Watching this movie when I was younger made me desperately want to work at a record store. I knew distantly in the back of my mind that Napster had killed the record store, and the only ones to survive would be so hopelessly corporate that it would be a soul-sucking work environment, but I didn't care. Damn the man. Save the Empire! Empire Records is the story of a ragtag group of kids in their late teens and early twenties who work at a privately owned record store on the verge of being sold to a large, impersonal chain.This will destroy the unique way they have of running the shop, and take away all the fun of working at a place where you get paid to hang out and listen to music all day. The cast of characters is top notch, each well-rounded and interesting in their own way, and the film features performances from a young Liv Tyler and Renee Zellweger. It's a gorgeous microcosm of mid-90s culture, and is full of hilarious dialogue that should have made it a major hit. Alas, this wonderful film is relegated to cult classic status.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
