It’s his birthday today.
Just as I will never get over Kurt Cobain’s death, and will never stop missing him and wondering what he would be doing now, I will never get over River Phoenix’s death. Losing the two of them in the space of six months was a mile-marker for my generation. I will never stop missing both of them. I will never stop wondering “What would River Phoenix be doing now? What kind of roles would he get? What kind of middle-aged actor would he have grown into?”
One of the most popular and well-trafficked post in the history of my site – people are still finding it, still leaving comments – is the conversation Matt Seitz and I had about Dogfight.
Dan Callahan is eloquent on River Phoenix in his book The Art of American Screen Acting, vol. 2, and we discussed it when I interviewed him.
Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, 1991, for Interview magazine:
From interview with the two actors in Interview magazine, 1991:
KR: Um, who knows? I really would like to do Shakespeare with River. I think we’d have a hoot. We could do A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Romeo and Juliet.
RP: I’ll be Juliet.
Peter Bogdonavich’s piece on River, directing him in his last movie, was touching (which I know you’ve read). The most heart-breaking part was when the Phoenix family got sued for breach of contract when River died during filming. “Corporate greed has no bounds,” I believe Bogs wrote (if I can call him Bogs. Bought and read enough of his darn books).
Emily – oh yes that piece is so damn sad.
River. My age-12 crush on Chris in Stand By Me is immaculate and eternal. He had already died — his death gives the end of that movie such an ache. And then the crush compounded by the bravado of young Indiana and the vulnerability of Michael (from Idaho; that photoshoot with Keanu, please, it does me in). He just had it. He makes me so sad, I wish he was still here.
Oh gosh, Stand By Me. Just a truly extraordinary child actor – I couldn’t believe it when I first saw it. I thought they all were very good, but HE … he was clearly different. He had an epic quality – even then!!
I was “there” when he emerged – and – there are only a couple of figures that come along each generation where you’re like, “Oh. You’re ‘the next one.'” Whatever that means. Like … you’re not just going to have a good career – you’re going to be IMPORTANT. Mickey Rourke was like that for me – he was our Brando. And River Phoenix was the next one. His performance in Running on Empty STILL blows me away. It still makes me sad to think about – and yes – Michael in Private Idaho – look at where he was willing to go, the risks he took – and so young!
He makes me so sad, too. I can’t help but wonder – what would he be doing? what kind of middle-aged actor would he be? A sort of Leo type? Or would he have gone the totally indie route? Would he have quit and become a Tibetan monk? You know, these are all possibilities.
He was so special.
I showed Running on Empty to my brother the other day and he was so incredibly impressed by River’s talent, especially when his character loses it crying at the end after keeping it all pent up for so long. And just the quiet scene where he plays piano with his mom? It really is such a gem of a movie.
We also had a thoughtful musing convo of “God he’d only be in his fifties by now…he’d have bagged ALL THE AWARDS.” I will also always wonder.
Gemstone – I will always wonder too.
I miss him so much. He was “touched” as they say. Running on Empty is just a fave – it’s so powerful. I love the scene where the girlfriend comes over for dinner – and they all dance to James Taylor – all one take, it’s just magic and yet so bittersweet and sad too.