Empire Records [M]

Empire Records: open til midnight and home away from home for the young, troubled, and defiant. But when their free environment is threatened by the man, the young staff of Empire Records club together to save their home, dealing with their own little dramas along the way. 

I remember that I saw this movie years and years ago, but I don’t think I really understood it. So when I came across it at work, I figured that I might as well revisit it and see if I could get more out of it. I now have to say that this is a great film. 

Empire Records: open til midnight and home away from home for the young, troubled, and defiant. A free and easy working environment that holds an odd assortment of staff members, Empire Records is the place where everyone wants to work. But when their free environment is threatened with rules by the man, the young staff of Empire Records club together to raise the money to save their home, dealing with their own little dramas along the way. 

Essentially the film is just a collection of random characters who work in a music shop that is in danger of being bought out. It’s the characters that move the story forwards. The central heroes are a really odd mixture of memorable characters including an artist in love, an invisible attention-seeker, a shy slut, an open dope fiend, a suave troublemaker, and a closet drug user. Not that much dissimilar to The Breakfast Club. 

What’s really unique about the film is that all the drama takes place in and around the store and everything is free and impulsive. I think these sorts of movies that are about music and stuff just radiates vibes of freedom, defiance, and “who gives a shit”. Not many films make the audience feel that way. You really envy the characters in this film, even though they are all in trouble. It’s great. 

Starring Anthony LaPaglia, Maxwell Caulfield, Rory Cochrane, Johnny Whitworth, Debi Mazar, Robin Tunney, Ethan Embry, Renee Zellwger, and Liv Tyler, Empire Records is a great film filled with drama, drugs, bitch fits, great performances, memorable characters, and a rocking soundtrack. Definitely worth watching!