Empire Records (1995)

Director:

Allan Moyle

Writer (WGA):

Carol Heikkinen (written by)

Release Date:

20 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Open 'til Midnight.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Music Store | Mismatched Bra And Panties | Gameboy | Mosh Pit | Gambling

Awards:

1 win

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)

Also Known As:

Empire
Rock & Fun

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual situations, language and a drug issue.

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Monarchy Enterprises B.V.

Trivia:

The movie was written by a former employee of Tower Records store #166 (Christown Mall) in Phoenix, Arizona. When the film was released and for a long time afterward, a number of her former coworkers still working cited anecdotes and other elements of the film that related to the store. This store closed in early 2005, ten years after the film's release.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: During the rave, Berko points to Gina and tells her to take the lead and sing the song. He can be heard playing a guitar chord although he is still pointing at Gina.

Quotes:

A.J.: What's with you? Yesterday you were normal and today you're like the Chinese guy from the Karate Kid. What's with you today?
Lucas: What's with today today?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The School of Rock (2003)

Soundtrack:

SugarHigh

One of my modern favorites. Wait... THE favorite.

This movie is awesome. The best thing is the music. Excellent. It's the greatest collection of songs put into a movie. Even better than Pulp Fiction. There should be a BEST COMPILATION Oscar given to a music supervisor. That's hard but in this kick-ass movie, it seems so effortless. The acting is also top-notch. Renee Zellweger, Liv Tyler, Anthony LaPaglia, Robin Tunney, Johnny Whitworth, Max Caulfield, Debi Mazur, and Rory Cochrane, one of the coolest people alive. The script is really good. Directing, also good. Everything was pretty invisible, and I absolutely mean that in a positive way. Just like in the old days, when it was invisible, they put you in the movie. I felt like I was with these characters the whole way. The new "Remix! Special Fan Edition" is probably better. I can't decide. They're both superb.

10/10