Empire (2002)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

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 | Friend | Revenge | Investment Banker

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:

Franc. Reyes originally wanted John Leguizamo to play Jimmy. John Leguizamo liked the part of Victor so much that he got the director to give him that part. Leguizamo used his star power to help bring bigger names (such as Fat Joe, Isabella Rossellini, Peter Sarsgaard and Denise Richards) to the project.

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:

Featured in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Empire' (#9.21)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

I Still Love You

Excellent gangster flick - John Leguizamo shines!!

A little gem of a gangster film. Not totally original, it could be seen as a homage to many of its predecessors, yet it delivers and keeps you interested right until the very end.

John Leguizamo plays local drug dealer Victor Rosa who sees the opportunity yo "branch out" into other areas and let his drug money work for him in the stock market when he meets, through his girlfriend, a up and coming wall street executive. Problem is that he finds it harder and harder to move away from his dangerous life on the streets, and still ends up having to deal with his crew of trigger happy homeboys, rival drug dealers and drug kingpins - which turns out to be a hell of a lot harder than before.

Leguizamo is brilliant in the lead role and has good support from the likes of Peter Sarsgaard, as his new wall street chum, and Vincent Laresca as his best friend from childhood. Its also good to see old stagers Isabella Rossellini and Sonia Braga again.

Denise Richards (not really having to act here, which suits her fine) and unknown Delilah Cotto are good eye candy, and do well as the sexy female leads.

An A for effort to all involved.