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 for 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.