#dogfight river phoenix

[cristinaricci]

RIVER PHOENIX 1991 | Dogfight

[cinematicmasterpiece]

dogfight (1991)

[moncherelephant]

clingy

[thecampfirescene]

Dogfight is entering the Criterion Collection on April 30!

Director Nancy Savoca recalls the night she was prepared to remove her name from the film — and then River Phoenix called. 

[River] was in Florida at the time I was up in the Bronx, and we talked for several hours on the phone, and it was just this great conversation,” said Savoca. “He really was talking about trying to explore different characters and push against the roles he’d been playing. He was very interested in playing someone who he couldn’t understand.” [...] “That got me very excited because that meant that the discoveries he was going to make, I was going to be able to catch on film, so it was a very good, juicy conversation,” said Bronx native Savoca, who remembered how Phoenix ended the call. “He said, ‘By the way, your voice sounds just like my mom She’s from the Bronx too.’ I was like, ‘OK, I’m really in. I’m like his mom.’”

[...] In essence, the film Savoca had made was not for the young market at the test screenings, and that Warners intended to reach. The studio believed the problem could be solved by making the ending less ambiguous, supplying a clearer resolution for the conflicted characters. [...] The director recalled the painful last few days aimlessly tinkering away on the film with editor John Tintori, knowing the studio was in the process of revamping her movie, but being out of the loop of those plans.

And next thing I know, River calls me, and he goes, ‘Are you going to be there?’” said Savoca, who remembers the fateful call like it was yesterday. “And I said, ‘Where?’ And he goes, ‘Well, we’re doing a shoot next week.’ And I said, ‘No, I didn’t know about it.’ And he goes, ‘Oh, OK, I’m not going.’”

The now-20-year-old star refused to participate in the reshoots when he learned Savoca hadn’t written the new pages and that she wouldn’t be there to direct. Savoca remains in awe of how gutsy the young actor was in standing up to the studio.

“He totally supported me,” said Savoca. “I am incredibly indebted to him. If he would’ve gone, I would not have that film, I wouldn’t have made that film.”

IndieWire, April 2024

[nellarw95]

Happy Heavenly Birthday River 🎂💔

River Jude Bottom Phoenix 🤍

August 23,1970 - October 31,1993🙏🏻

We Miss You So Much 🕊️♾️

Buon Compleanno in Paradiso 🎂💔

23 Agosto 1970 - 31 Ottobre 1993🙏🏻

Ci Manchi Moltissimo 🕊️♾️

[stephstars08]

The Only Exception

River Phoenix x Reader

Warnings: Some Adult Language, Angst, Fluff, Mention of Messy Divorce, Mention of Fighting, Abandonment, Mention of Sexual Activities, Daddy Issues, and Possible Grammar Errors (Sorry if I Forgot Any!!)

Summary: Growing up Y/N’s mother always told her that there is no such thing as true love and for a long time Y/N believed her mother. Well, until she met a blonde haired boy named River Phoenix.

Song Inspiration: The Only Exception by Paramore

Word Count: 1,451

Author’s Note: This is my first River Phoenix story. I know there aren’t a lot of River Phoenix stories on here and some people wanted me to write for him so I finally did! I’ve been wanting to write a story based off this song forever since it’s been one of my favorite songs ever since I was a little girl so I definitely suggest listening to the song before reading! I hope you all enjoy!🩵

Y/N is from a small town in Ohio but moved to California after she turned eighteen and has now lived there for almost two years. The reason why Y/N left Ohio was because of the bad memories that were made there. Y/N doesn’t just come from a single broken home, she comes from two broken homes.

When Y/N was just four years old her parents split up from a marriage that wasn’t filled with love. The only reason why her parents got married was because her mom got pregnant with her. Y/N would constantly hear her parents yell and scream at one another. Sometimes she would hear glass and furniture slamming against the walls and shattering.

When they finally divorced Y/N thought things would get better but they didn’t. In the beginning of the divorce Y/N lived with both of her parents separately. One week she would be living with her mom and then the next week with her dad but that didn’t last long. When she turned ten her father remarried and started another family. He wanted nothing to do with her or her mother. He just cared for his new wife and kids.

Y/N’s mother never remarried because of the heartbreak Y/N’s fathers caused not just her but Y/N as well. As Y/N grew up her mom would always tell to never fall in love because love doesn’t exist. All love does is crush you into a million pieces and most of Y/N’s life she believed what her mother said to her was true. There is no such thing as true love.

Well, she thought that until she met the one and only River Phoenix.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It was an early Friday morning and Y/N just started her shift at the 50’s style diner she works at. As she was cleaning off the counter she would glance up at the glass doors from time to time. “You on the look out for your boyfriend?” She heard a voice say. When Y/N looked over she saw her best friend/co worker Lori looking at her with a teasing look in her green eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend.” Y/N told her in a stern tone. “But you want him to be your boyfriend.” Lori said to her. Y/N just stayed silent.

Yes, what Lori just said was very true but Y/N doesn’t feel like she’s ready to admit it out loud.

