Plot
The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.

Release Year: 1995

Rating: 6.4/10 (23,534 voted)

Critic's Score: 30/100

Director: Allan Moyle

Stars: Anthony LaPaglia, Debi Mazar, Maxwell Caulfield

Storyline
A day in the life of the employees of Empire Records. Except this is a day where everything comes to a head for a number of them facing personal crises - can they pull through together? And more importantly, can they keep their record store independent and not swallowed up by corporate greed?

Cast:
Anthony LaPaglia - Joe Reaves
Maxwell Caulfield - Rex Manning
Debi Mazar - Jane
Rory Cochrane - Lucas
Johnny Whitworth - A.J.
Robin Tunney - Debra
Renée Zellweger - Gina (as Renee Zellweger)
Ethan Embry - Mark (as Ethan Randall)
Coyote Shivers - Berko
Brendan Sexton III - Warren (as Brendan Sexton)
Liv Tyler - Corey Mason
James 'Kimo' Wills - Eddie
Ben Bode - Mitchell Beck
Gary Bolen - Croupier
Kimber Sissons - Woman at Craps Table (as Kimber Monroe)

Taglines: Open 'til Midnight.

Release Date: 20 October 1995

Filming Locations: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Gross: $303,841 (USA)

Runtime: 90 min  | USA: 107 min (special extended edition)

Trivia:
Robin Tunney's character has a horizontal suicide-attempt scar on her wrist. In The Craft, her character has a vertical suicide-attempt scar.

Goofs:
Continuity: When the staff is dancing to Rex Manning, Deb takes off A.J.'s shirt. In the next shot he is seen with his shirt, and then again without it.

Quotes:
Eddie: Can I ask you something? Do you know where Harvard is?
A.J.: It's near Boston.
Eddie: No I mean, do you really know where Harvard is? It's another planet man- another universe. Totally unlike the one we know. Filled with big blond guys who eat ivy and row boats. What I'm trying to say is, you and Corey just aren't made for each other. She's different from you.

See it twice to appreciate it.....you'll be lukewarm the first time and love it the second time.

Rating:

I love this movie. This movie is the kind of movie I watch movies for (um....did you follow that?). I would make one suggestion, however....watch it twice before you decide if you like it or not. If you're like me you'll probably be lukewarm the first time you see it but like it more each time you see it after that.

The reason for seeing it twice is because the film's strong points become more evident the second (and beyond) time around. Each character is well-defined, with individual traits and idiosynchracies, but this can be lost the first time through because you're trying to follow the story. There is a very strong soundtrack for the movie, but you appreciate it more the second time through, because you better understand how the music applies to the scene. The actors have great chemistry and the character interactions are great. The movie never takes itself very seriously and it's just a lot of fun to watch. You'll find yourself rewinding it to see certain scenes again and again.

I grant you the movie will never win any Academy nominations. The plot is simplistic and the "neat" ending (all problems solved perfectly in just one day) is unrealistic (not that this bothered me....I personally loved the ending....if I want "reality" I'll watch the evening news). Also, trying to follow the storyline tends to take away from the character interaction the first time you see it; hence, the suggestion to see it at least twice. I actually didn't care for it the first time I saw it because I was looking at it strictly story-wise. The second time I saw it I concentrated on the characters and the dialogue(which I loved), and that's when I realized the appeal. If you're into serious movies that reflect real life and real suffering, you'll probably want to pass on this one. However, if you watch movies to have fun and laugh, watch this one. Also, if you like music- especially a moderately wide variety- you'll enjoy it. It's worth your time, but save the beer for the second viewing. "Sugarhigh" is awesome- Well done, Gina! Hot voice.... Oh, and Damn the Man! 9 out of 10.

Download All The Movies You Want, Cheap!

Comments: