On E List of Movie Reviews
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Empire Records (1995)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
3/19
3/19:
Pretentious at first, Empire Records is slow to warm up to and becomes a better film over time, thanks
to the chemistry of the cast.
Most of the fault is attributed to Rory Cochrane and Ethan Embry. Their characters are so annoying that I want
to punch them in the nose repeatedly and not feel bad about it afterwards. There's no way in hell Corey Mason
is Harvard material; she's too stupid to recite the ABC's backwards.
The premise is this: a moron employee lost a day's worth of receipts which is $9,000. But really...$9,000 was
made in one day at a local record store? In a year, it'll come to roughly $3.3 million in revenue. And the
store owner is, all of a sudden, broke? It's total bullshit.
On the other hand, Anthony LaPaglia is the key in keeping the show together and making it work. Maxwell
Caulfield isn't bad, either, as Rex Manning. It feels like the older stars are the glue while the younger ones
are in dire need of acting lessons, almost causing the film to come apart at the seams. I like how everybody
makes fun of Warren who's a stupid kid himself.
All in all, Empire Records, a huge box-office stinker, is proof positive that great chemistry can save
a bad film.