"Empire Records, open 'til midnight. This is Mark...Midnight!"
Today, April 8th, is what is known amongst fans of Empire Records as Rex Manning day. It is the day the events of the film takes place on, the day musician Rex Manning is appearing at the titular store to sign copies of his latest album. This date has been celebrated for the last few years when an eagle-eyed viewer was able to determine the date on a poster displayed in the store.
While the film did little business theatrically, it gained a cult status on video with viewers who were not unlike the array of misfit characters that populate the film. Empire Records focuses on an ensemble cast as they deal with both their internal struggles and both the issues associated with having a celebrity visiting the store and finding out their beloved workplace is about to be bought out by a music store chain.
The film is not without it's flaws. A fun game to play during the film is "Who's on Register?" While playing this game, you will notice several times the entire cast is in the clubhouse-esque back room. There are also a few scenes that fail to entirely convince, but if you get int spirit of the film, you hardly notice.
The film is directed by Allan Moyle, whose previous film was the far more meaningful and potent film, Pump Up the Volume. Still, he manages to balance the various plot threads among the many characters with relative ease. This film is also lighter in tone, with plenty of comedic moments and instantly quotable lines.
The cast is made up of the usual archetypes for this type of teen based film. The gang includes the sensitive artist AJ (played by Johnny Whitworth), the overachiever Corey (played by Liv Tyler), the suicidal girl Debra (played by Robin Tunney), the philosophizing screw-up Lucas (played by Rory Cochrane), the apparent slut Gina(played by Renee Zellweger) and the hyperactive Mark (played by Ethan Embry). They are managed by surrogate father figure/friend, Joe (played by Anthony LaPaglia).
Each cast member works through their own personal dramas on the day the aforementioned Rex Manning, a has been pop star played by Maxwell Caulfield, visits the store to sign copies of his latest album. AJ is trying to figure out the perfect way to confess his love for Corey. Corey is planning to offer herself to Rex Manning. Joe is wrestling whether or not to turn in Lucas for stealing $9000 from the store that he subsequently lost in Atlantic City. The root of the dilemma is Lucas took the money to Atlantic City to try and double or triple it to attempt to buy out the music store chain's claim to the store.
The entire staff stages a mock funeral for Debra to try and show her life is worth living and is easily the film's most ridiculous scene that is meant to be serious. Gina wants to sing, but confesses she is afraid to. We, of course, know she will be singing by the end of the movie, in a rendition of "Sugar High" that is one of the high points of the film.
The film has a fantastic soundtrack that includes such great 90's bands as The Dire Straights, Gin Blossoms, The Cranberries and Toad the Wet Sprocket. Each song compliments the scene and perhaps may be one of the better aspects of the film.
I think the film has endured for a variety of reasons. The cast works well together and has an infectous chemistry that adds to the film. Each actor breathes life into what would make them an otherwise stereotypical character. The audience members no doubt relate to at least a few of the characters. Lastly, there is a certain level of wish fulfillment here. The Empire Records store would obviously be a very cool place to work, with all the various shenanigans that go on there over the course of a very hectic workday. As someone who worked his share of retail jobs in my high school and college days, I know it was for me.
I eventually found it, at least to a certain degree during my tenure at the local Blockbuster Video. Not surprising, this movie was on heavy rotation when I worked there, playing during late night audits, mornings before we opened or on slow weekdays when one of my managers was nursing a nasty hangover.
Empire Records remains a favorite of mine all these years later. I look back on it with a sense of nostalgia. It's a fun film that I've seen many, many times and although age has shown me the inherent flaws, I still enjoy it all the same.
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