Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Empire

This is topic Empire in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-15-2002, 12:22 PM:

Reading Cinemas, Manville NJ, 12/14, 3:25 PM matinee, Hall #8.

Got a "private" screening -- I was the only person to buy a ticket for this show on a rainy Saturday. Image a bit on the small side yet had no visible keystoning. Sound good for SR though the surrounds crackled.

Victor Rosa (John Leguizamo) is correct when he says people come to America for one reason -- to make money. He also tells the truth when he says you gotta be ruthless in business just like Rockefeller. That second point was better laid out nearly 3 years ago in Boiler Room.

Empire tosses off the usual stereotypes: Puerto Ricans are cool, yuppies are scum, leave the barrio and you abandon your family, rip off the wrong people and you get whacked.

The gunfight between 2 rival dealers was cool too. One dealer (played by Fat Joe) used up his shotgun, so he hit a switch and an AK-47 came flying through the air into his hands.

Empire has its moments but it's not a total waste of time. Since it only opened semi-wide (850~ prints) it'll be worth seeking out when it comes to video.

FWIW the studio putting it out is Arenas, a new imprint for Latino-flavored pictures with distribution via Universal.