be, but it's as if she was almost set up to find herself in this situation. She had enough pain in her life. Everything she went through, what if she enjoyed it that much until the very end? Corey did everything he could to help. Or did he? What if he did more? Of course he could have done more. Jane doesn't get anything. She doesn't get one ounce of pity from me. What if Jane lived on a different street. What would have happened to this family that already had enough to deal with on a daily basis? I loved the acting. The music was a little all over the place. Very independent. Good movie.