I was talking to a good friend of mine (and sometimes 1,416 and Counting commenter) about her thoughts on Empire Records. Her answer?
“Where do thoughts come from? They just appear!”
What makes Empire Records so infinitely watchable is the sheer fact that not only is it light-hearted fun, but it’s quotable like very few other movies.
Empire Records isn’t overly complicated. A group of cool misfits work at the hottest independent record store around. They’re the kind of artsy types you envied in high school, and their much put-upon manager Joe is privy to one heck of a secret: The guy that owns Empire Records is planning on selling it to a large corporate chain called Music Town. When one erstwhile employee discovers this, he takes the nightly deposit to Atlantic City and attempts to make more money in the hopes of saving the Empire, only to lose big and come home empty handed. All this craziness leads to a chain of events in one major day for the store that affects everyone involved.
One of the great qualities of Empire Records is that while it’s got an awful lot of characters in it, it does two things remarkably well: it makes you care about every character, and every character’s story ties up nicely at the end of the day. With a bunch of employees, a stuck up, almost totally washed up pop star coming into the store plus his manager, a thick-skulled shoplifter who introduces himself as “Warren Beatty” and a cavalcade of nutty customers, that’s a lot of ends to tie off.
And then there’s all the various drama: Rex Manning Day occuring at the store, where the washed up singer comes to sign autographs and two of the female employees are very excited about Rex appearing there; the deposit getting gambled away by Lucas (Rory Cochrane); the battle to save the Empire from corporate interference; the love triangles; one employee’s suicide attempt, and so on and so forth. You never feel swamped, though - just intrigued and like you’re along for the ride.
Plus, this movie has Renée Zellweger and Liv Tyler before they were all famous and some such. (Although it does beg the question, what the hell ever happened to Rory Cochrane, who played Lucas? I thought his career would have fared better than it has.) Another goofy highlight is Maxwell Caulfield playing Rex Manning, the cheesy, arrogant pop star, which is probably Caulfield’s best known role besides being the straight-laced exchange student in (…gulp) Grease 2.
I really cannot think of one movie that’s quoted more than this one amongst my group of friends.
Seriously, the movie’s like one big cookie jar of one-off jokes and zingers that work well in almost any situation. Nothing inspires a laugh in my circle of friends more than, “But…it’s Rex Manning Day!“
Said friend mentioned at the top of this post? She still has Empire Records on tape where she taped it off TV way back in the day (and I’m talking when we were in junior high school together). Does shrieking at each other, “Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behavior!” ever get old? Not really. Empire’s one of those movies that’s best shared amongst a group of friends on a night when you really just need some sugary-sweet fun - and over the years it’s never gotten overly cloying or nasty. Every time I watch it, it’s just as good as the first time around when I was probably 13.
There’s been 10 years of sustained viewing of this record and I’m still not sick of it, that’s for sure.
This is a fun movie that’s certainly rewatchable. I too had hoped (ever since Dazed, actually) for a bigger career from Cochrane, though he is still around. He was in an indie that got some press last year (or 2006 perhaps) called Right at Your Door that was pretty good. Mary McCormack co-stars. It’s not phenomenal, but is really well-made for a low budget and features some good performances. I recommend it.
Fletch, I saw that Rory Cochrane was in that and I went, “Luuuuucas! Luuuucas! …Wait, why are you in this movie?”
The quote:
“What’s the money doing in Atlantic City, Lucas?”
“…Recirculating?”
Is never NOT funny!
Don’t hate me Caitlin…
While I enjoy (and own) Empire Records, I think that it hasn’t aged very well. I think it’s most certainly a consequense of it’s setting/subject matter. I watch it now and the whole thing just screams “early 90’s”, like the Ben Stiller Show or something. Not that that’s a bad thing really…
That being said, it is definitely a fun movie, and there’s even a few record store truths in there. I worked in one for about 4 years and some of the shit they go through (lame autograph signing sessions, fighting over the in store stereo, etc.) rings very familiar. I suppose it should, as I’ve heard it was written as a semi-true story.
And word on Rory Cochrane. I would love to see him more often. Did you see The Prime Gig? He was really good in it.
andrew, I could never hate you! You’re the semi-San-Jose version of me! ;)
It is pretty dated as far as styles and music and everything go, but I think the archetypes of the characters still hold up.
The script was written by a Tower Records employee who based her script off of actual people she worked with, so yeah, it was kind of a real life thing.
It is a fun movie! When I watched it, I had forgotten how much I love that scene with Mark and GWAR. Mark’s easily my most favorite in the movie, and I think that makes the whole movie for me right there.
And word on Rory Cochrane. I would love to see him more often. Did you see The Prime Gig? He was really good in it.
Ooh, I did not! I’ll have to Netflix it for sure, because I love Rory Cochrane…although I have a difficult time seeing him and not ever thinking, “What’s wrong with you? Yesterday you were normal, and now you’re like the old guy from the Karate Kid!” I’m paraphrasing the quote there, but yeah, he’ll always be Lucas to me.
