![]() Fun can be gleaned from seeing certain stars at the beginnings of their careers in this comedy drama( chiefly Renée Zellweger and Liv Tyler) that has earned itself its place as a cult classic. You get the feeling that for all the angst and eventfulness in the character’s lives, that there’s some light out there for them at the end when surrounded by friends and music. It’s got a good nature to it and is hard to resist for its sheer quirkiness and witty nature. Sure it has foibles and the characters are largely archetypes, but it’s not attempting to be a game changer and is going for showing teenagers and their problems/ antics shared with each other and the audience. It isn’t exactly going for being the most original movie out there, but I think therein lies the appeal of Empire Records. Empire Records is far from flawless( parts feel rushed and sometimes there is one music montage too many). ![]() Moyle keeps the pace flowing as more crazy events mount up within the store, many of them overlapping and entertaining. Complete with messages of fighting the system and being yourself even when you’ve got problems, Moyle injects Empire Records with a certain nostalgia value and the script sizzles with great one liners and plenty of hip dialogue. Above it all, feelings are aired and the misfits begin to band together to stop the takeover in an attempt to sock it to the man.Īllan Moyle is on director’s duties and he seems to have a good grasp of teen angst and how music is always there for us. A whole host of things take place in the twenty fours like a belligerent thief going by the pseudonym Warren Beatty( Brendan Sexton III) causing havoc, Corey and Gina falling out over their respective reputations, Deb’s feelings of alienation and indifference and the appearance of the washed up Rex who has seen better days and isn’t blessed with the kindest of egos. Meanwhile ups and downs within the store flesh out the eventful day before them. It seems that the money Lucas lost was going to be used to buy the store outright by Joe. After animosity following Lucas resurfacing, Joe attempts to explain a plan that could stop the store becoming mainstream while still nursing anger towards the well meaning but careless Lucas. Once Joe notices that the money is gone, he is furious and waits for Lucas to show his face. Also appearing later are Deb’s on/off rockstar boyfriend Berko( Coyote Shivers)and Mark’s fellow stoner Eddie(James ‘Kimo’ Wills). We have beautiful over achiever Corey(Liv Tyler), a good girl who wants to lose her virginity to celebrity crush Rex, sexy and sassy Gina( Renée Zellweger) who goes through men like clothes, artistic A.J( Johnny Whitworth) who is in love with Corey but hasn’t had the courage to tell her, wild eyed stoner Mark(Ethan Embry) and troubled Deb(Robin Tunney), who announces herself by shaving her head within minutes of entering the store. It’s here that the rest of the characters are introduced. The next day, the store opens for the arrival of has been former teen idol Rex Manning(Maxwell Caulfield), whose attempting some form of a comeback. He plans to increase the money at the casino, yet his luck runs out quickly and the money is gone thanks to his harebrained scheme. Determined for this not to happen, Lucas takes the store’s takings and heads to Atlantic City. The sarcastic and wisdom dispensing employee Lucas( Rory Cochrane) discovers that there is a plan to sell the store and for it to be changed into a soulless music chain. The store prides itself on being independent and doing its own thing, not complying with corporate pressure to be mainstream, but all that could be in jeopardy. Don’t go in expecting anything revolutionary and you’ll have a good time with this cult classic that’s stature has grown in recent years.Įmpire Records is a funky little independent record store in Delaware, that provides a solace for the teenagers who work there under the caring eye of store manager Joe(Anthony LaPaglia). Plus, you’ve got offbeat characters and fun antics so it’s a great way to spend an hour and a half. ![]() Set over a day in the lives of the workers at the titular music store, Empire Records is a 90’s movie with plenty of good music and filled with many stars on the brink of making it. My entry is a day early but I don’t think anyone will mind. The wonderful Gabriela asked me to take part in a blogathon to pay tribute to Maxwell Caulfield.I thought of the perfect film for it and that film is the coming of age comedy/drama Empire Records.
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