Running on Empty Dreams (2009)

About a married woman who falls in love with a single mom.

Director:

Nitara Lee Osbourne

Writer:

Nitara Lee Osbourne

Stars:

Kathleen Benner, Rachel Owens, Jose Rosete

Cast

Credited cast:
Kathleen Benner	...	Sydney Harris
Rachel Owens	...	Jane Smith
Jose Rosete	...	Corey Harris
Wil Rillero	...	Matt Harris
Sevan McBride	...	Tony Smith
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gilbert Andrews	...	Brick Lifting Claimant
Casey Bank	...	Restaurant Extra
Jarrod Brenner	...	Club Dancer
Deuandra T. Brown	...	Waitress
Ellen R. Brown	...	Restaurant Extra
John Brown	...	Church Goer
DeAnna Cali	...	Trisha Jameson
Demi Christianson	...	Club Waitress
McKinley Clemonts Jr.	...	Drs. Office Visitor / Church Goer
McKinley Clemonts Sr.	...	Church goer

Storyline

Young and athletic Sydney Harris finds out that she has six months to live unless she and her husband can come up with the money for her medical treatment. Sounds simple enough; get the money, save her life. But her underpaid, working class husband can't afford the treatment. And time is ticking away. As Sydney begins to seek out a means to save her life, she begins to question her existence and does some soul searching, only to find herself falling in love with a single mom in the neighborhood that Sydney and her family have just moved into. Sydney is then forced to choose between her religious upbringing, her husband and son, and a love that she hides, all while fighting a losing battle to save her own life.

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Plot Keywords:

love | lesbian love | lesbianism | illness | lesbian | 

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Taglines:

Are you moving toward something or running away from something?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Running on Empty

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Running on Empty Productions, Bassline Digital, TKH Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Color:

Color (HDTV Color) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

So, I'm at the Blockbuster today with my partner and we liked the DVD cover...BUT

Film making 101:

Sorry. I have seen a lot of lesbian themed films and I REALLY WANTED TO LIKE THIS. Don't get me wrong its not the worst film ever made ...but the premise was so confusing!?! The DVD jacket says "Forced to Deny their Feelings" WHAT?! when? Their first kiss was so, ew, cold. no heat. I never once got a feeling these women were "hot" for each other. I never once got the sense that they were attracted to each other.

FAULT #1: LOW BUDGET. You can always tell low budget by the long single shots at say, a table, or washing dishes with no cut always. CLOSE UPS could have provided some intimate moments between the 2 women.

FAULT #2: WEIRD SCRIPT? (HUGE RELIGIOUS OVERTONES) WHO was this film made for?

FAULT #3 : When how and why am I supposed to believe these women both turned lezbo and the way it unfolded was sooooo BAD Made-for-TV awkward and not believable. I found myself with my jaw opened several times yelling out loud "oh hell no that did NOT just happen?!"

PLUS: GOOD ACTORS. Rachel Owens, Kathleen Benner and I did like the lead male in particular, Jose Rosete, who was portrayed as a compassionate, loving, hard working guy and not a jerk (as in, say, Thelma and Louise). This I appreciated.

PLUS: The kid actors I hope careers continue cuz' they shined for being in an awkward kind of weird lesbian low budget film.

KUDOS TO the actress who played "Geri" (I think Amber Ryan)? who played the extreeemely "stereotypical dyke" who although her acting was troubled by the direction or decision of grabbing her crotch (gross) I thought would have been more fun if the character was say, a ghost? or the main characters angel or subconscious or something.

Que Sera Sera. In conclusion: A for effort to the director, producer and all involved. BUT DO NOT EXPECT MUCH. THE ARE FAR BETTER Gay films our there. Just hope they keep making 'em.