Empire (2002)

Wonderful character development!

Best movie ever!

Absolutely Brilliant!

A Masterpiece!

When I started this movie I had no idea this movie would be that good. And I got that impression because it was rated 5.9 at IMDb where as stupid movies like Long Kiss Goodnight and Time Machine are rated better. The storyline is well built and depiction of how illegit people make and save money,how they fear the system of banks , police etc is wonderful. The narration is good and steady with the movie. This movie also shows how a person can get blinded with thirst of money and the character "Carmen" is a very good example of a simple and perfect woman. A woman who is plain at heart, looks at the quality of people than superficial things. I think people should gather a lot from this character than some woman who dates million guys and still is worried about her shoes or a woman who tries to travel around the world to find herself and criticizes other cultures and places. Carmen also gives an example of how much woman would love when she sincerely loves someone and how she can forgive and forget. The lead role, Victor is a perfect example of people involved in things that are really messed up. His state of confusion, narcissism and insensibility is amazingly screen played. The most touching scene is when he actually realizes the truth about life and especially about the kind of life he lives. An amazing movie, director puts you glued up to our seat for the entire movie although as the story unfolds, it might get too easy to comprehend. A beautiful story and wonderful direction but to me it is too straight forward for movies like this and this is the only reason why I had to rate it 9 or else it would have been an 10. Overall, worth watching it and kudos to everyone.

Hispanic gangsters crash with Wall Street yuppies, a plot that is given away in Empire's trailers. A story that starts out interesting, eventually falls short. Victor Rosas (Leguizamo)is a gangster with only 3 guys in his crew? Wouldn't "La Colombiana" have her own Wall Street broker for laundering purposes? If "La Colombiana" is so powerful how come she only has one hit-man, her brother? Rosas keeps his cash in safe vaults? I'm used to the Italian gangster film where the characters have a restaurant usually, in order to cover their money's tracks from the feds and the IRS. The problem between Rosas' and Tito's (Fat Joe) gang could have been solved with a phone call. Sarsgaard's and Richard's characters are one-dimensional caricatures of yuppies. For all of Rosas' street smarts, he severely lacks common sense. After a trivial argument with his then pregnant girlfriend he kicks her out of the car and leaves her on the street. Franc Reyes should stick to music videos, as the mix of music in many scenes is one of the few bright spots this movie has. Overall, a weak plot and script. Only Leguizamo shines in his role, all the other actors lack charisma.

If one knows the excellent performance history, (film, Broadway, and television), of John Leguizamo, then his producing credit will prepare one for a very tight, well-scripted and directed, small film. Several of the actors are known for other roles, but the real standout is newcomer, Delilah Cotto. Sonia Braga, a fine South American actress, is given little to do, and Denise Richards needs to develop more intensity. (Her final scene is, unintentionally, hilarious.) The settings and scenery are realistic and nicely photographed, adding gravitas to Leguizamo's picaresque search for transformation. This is a good, solid story that should have had more publicity and distribution.

In South Bronx, Victor Rosa (John Leguizamo) is a successful drug-dealer. The area is split among four gangs and he has the best share. Their unique supplier is the powerful La Colombiana (Isabella Rossellini). Victor has a girlfriend, Carmen (Delilah Cotto), who is in the university and is the best friend of Trish (Denise Richards). Denise is the girl-friend of Jack (Peter Sarsgaard), a young and successful banker. When Carmen gets pregnant of Victor, he decides to change his life and invest his money with Jack. Carmen and Victor moves to Soho, where Jack has an empty loft. However, Victor remains trapped to his origins, and has serious problems in his new life style and world. This film recalls David Mamet's `The Spanish Prisoner'. This movie gives a lesson, which is that we shall never forget our friends and our roots. I like gang movies, and this story really hooked my attention until the last scene. Although being an independent small budget movie, the cast is excellent, the direction is good and the screenplay is also great. The Brazilian Sonia Braga has a minor participation as Carmen's mother. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): `Império – Dois Mundos Colidem' (`Empire – Two Worlds Collide')