Product Details

• Actors: John Leguizamo, Peter Sarsgaard, Denise Richards, Vincent Laresca, Isabella Rossellini
• Directors: Franc. Reyes
• Writers: Franc. Reyes
• Producers: John Leguizamo, Chris Connolly, Daniel Bigel, Jill Footlick, Michael Mailer
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: March 18, 2003
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JLYH
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,171 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
John Leguizamo is, in his own words, "young, Latin, and good looking" as the ambitious minimogul of the South Bronx drug trade in Franc Reyes' Latino twist on the urban crime saga. Reigning in his hyperactive energy, Leguizamo is like a coiled spring as the street-smart player who tries to leave the violence of his trade behind in an upwardly mobile odyssey, and Peter Sarsgaard brings a discomforting confidence to the smooth-talking investment banker trusted with his millions. Few of the other characters even register in the familiar underworld tale (though Denise Richards has fun as a bubbly, skin-deep seductress) and Reyes's flashy style is as distracting as it is energizing. It's the smoldering presence of Leguizamo that keeps the film centered through the betrayals, the bullet-riddled battles, and the slow realization that this cunning shark has just become bait in the deep seas of high finance. --Sean Axmaker

Product Description
This powerful, gripping action-thriller features John Leguizamo in a riveting performance the Los Angeles Times hails as "superb." "One of the best performances of the year!" The gritty streets of the South Bronx meet the white-collar world of Wall Street in Empire, a hard-hitting story about the pursuit of fast money and the high price of greed. Featuring Denise Richards, Isabella Rossellini and rap superstars Fat Joe and Treach, Empire is a high-intensity, urban thrill-ride!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Empire, March 16, 2003

By	anthony rivera (San Diego,CA by way of NYC) - See all my reviews

I love empire. i think that John leguizamos(Hangin with the homeboyz,Moulin Rouge,The Pest) and first time director Franc Reyes did an execellent job putting together this film about everyday struggles for us young Puerto Rican Americans growing up in the urban streets of new york city. Movie Critics like Siskel and Ebert and many other movie experts don't rate this movie above average because of all the violence and foul language scenes that this movie contains but this is definately a classic and i hope that some time in the near future we can see another movie similar to this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie, March 13, 2003

By	Daniel J. Gonzalez (NYC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First time director Franc Reyes, simply did a masterful job in writing and directing this film. Growing up in the South Bronx himself, what he saw and been through in his life was the basis for this movie, thats what made it so real and good. John Leguizamo as Victor Rosa was the perfect choice, and the all around acting in this film was one of the best I've seen. Treach as "Chedda" and Fat Joe as rival drug lord "Tito" gave great perfomances, who better to play the roles of someone tying to survive in the streets than these two. Beautiful Delilah Cotto as Carmen was a breath of fresh air and played well as Victor's girlfriend, Vincent Larresca as "Jimmy" gave a riveting performance as Victor's best friend and the always eye catching Denise Richards playes a good part as well. The pacing of the movie was on point with great sequences and music, Franc Reyes heavily releyed on latin style music thorougout this movie. This film has it all, love, friendship, betrayal and the consequences of it all, this movie places in my top 5 all time. Just as a little triva.. The guy who plays "Hector" (Carlos Leon) who Jimmy has war with, is none other than the father of Madonna's daughter, thought that was kind of interesting. Get this movie, watch it and feel how compelling it is.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Empire, February 8, 2003

By A Customer

It is a great movie! Inspirational may be a word used for it. It brings out the life of this druglord from South Bronx who falls into the trap that consumes all... the need for more money. I recommend everyone to see it.