Born into a middling-sized family of itinerant performers/neo-evangelicals, River Phoenix seemed destined to perform, too. He would entertain friends, family, and members of the religious group, to which his family belonged for a time, by singing and playing guitar. Soon the acting bug bit (as it did his now more-famous brother Joaquin) and River began picking up small roles in Hollywood. The rest is history most of us (save hardcore River fans) have forgotten. Phoenix hit big in Stand By Me as a rebellious-but-intelligent hooligan, and far too quickly became the primary bread winner for his family and staff, a responsibility which may have lead directly to his accidental drug overdose and death in 1993.

Though Phoenix may be far removed in time and memory, the mystery and un-timeliness of his death are certainly enough to generate 60 minutes of intrigue for the somewhat ghoulish Final 24 program, which thrives on just such components of life. Episodes are put together in herky-jerky chronology. We start 24 hours before Phoenix's death, learning what is known about his last hours - in this case working on a movie with an actress who hated him - and then spend the rest of the program flashing back to a recap of his life, and flashing forward to his last day, with the clock ticking down. Though in ways contrived, it's a motif that actually ratchets up drama quite capably.

Phoenix's past is reconstructed with archival footage and photos, interviewees - such as my fav Repo Man bro Dickie Rude (who knew?) - outline the actor's character through anecdotes, while some fill in the pieces of his last day. A vaguely similar looking actor contributes recreations of incidents during Phoenix's final 24, such as his drug-addled behavior on set before his fatal misadventure at the Viper Club. Throughout what amounts to a standard-issue cable TV biography show, you can't help but become attached to at least the idea of who Phoenix was, and the potential he showed in films like My Own Private Idaho. You're saddened by the inevitability and pointlessness of his death. For that, you must consider Final 24 to be a successful show.

The DVD

Video:
River Phoenix's personal final 24 come to you in a 1.78:1 ratio presentation, with naturalistic colors and no apparent defects of compression artifacts. The contemporary interviews look the best - crisp, sharp and vibrant, while archival footage and stills display various levels of grain and/or damage, none of which are distracting in any way, they're just part of the package. Recreations of Phoenix's final 24 hours are a bit grainy, gauzy and moody, with edgy, jittery camerawork at times, befitting the drug-fueled state of his last day. It's an overall fine looking package that's not sensational but quite acceptable.

Sound:
Dolby Digital Stereo Audio is likewise acceptable, without defect and mixed appropriately with soundtrack elements. There's nothing to complain about here, but overall audio is no better than a standard TV broadcast.

Extras:
No extras accompany Phoenix into the afterlife.

Final Thoughts:
Phoenix's final 24 hours are laid out creatively, delivering what feels like insider knowledge that should satisfy die-hard fans. Those who aren't Phoenix fans, or have basically forgotten about him since it's been so long, will benefit from a fairly comprehensive look at the actor and aspiring musician's career. If you're not sensitive to the inherent morbidity of this project - poring over the sad remnants of a hounded soul's life - you can't help but be intrigued and involved in its construct; gripping and emotional in mild factor, it earns a Rent It recommendation.

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