“I’ll take your silence as a yes.” Lori told her and walked into the back where the kitchen is. Y/N let out a heavy sigh and went back to wiping down the counter.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A couple of hours passed when River finally walked through the glass doors with the same couple of friends he always comes in with. Y/N was waiting on a couple and their three children at the counter so she didn’t notice River had showed up. When she walked over to the cash register to put the money the customers gave her was when her Y/E/C eyes met River’s memorizing ones.

Y/N just shook it off and opened the cash register to put the money in it. As she waited for the receipt to print she could feel River’s strong gaze on her. That strong gaze he has always makes her feel like her heart is going to beat out of her fucking chest. That’s the effect River has on her.

“Here comes your boyfriend.” She heard Lori whisper into her ear as she walked behind her to the coffee machine. Before Y/N could say anything back at Lori she heard River say her name. There he is. The man that is making her doubt what her mother always told her.

“Sorry to bother you while you’re working but I need to talk to you about something.” River told her. “It’s okay. You could never bother me.” Y/N told him in a reassuring tone in her voice. “What do you need to talk about?” Y/N asked him with curious in her voice. “Are you and Lori doing anything tonight?” River asked her. Y/N answered his question with a shake of the head. “My guys and I are having a party on the beach tonight and we would love it for you two to come.” River told her. Before Y/N could say anything Lori appeared behind Y/N. “We’ll be there!” Lori told River with an exciting smile on her face. “Cool, party starts at seven.” River said as his lips curved into a smirk. “See you tonight.” River added and turned back around to walk back to the table where is friends are sitting.

“Lori! What the fuck was that?” Y/N said with a hiss as she looked at her with a glare in her eyes. “What? What did I do?” Lori asked with confusion in her tone. “You know how I feel about parties.” Y/N reminded her with frustration in her voice. “Y/N, this is your chance with River.” Lori told her. “I know you two are crazy about one another. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to get with the boy you like.” Lori explained to her.

Y/N knew that Lori again was one hundred percent right. “Okay.” Y/N told her with a nod. “That’s my girl.” Lori said giving her a pat on the shoulder. Lori walked away back over to the coffee maker. Y/N let out a sigh as she grabbed the receipt out of the printer of the cash register.

Y/N glanced over at River. He was laughing at something on of his friends said. Y/N couldn’t help but put on a soft smile. She looked away and walked over to the family she was waiting on.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

When Y/N arrived at the party with Lori she could feel her nerves start to pace. There is a lot more people at the party than she thought. As the night went on, Y/N would mingle around with Lori but once she started to talking to this one guy, she forgot all about Y/N.

Y/N decided to go sit down in the sand by herself a little bit away from the loud crowd of people. As she sat there she watched the waves crash on the shore line in front of her. “Hey.” She heard a familiar voice say to her. When she looked up she saw that the voice belonged to River. “Hi.” Y/N said in a soft voice. “Can I sit with you?” River asked her in a curious tone. After Y/N answered his question with a nod he bent down and sat right down next to her. Y/N could feel the butterflies in her stomach go into a frenzy.

“Where did Lori go?” River asked her. “Probably fucking with the random guy she ditched me for.” Y/N told him with annoyance as she stared out at the ocean. “Does she always ditch you to go fuck with a random guy?” River asked her which made her let out a sigh in frustration. “Pretty much. That’s why I don’t like coming to parties.” Y/N told him.

A comforting silence fell between the two as they both looked out at the beautiful blue water.

“What are you hiding from me?” River asked her breaking the silence. That question took Y/N by surprise. “What?” Y/N asked with confusion looking over at him. “I don’t know about you but I can feel something between us but when I go to make a move I feel like you shut your feelings away from me.” River explained to her looking at her with softness in his eyes. “When it comes to love, I caution myself.” Y/N told him. “May I ask why?” River asked her.

Y/N looked back out at the water. This will be the first time she’s told someone about her childhood. “Growing up, my mom always told me that love doesn’t exist and it’s just a shit show that breaks you down.” Y/N told him. “But?” River said sensing that there is more. “I recently made one exception.” Y/N told him still not looking at his strong gaze.

River used one of his hands to her chin to move her head towards him so that they were looking at each other in the eyes. “What is that exception?” River asked as his eyes locked onto hers. “You.” Y/N answered in a soft tone.

River moved his hand from her chin to one of her cheeks. Y/N leaned into his touch as his thumb gently stroked her cheek. River leaned in and connected his lips with her’s. As Y/N kissed him back she felt like she was on cloud nine.

Thanks to a boy named River, she believes that there is such a thing called true love.

[goldenivygarden]

dogfight (1991), dir. nancy savoca

'dogfight', my beautiful underrated gem, my beloved anti-war, pro-love and kindness film. my sweet, tender balm for trying times. god i i miss river phoenix so much. what an incandescent talent. what a privilege that cinema has his performances immortalized in celluloid forever.

every scene in this film, every frame, pulsates with such pure, young emotion: first thrill then confusion and anger and then something warmer, something realer, something almost like love, the kind only possible on certain summer evenings. they never last forever the way we so desperately want them to. and then growing up, coming into terms with the inevitable cruelty of the world.

there's a scene about midway through the film when eddie and rose slow-dance around a music arcade, there are no words spoken, only the unraveling and revealing of something unnamed but so, so unmistakable.

but what also elevates this film from your standard forever-in-one-night romance fare is that it comes from a place of real hurt, it carves out its joy and grace and young love from a place of real cruelty. and that seeps through in every nuanced beat, even beyond language. that we need each other to survive—that our entire species depends on it in spite of all our protests—is such an embarrassing thing to come into terms with sometimes, but to be seen is a necessary precursor to being loved.

it's films like these that make me believe in everything again and thank god and the heavens that cinema is a capsule of time and memory and emotion.

