Empire (2002)

Director:

Franc. Reyes

Writer:

Franc. Reyes (written by)

Release Date:

6 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Two worlds collide.

Plot:

A successful South Bronx drug dealer turns his back on his roots and gives money with a Wall Street broker to invest for him..

Plot Keywords:

Money | Drug Dealer | Revenge | Investment | Friend

Cast

John Leguizamo	...	Victor Rosa
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Jack
Denise Richards	...	Trish
Vincent Laresca	...	Jimmy
Isabella Rossellini	...	La Colombiana
Sonia Braga	...	Iris
Delilah Cotto	...	Carmen
Nestor Serrano	...	Rafael Menendez
Anthony 'Treach' Criss	...	Chedda (as Treach)
Rafael Báez	...	Jay
Fat Joe	...	Tito Severe (as Fat Joe 'Joseph Cartagena')
Carlos Leon	...	Hector
Felix Solis	...	Jose
Omar Pastran	...	Jason
Rob B. Campbell	...	Det. O'Brien

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, drug content and some sexuality.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Brazil:16 | Canada:18A | Germany:16 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Arenas Entertainment

Trivia:

To train for his part, John Leguizamo hung out with a gang of drug dealers and gangsters for a few days. They told him how to spot surveillance vans and deal drugs.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Trish falls onto the bed after Victor Rose meets up with her and Jack Whimmer in Miami, there are four bags surrounding her. In the next shot of the bed a few seconds later, there are only three bags, in different positions.

Quotes:

Jack: What do you do?
Victor Rosa: [Admiring Jack's luxurious apartment] Obviously whatever it is I do, I'm not doing enough of it, that's for damn sure!
Jack: Yeah?
Victor Rosa: But basically I'm self-employed.

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

Soundtrack:

This Precious Love

Just so much recycled hash

"Empire" is all about a streetwise drug dealer (Leguizamo) in South Bronx, NY who self-narrates his take on how to work your way out of the ghetto and go legit. A slick shoot with a bunch of trite recycled street crime and gangland snippets pieced together for a screenplay, this predictable and contrived flick never really gets where it's trying to go. Chock full of plot holes and nonsequiturs, the auteur asks us to care enough about a thug, murderer, and drug pusher to sit through 1.5 hours of all-sizzle-but-no-steak nonsense about his life. A so-so no brainer action/drama for Leguizamo fans and crime buffs only. (C+)