Back home

Empire Records

777 votes

Producing House

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

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 1995-09-22

Runtime: 90 mins

Director: Allan Moyle

Spoken language: English, Français

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Original title: Empire Records

Production Companies: Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Riche-Ludwig Productions

Production Countries: United States of America

Reviews

F

FilipeManuelNeto
**An animated film, full of rebellion and energy.** Remember the stores that sold music records and CDs? There are still some, and the rebirth of vinyl, very recent, has allowed a certain rebirth of the commercial sector, somewhat in response to the massification and popularization of music in “streaming” and digital downloads that we already have as something common in our lives. This film is about a store open 24 hours a day, with spaces to sell and listen to music. It is managed by young people, with young employees, an idiot owner and a manager who dreams of buying the space. It turns out that one of the employees decided to go to a casino and lost all the money saved for that project. The action takes place the day after the incident. In addition to the fate of the store and its employees, which is at stake, each one lives their own story, has characteristics and personality. Incidentally, the entire construction and development of the story and characters is one of the most positive aspects of the film. We have a young teenager who particularly wants to lose her virginity but has serious problems with amphetamines, an aspiring art major, a crook with a complicated childhood, a liberal girl who seems to particularly enjoy sexual adventures, a crazy rocker. In addition to the employees, we also have a former musical star who decides to go there to promote a new CD and cause some funny problems. The film has an impressive cast, and it's worth seeing who the actors are and where they are today. We understand well that each one wanted to make the best use of this opportunity. Contrary to what the posters suggest, Liv Tyler, who is the daughter of a rock musician, has a character without a leading role, but does an excellent job, even acting opposite her (then) stepfather, Coyote Shivers. Rory Cochrane, Renée Zellweger and Ethan Embry are also here, and each of them does a very competent job. Despite the centrality of his character, Anthony La Paglia does not steal the spotlight for himself and shares our attention with his co-stars generously and doing a very well done job. We also have Robin Tunney, bald and rebellious, Debi Mazar and Johnny Whitworth. The less sympathetic roles go to Max Caulfield and Ben Bode, and they're refreshingly comic. On a technical level, what stands out positively is the enormous animation of the film. There are no dead moments. The story is constructed in such a way as to give us a kind of moral about the brevity of life and the need to take advantage of the time, live life, even taking risks and making mistakes. Added to this is a strident soundtrack, full of strength, where rock predominates and emanates energy, positivity and rebelliousness. The songs used here are well known and fans of the rock genre will love it. Incidentally, the albums released with the soundtrack were a success, in absolute contrast to the film itself, which failed in cinemas, was bombed by critics and only acquired a certain popularity and public recognition in much more recent years. Perhaps it was simply ahead of its time.
2023-05-22

Recommendations

Call Ghost
0

Call Ghost

2024-10-30

On New Years 1999, an unwitting couple find themselves trapped in a deadly game against a supernatur

That Good Night
3.5

That Good Night

2017-06-20

A moving and memorable family drama about a terminally ill writer who wants to be reconciled with hi

High Fidelity
3.6

High Fidelity

2000-03-17

After his long-time girlfriend dumps him, a thirty-year-old record store owner seeks to understand w

Antoine and Colette
3.6

Antoine and Colette

1962-06-22

Now aged 17, Antoine Doinel works in a factory which makes records. At a music concert, he meets a g

The Rapture
2.9

The Rapture

1991-10-04

A lonely telephone operator leading an empty, amoral life finds God – only to have her faith continu

November
2.4

November

2004-01-18

Sophie Jacobs is going through the most difficult time of her life. Now, she just has to find out if

Pieces of April
3.2

Pieces of April

2003-10-17

Quirky and rebellious April Burns lives with her boyfriend in a low-rent New York City apartment mil

Wrestling
1.3

Wrestling

2008-06-03

In the summer between high school and college, a group of kids try to gain control of their relation

Orgazmo
3.1

Orgazmo

1998-07-02

A devout Mormon living in L.A. becomes a pornographic actor after his martial arts moves impress a b

Dikkenek
3.3

Dikkenek

2006-06-21

Jean-Claude is a loud-mouthed, know-it-all and full time boor who is best friends with Stef, a self-

Hard Candy
3.4

Hard Candy

2005-01-14

Hayley’s a smart, charming teenage girl. Jeff’s a handsome, smooth fashion photographer. An Internet

Exergo
0

Exergo

2024-05-04

Departing from peripheral details of some paintings of the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, a female narrato

Mother Maybe
0

Mother Maybe

A young man reunites with his long-lost mother during a high-stakes Asian game show, only to discove

Crossed Destinies - A Short Film About Climate Change
4.3

Crossed Destinies - A Short Film About Climate Change

2023-11-25

A papercut stopmotion animation in which human Travelers from 2053 travel 30 years into the past to

O Novo Corpo
0

O Novo Corpo

2025-10-16

On an isolated farm, a woman finds an injured and frightened woman in her old chicken coop. Moved by

Lolita
3.6

Lolita

1997-09-27

Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged British novelist who is both appalled by and attracted to the vulga

Frank and Ava
2.5

Frank and Ava

2020-12-07

A destitute Frank Sinatra pursues sultry starlet Ava Gardner while campaigning for the lead in 'From

American Wages
2.5

American Wages

2025-05-06

One day, a struggling couple, Jack and Ashley, notice a truck stopped in their driveway with a dying

Lolita
3.7

Lolita

1962-06-13

Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged British novelist who is both appalled by and attracted to the vulga

Dolls
3.8

Dolls

2002-10-12

Dolls takes puppeteering as its overriding motif, which relates thematically to the action provided