100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 31: Empire Records

Director: Allan Moyle
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Anthony LaPaglia, Liv Tyler, Renee Zellweger, Robin Tunney, Ethan Embry, Debi Mazar

Description: The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.

Review: I was really looking forward to seeing this. A group of teens working in a record store, trying to save the store before it’s been taken over by a big company. Well, it wasn’t all that great.
For a store that is suffering from financial problems, they sure have a lot of employees working at the same time. And they aren’t actually working. It’s just a bunch of self-absorbed caricatures with no character development. It all happens in one day and things happen really fast. Moods, situations, relationships, feelings. So fast, it’s no longer believable.
While watching “Empire Records”, I really didn’t know how serious I had to take this film. There is really no character that I really like and some things that happen are so ridiculous. I don’t know, but I really didn’t like this film very much. I did enjoy the soundtrack, some good music is in this film.
“Empire Records” is not as fun as I hoped.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 54: Hush

Director: Jonathan Darby
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 1998
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange, Johnathon Schaech, Debi Mazar

Description: Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) is the young girlfriend of good-looking Jackson Baring (Johnathon Schaech). When Helen gets pregnant and marries Jackson, they decide to move to his hometown, Kilronan, and have a baby there. But his mother Martha (Jessica Lange), who lives there, starts to do weird things, and obviously she's not too friendly to Helen.

Review: Helen and Jackson live a happy life. When Helen gets pregnant and she doesn’t feel safe in their New York apartment anymore, they decide to move in with Jackson’s mother and have the baby there. But mom Martha is not as nice as she seems.
“Hush” is a predictable film and for a thriller not a lot happens. Everything evolves around lies an manipulation, but nothing really ‘thrilling’ happens.
The acting isn’t all that memorable, only maybe for Jessica Lange. She is a fantastic actress, but this is probably her worst performance ever.
“Hush” was watchable, but also easily forgettable.

Rating: 2/ 5