[gmzriver]

River Phoenix as Chris Chambers in “Stand By Me” icons.

like if you save or use :)

[femgazedreams]

[cheap-pack-of-cigarettes]

Happy 53rd Birthday Riv💜🌿

“But it was his death that immortalized River Phoenix. Rightly or wrongly, he would be remembered as one of the movie greats. He would never grow old, or make cuddly, safe films to top up his pension fund. His legacy is rooted in the earth of Hollywood. He had the innocent soul of someone ruined by their business like Marilyn Monroe, and the live-fast die-young rebel spirit of James Dean.”

He’s Still Here: The Biography of Joaquin Phoenix by Martin Howden

[buddyhollyscurls]

watching Dogfight right and it's at the scene where they go to Rose's room and she's showing Eddie all of the posters of folk musicians that are on her wall and she shows him Joan Baez and says, "she's my favorite."

and now i wanna imagine them ten years later in the 70s, married, when Joan Baez puts out Diamonds and Rust and Eddie hears that opening guitar and that gut punch opening lyrics of "Well, I'll be damned, here comes your ghost again" and just bursts into fucking sobs and Rose looks at him smugly like I told you

[celuloideycarbono]

I'm trying to watch all the River Phoenix movies. There are good ones and others that are not so good.

Stand by me (Rob Reiner, 1986): River Phoenix's fame was sparked by this film that fit into the ephemeral eighties genre of adventures with children. Every child has a characteristic: the fearful, the craziest, the sensitive, the leader...The Leader, Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), is a combination of rudeness and sensivity. If you see this movie with innocent eyes, it's not bad. In fact, it's a very tender film.

Running on Empty (Sidney Lumet, 1988): Lumet's film is actually a family drama, but with a different approach. The parent's history of anti-war activism is the reason why they are still being prosecuted by the FBI. Their children move with them from city to city. When the oldest son (River Phoenix) falls in love and wants to continue studying music, problems arise. Phoenix's performance is a formidable one, perhaps the best of his short career.

I Love You to Death (Lawrence Kasdan, 1990): This comedy inspired by real events is a bit repetitive and is constructed around some xenophobic ethnic stereotypes. River Phoenix plays a shy and naive hippie, a somewhat cartoonish version of himself. Frankly, it's not a good comedy, but it can be enjoyed as a guilty pleasure.

Dogfight (Nancy Savoca, 1991): Humble and sincere film, which went unnoticed at the time and still has not been properly valued. It's a romantic drama before the Vietnam war, between an arrogant marine (but sensitive) and a young waitress who aspires to become a folk singer. The film starts with a big, broad joke but then transforms into a more intimate work.

My Own Private Idaho (Gus van Sant, 1991): A film with a great visual and sound quality, perhaps the one with the highest artistic value in River Phoenix career. His portrayal of a narcoleptic, fragile and helpless young hustler may have been his most memorable performance. Shakesperean drama in Seattle, Portland, Idaho and Rome, searching a mother's blurry memory. The intimate confession in front of the campfire is the best scene perfomed (and re-written) by River.

Sneakers (Phil Alden Robinson, 1992): I wasn't overly convinced by this spy movie, which had and intense plot but an easy resolution. Great cast, but pretty wasted.

The Thing Called Love (Peter Bogdanovich, 1993): Love triangle in Nashville, the country city, between three young songwriters. Samantha Mathis plays and enthusiastic young woman from New York, who cames to the city chasing her dreams. Instead, River Phoenix plays a darker role: a young composer, arrogant, toxic and narcissistic. His performance is strange. During musical moments, he looks intense, but on all other occasions, his character seems completely exhausted, disgusted with everything. He can't even maintain eye contact. Despite of that, I like the character he creates. The songs are the best part in this flat version of "Jules et Jim".

Dark Blood (George Sluizer, posthumous release in 2012): The film is cursed because River died before filming was finished. The scenes that could not be shoted are narrated by the director. The film has good photography, Antoninian at times, and its plot is simple and intense: a couple of Hollywood actors are trying to save their marriage with a trip through empty North America, when their car stops in the middle of the desert. There they are rescued by the boy (River Phoenix), a young widower who lives in the middle of the desert, sculpting small wood idols, with strange spiritual resonances. River Phoenix's latest role is as a villain for the first time. A character with ambiguous intentions, with passive-aggressive behaviors. Perhaps if it had been finished, this film would be better remembered.

[myownprivategeocity]

RUBBER PEINIS #ifykyk

[gmzriver]

River Phoenix as Eddie Birdlace in “Dogfight” icons.

like if you save or use :)