I’m sure somewhere, Rory Cochrane is cursing me as I write this. “I’m more than just LUCAS!!”
It is pretty dated as far as styles and music and everything go, but I think the archetypes of the characters still hold up.
Right there, you pretty much summed up my thoughts better than I did. Nice work. And yes, I definitely meant the clothes and music are the “dated” part of the film.
When I watched it, I had forgotten how much I love that scene with Mark and GWAR.
Mark is rad. Also, you bring up another point. Empire Records was more realistic than a movie like High Fidelity because the employees in Empire Records were into obscure shit like GWAR. That was my main problem with High Fidelity, all the stuff they listened to/referenced was pretty damn mainstream. NO ONE who works in a record store listens to Nirvana or the Beatles. Except the one lame old guy who won’t quit to go find a real job.
I’ll have to Netflix it for sure, because I love Rory Cochrane…
Definitely give it a watch. It’s a decent telemarketing/con artist movie with Ed Harris, Vince Vaughn, and Rory Cochrane. Cochrane plays Vaughns crippled alcoholic friend. Kinda heavy, but entertaining, especially if you’ve ever done inside sales for a living.
That was my main problem with High Fidelity, all the stuff they listened to/referenced was pretty damn mainstream. NO ONE who works in a record store listens to Nirvana or the Beatles. Except the one lame old guy who won’t quit to go find a real job.
My problem with High Fidelity is that they lord their opinions over their own damn customers! Empire seemed to be an “anything goes” kind of place, and even Mark the metalhead gets jazzed over Rex Manning Day. The High Fidelity guys were too busy making self-indulgent lists and feeling superior to their clientele to be awesometastic.
That movie sounds awesome! I’m running to Netflix right now, andrew!
My problem with High Fidelity is that they lord their opinions over their own damn customers!
HAHAHA!!! That’s actually the most realistic part of the film! You don’t talk trash about the customers choice to their face, but you sure as hell do it once they leave.
Don’t even tell me you guys didn’t do that at Blockbuster! I know you had a hard time keeping a straight face when people came in to fork over real dollars for “Con Air”.
Don’t even tell me you guys didn’t do that at Blockbuster! I know you had a hard time keeping a straight face when people came in to fork over real dollars for “Con Air”.
Not really - I didn’t, at least. I accepted the fact that yes, people would really get upset about not being able to rent “Monster-in-Law” and move on. It’s not my cup of tea, but it may be someone else’s.
We saved our mocking for the subtitle-y challenged people, the people who could not understand company policy, the people who threw fits in the store, etc. We had such a wide variety of employees with different tastes that it never occurred to me to mock one of my customers for renting some crap ass movie. People, by and large, prefer the crap to the good stuff. :D
Don’t even tell me you guys didn’t do that at Blockbuster! I know you had a hard time keeping a straight face when people came in to fork over real dollars for “Con Air”.
Not really - I didn’t, at least. I accepted the fact that yes, people would really get upset about not being able to rent “Monster-in-Law” and move on. It’s not my cup of tea, but it may be someone else’s.
We saved our mocking for the subtitle-y challenged people, the people who could not understand company policy, the people who threw fits in the store, etc. We had such a wide variety of employees with different tastes that it never occurred to me to mock one of my customers for renting some crap ass movie. People, by and large, prefer the crap to the good stuff. :D
Haha…well then, you are a nicer person than I!
Then again, the music snob’s lot in life is to be bitter and petty. Or maybe that’s just me.
That’s just you, andrew! ;)
Well then!
LOVE. THIS. MOVIE. We need to get together and watch it soon, for real. Popcorn, chocolate, sugary soda, and Empire Records - best Friday night ever!
OH, we totally need to do that when you get back from Minnesota! Rockin’!
Dude, the Friday after I get back is July 4th. What do you say to burgers/hot dogs/steak/whatever, beer, popcorn, chocolate, sugary soda, and Empire Records that night?!
That works out great! Whee!
This movie is a classic. I think I’ve seen it 100 times, due to working in a video store for five years. We used to play it all the time, because it had music.
Ah, takes me back.
Empire Records is in my top 5 and every time I stumble upon another Empire lover, I want to squeal with joy. I remember my first viewing of this film (on tape, sitting on the floor in my middle school best friend’s room) and how much it made me smile. I can watch it on repeat - even the new fan remixed edition, which kind of annoys me - and the quotable lines only become more quotable. this movie is one of those that me and my annoying little brother can enjoy together any time of the year. we walk around the house when i’m visiting home and we just quote it back and forth. i love that someone else loves it too :)
and here’s something else to ponder that i have only realized in recent years: being a major fan of musicals (one might use the word ‘obsessed’ in my case), I think one of the reasons this movie struck me as it did is because it kind of plays out LIKE a musical. take the music away from the film and you’ve deleted a character. there is so much music in it that it would not feel complete without it. and so much of the music is perfectly appropo for the moment it was like it was written for the flick. just a thought to consider.