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Danny Pope (played by River Phoenix) is the main character of "Running on Empty." Danny has grown up with his little brother and two parents who have lived on the run from the feds since the early 70s. At the time of the incident, their son Danny was two years old. As the film begins, he is in his late teens, and the family, now with younger son Harry, are again relocating and assuming new identities.
Danny enrolls in a new school and immediately distinguishes himself on the piano. He seems like an obscure prodigy because no one knows anything about him and his benevolent music instructor gets little information on him. Danny is a talented pianist, in fact so gifted that when Mr. Phillips, his music teacher at the latest high school he attends hears him play a Beethoven sonata, he is so impressed that he wants to promote him among his circle of musical friends and encourages him to apply for admission to the Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan.
Danny's nervous demeanor shows that he is burdened by too many secrets and desires. Should he give up his future for the sake of keeping the family together? Or should he give up the family security for the promise of a future in a society that is repudiated by his parents?
While ever actor shines in their role, it is Phoenix who is the beating heart of the film. He is quiet and polite, but he is passionate and sincere (deliciously complex considering that his life is built on lies).
Based on the search results, some of Danny's most memorable and poignant lines include:
Emotional confession to Lorna:
"Now, I have no right in telling this to you. It's dangerous for you and it's dangerous for them, but i'm sorry i just couldn't stop myself. You can do what you want to, you can tell your dad; anything, i don't care. I just needed you to know... I don't know what i'm doing, and i love you."
Dialogue with Lorna about her aspirations:
"They need me." / "I need you."
Final exchange with his father Arthur (the film's last lines):
Arthur Pope: "Get the bike out of the back. Now, get on it." Michael: "What are you talking about, dad..." Arthur Pope: "Get on the bike. You're on your own, kid. I want you to go to Juilliard." Michael: "But, dad, I want to go with you."
Arthur's final words to Danny:
"We all love you. Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. And don't let anyone tell you any different."
The character of Danny Pope represents the tragic cost of ideological commitment on the innocent, as he must choose between family loyalty and his own dreams.
The film received two nominations at the 61st Academy Awards (Best Supporting Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Screenplay for Foner), with Phoenix's performance being particularly acclaimed for its emotional depth and authenticity.
While the quotes are accurate, presenting dialogue where Danny is called 'Michael' without clarifying this is an alias creates potential confusion about the character's identity. The film's entire premise revolves around the family constantly changing names and identities, which is crucial context for understanding why the same character is referred to by different names.
The AI Summary doesn't specify what happened to the janitor in the bombing. Most authoritative sources state the janitor was 'blinded and paralyzed' (not killed), which is an important detail about the crime that drives the family's fugitive status. However, since the query specifically asked about the main character and memorable lines, this omission is less critical.
While the AI Summary mentions Lorna in the context of Danny's quotes to her, it doesn't explicitly identify her as the music teacher's daughter and Danny's romantic interest, which is central to understanding the emotional stakes of the quotes provided.
The AI Summary only mentions the two Academy Award nominations but doesn't note the film's Golden Globe success, including winning Best Screenplay and receiving nominations for Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director, Best Actress (Lahti), and Best Supporting Actor (Phoenix).
The main character of Running on Empty (1988) is Danny Pope, played by River Phoenix. Danny is a teenage son of fugitive activists Annie and Arthur Pope who have been on the run from the FBI since bombing a napalm laboratory in 1971, which blinded and paralyzed a janitor. Danny was two years old at the time of the incident and has spent his entire life moving from town to town with his family, constantly assuming new identities (such as 'Michael Manfield' in the film's final scenes).
Despite this unstable existence, Danny is a gifted pianist whose talent catches the attention of his music teacher Mr. Phillips, who encourages him to apply to the Juilliard School. Danny also falls in love with Lorna Phillips, the teacher's daughter. The film centers on Danny's internal conflict between family loyalty and his own dreams of a normal life and musical career.
MemOrable lines from Danny include:
The film's final scene features dialogue between Danny (using the alias Michael at this point) and his father Arthur, where Arthur tells him to get on his bike and go to Juilliard, saying: 'We all love you. Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. And don't let anyone tell you any different.'
River Phoenix received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for this performance (though many felt he should have been nominated as Lead Actor), and the film was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Phoenix's portrayal was widely praised as the emotional heart of the film, with critics noting his ability to convey Danny's complexity, vulnerability, and the burden of living a life built on lies.