When a movie is immediately released on Blu-ray/DVD in the US without having appeared in theaters that is usually a bad sign. It often means the quality isn’t very good and that the studio did not have enough confidence to spend money on advertising and making their money back. Over here in the Netherlands the movie, which is starring Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games, The Expendables 2) and Dwayne Johnson (Fast & Furious, Pain & Gain, The Scorpion King) will be played at the cinema. It made me wonder if Empire State, which is based on true events, good enough to appear on the big screen or if it should be sent to the bargain bin immediately.
This true story is about Chris who is looking for a job after is father lost his. He finds a low paying one at a company which transports money and soon finds out that the people there hardly follow the rules and the security is horrible. It offers him an opportunity to get his hands on a huge amount of money. When he tells one of his friends the ball starts to roll and they start planning. Detective Ransome (Dwayne Johnson) is on the opposite of the law and tries to find out what Chris and his friends have been up to.
Director Dito Montiel was also responsible for A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Fighting and The Son Of No One, movies I wasn’t a big fan of. Unfortunately that is also the case for Empire State. For a movie which is about a heist on a company which transports money there is awfully little exciting happening. Part of that is Hemsworth who doesn’t show much emotion in his acting in this movie despite his character going through a lot. The story is about his character, but he just doesn’t give the character the weight he needs to make you care.
If Dwayne Johnson is the reason for you to see this movie you will probably be disappointed. First of all his role is very small and secondly he is a cop who is doing an investigation so there hardly is any action. I do think Michael Angarano is worth mentioning. He plays a friend of Chris and he stands out in every scene. Even though his character is a bit of a caricature, he is the most interesting actor to watch. Empire State is such a middle of the road movie that road crews could use it to draw the division lines on the asphalt. The movie doesn’t carry any weight and does not have enough depth to reach the level of other crime movies. The tension is raised towards the end of the movie, but there is no satisfying payoff. Empire State is a disappointing movie which you should check out in a theater if all other movies are already sold out.
Q
I’ve never even heard of this one but can’t say I’m intrigued. I’m not sold on Liam Hemsworth as an actor, he just seems like a pretty boy. His brother Chris at least has a bit more charisma.
Just shows how little promotion it got over there. They are not really pushing it here either, but you do see the occasional poster. Shame it is such a disappointment.
I’ve only seen him Hemsworth in The Hunger Games and he was alright. Even in the way he looks, I don’t think he’s got much range as an actor. On the plus side, I’m glad to see he’s upgraded to get himself a real woman instead of some white-trash ho-bag who keeps sticking her tongue out. Very unsanitary. EW!
I have seen too litlle of his work to form a good opinion on his acting, but he did not impress me here!