Steamy Streaming: River Phoenix
Stand By Me, Dog Fight, Little Nikita + more
Joaquin Phoenix is poised to win the Oscar for Best Actor for his take on Joker, but we’ve decided to take a look at a different Phoenix in this week’s installment of Steamy Streaming. River Phoenix was the older brother of Joaquin. He died from an overdose outside The Viper Room in LA, bringing an end to the actor’s nearly perfect career. Here are our favorites from the late actor:
STAND BY ME
River started out young. His breakout performance came in 1986 when he was just 16 years old. The coming of age film is one of the most iconic all time, and his performance makes the film that much better.
Stand By Me is available on Hulu.
RUNNING ON EMPTY
Running on Empty garnered River recognition at the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor. River plays Danny, whose parents are on the run from the FBI. When he starts gaining attention for his piano skills, he has to choose between a life he wants and a life to keep his family safe.
Running on Empty is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO
Gus Van Sant directed River Phoenix in our favorite performance. My Own Private Idaho draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s Henry plays and it stars everyone’s favorite actor, Keanu Reeves.
My Own Private Idaho is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
DOGFIGHT
If you’re looking for a little romance, you’ll find it in Dogfight. The title doesn’t sound overly romantic, but it tells the tale of a Marine who is looking for a woman to go to a dogfight dance with. That’s when you invite someone who is “ugly” and the Marines get a laugh out of it. As fate would have it, they end up really connecting before he goes off to war.
Dogfight is available on Vudu.
THE MOSQUITO COAST
River followed up Stand By Me with The Mosquito Coast, a psychological movie starring Harrison Ford. The film tells the story of a family who move to the jungle for a simpler life. But the father, played by Ford, goes crazy and displays erratic behavior.
The Mosquito Coast is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
LITTLE NIKITA
Everyone loves a good cult classic. Little Nikita follows River’s character as he finds out his parents are spies for the Soviet Union. It’s a thrilling account and we can’t recommend it enough.
Little Nikita is available to rent on Amazon Prime.