Empire Records (1995)

 Empire Records (1995)

Author's Note: Most of this was originally written on October 3, 2014. Changes include some additional "Screening the Film" commentary, selection of new "Best Dialogue."

Watching the Movie: 

Excellently cast and perfectly acted teen dramady that actually essentially captures the essence of what it very much was like to be in your late teens/early twenties in the mid 1990's. Obviously, it's a movie about a record store, so the soundtrack is going to be top shelf (though I sadly misplaced my copy years ago). The characters are unique and well developed but probably a little too shallow and obvious to really be taken seriously; but the storyline all brings them together in a way that is really far too entertaining for any plot shortcomings to be taken seriously...with one notable exception.

The second act of this film; pretty much everything from Corey's attempted seduction of Rex Manning to the Gina Freak Out/Corey Freak Out combination is just so painfully frustrating to watch; the melodrama is cranked up to 11 and it's definitely the time to go make a sandwich or something; because it's 20 minutes of your life you'll never get back.

Screening the Film: 

It's weird screening this film as someone who works in management for a major corporation, because the main things that stick out to me are all the things that happen that would get EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE FIRED. (Lucas closes the store alone, Joe tells Corey to work off the clock,chasing a shoplifter outside the store, etc.) I realize that's kind of the point as Music town is going to come in and put a stop to all these shenanigans, but it's really just bizarre to see all these things that don't happen in big time retail happen. There's major imagery of perceptions vs reality, especially as it comes to idols and idolization. As with any good character piece, there's some serious discussion of mental issues and disorders; Business best practices; ruling regimes and power structures (and how best to ignore them completely... "We need a permit to sell beer on the sidewalk, Screw the permit Joe. Screw the Permit.") Meeting responsibilities and obligations while still finding an emotional core and happiness. Also, quite a few images of tribalism, identity, and the symbiotic relationship between employer and employees (ie, when everyone quits and Mitch has to run the store with only Warren there) It's really a very deep and thoughtful film; especially now that it's nearly 20 years old and DEFINITELY has value in it's historical context.
 

Best Dialogue:

"We mustn't dwell... no, not today. We CAN'T. Not on Rex Manning day."
 
The Bottom Line: 
 
In the mid 90's there were two films that each gender clung to as their own and forever related to. Empire Records was the feminine representative of those two films. It's a fun and silly little movie that is entertaining to watch, and it has some very serious and impactful imagery as a film. It would be a masterpiece if it didn't go SO FAR off the deep end in the middle third of the movie with the melodrama. Even "Deb's Funeral" seems modest and low key compared to the shouting matches and shots of Liv Tyler standing around looking sad for a good God damn half hour. Still, it's an iconic movie for anyone between the ages of 28-40, because there's really nothing quite like it...
 

4.25 out of 5. (Annual Viewing, every April 8th)


 

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