When a rising celebrity dies young, the repercussions can be felt for a long while. This short 60-minute documentary outlines the events leading up to the fateful night that 23-year old actor River Phoenix died in 1993. It's a well-done program, and although such recreations/dramatizations usually seem a bit overbaked to me, in this case they're not particularly harmful to the discussions and stories included here. Featuring interviews with many of Phoenix's friends and associates, and enhanced by plenty of photos and rare video footage, "Final 24" offers a sympathetic glimpse into the troubled life of an icon who aspired to do much more than just act. His musical passion is seen as he befriended Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, and was even set to perform onstage with Flea (as well as Gibby Haynes, Al Jourgensen, and Johnny Depp) the very night he died after ingesting a massive speedball.
River Phoenix represented the idealism of a new generation, and his passing left the world a lesser place. And although this "Final 24" series is perhaps a mite morbid and sensationalistic, it's certainly a curious program worthy of some attention.
(MVD Visual)
A devoted Phoenix fansite
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