"This music is the glue of the world Mark...It's what holds it all together. Without this...Life would be meaningless."
Released in 1995, Empire Records remains a rather underrated yet classic teen flick. Whereas Kevin Smith's Clerks focused on a day in the life of two convenience store clerks, Empire Records centres on a day in the life of a music store and it's troubled employees
Storyline ==========
The film begins with Lucas (Rory Cochrane), whose life "has reached its pinnacle. Joe is letting me close the store tonight." While he does so, however, he discovers that Empire Records, the funky music store at which Lucas and his friends work, is due to become a Musictown store. Musictown, we come to understand, is one of those cookie-cutter music chains where revealing clothing, tattoos, and excessive jewellery are forbidden. Thinking that this probably puts all of his friends out of a job, Lucas does the only thing he can: he steals the night's cash deposit and heads for Atlantic City. During an amusing casino sequence, Lucas loses the $9000 store deposit. "I wonder if I'll be held responsible for this," he muses. The day from hell then begins, as Joe (Anthony LaPaglia), father figure to Lucas and the store's manager, and discovers what Joe has done. Meanwhile, the store's other employees filter in for a day of irresponsible wackiness and self-discovery. Debra's (Robin Tunney) idea of a makeover is a quick head-shave. Corey (Liv Tyler) wants to seduce Rex Manning, the visiting MTV star, and harbours a secret diet-pill addiction. Corey's friend Gina (Renee Zellweger) harbours a not-so-secret tendency towards exhibitionism. Mark and A.J., the token males, would be so much window dressing if not for a priceless hallucinatory scene in which Mark (Ethan Randall) gets sucked into a Gwar video. Over the course of the film, the characters must find true love, explore their personality flaws, stop a suicide, rescue a self-destructive teen, and save the store from white-bread franchise doom.
Cast =====
Liv Tyler is both beautiful and a natural performer, though she is placed in situations too outrageously compressed to produce a modicum of authentic feeling. Similarly Rene Zellweger (pre Bridget Jones!) is given an implausible series of confrontations to play out which nonetheless give her plenty of room to demonstrate her talents. Rory Cochrane is amusing as philosophical rebel type, with Ethan Embry doing an entertaining turn as a wannabe airhead (one sequence has him project himself into a music video to humorous ends). All of the actors have fun, and there is plenty of fast paced musical and dramatic entertainment on display for those whose level of concentration does not extend past five seconds or so, so it does make relatively easy viewing on a late night television slot.
Soundtrack ============
A typical teen-flick soundtrack. Bands such as Toad the Wet Sprocket, the Cranberries, Gin Blossoms and many slightly more alternative rock bands. However this film does not provide anything for listeners of more mainstream music. Therefore yet again, it is targeted at a very specific audience.
Director =========
Director Allan Moyle is best known for the similar but slightly more developed Pump up the Volume (see my op), and he does a reasonable job of rendering Carol Heikkenen's script. It does move and there are many complex ensemble scenes to block and co-ordinate, which he handles, with some skill.
Overall this film is a must-see, the cult status of this movie is very high, and deservedly so. The plot and performances are excellent, while little touches give it that edge. Watch this film and you will not be disappointed.
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Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
They're selling music but not selling out. Empire Records is an independent music store ... more
in dire trouble of being sold out to a large chain. After a failed attempt by Lucas one of it's employee's to raise money to buy the store--using revenues from a...
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