Empire State

Watched this for the first time last night and was blown away....

Before directors like Tarantino did the whole convoluted stories of multiple characters that all join up trick that became popular in the 90's and still remains a staple of some crime films now, there was this offering from director Ron Peck.

The film is a brilliant snapshot of late 80's London and the stylish portrayal of the club in it really captures the feel of an 80's club.

Now, I'm going to rewatch but first time round the first half didn't do much for me, but when all the characters arrive at the club the film is named after it's just brilliant. The speech the arrogant young gangster who has been taken in by the allure of yuppie culture gives to his old school east end boss in the office is just brilliant and original. In fact there are no cliche's in what transpires at the club and it's sightly art-house cinematography makes it all the more compelling...

I'm curious now as to what other films pre Empire State used the wraparound narrative first, and in this film it's used to great effect.

Empire state... is a nightclub in the rough and tumble east end of london. When blondie pete shows up, no-one seems to know his friend mick who works there, but there are many other things going on to keep him occupied. Martin landau, ten years after space 1999, is chuck, an investor in a nearby development project. There's a gay undercurrent to the film as well. Lots of loose threads swirling around. There's a reporter nosing around, and apparently there were several drug related deaths at the club. It seems they were using the club after hours as a fighting venue, with gambling. SO many subplots. It just gets silly. And violent, kind of a parody of studio 54. And the violence that was happening in london at the time. Cathryn harrison is marion, and gets top billing, apparently for being the grand-daughter of rex harrison. Directed by ron peck. Probably best known for nighthawks. Harrison died young at 59.

A film that plays out over the course of a single day and night, following the misadventures of various peoples whose lives are entwined with the titular nightclub. Your enjoyment of EMPIRE STATE will depend on how much you enjoy watching an evocation of '80s-era East End London, seeing as the movie is chock full of dated locales, fashions and dialogue, especially during the latter interludes set within the nightclub itself.

Plot elements are familiar from anyone who's seen the type of gangster flicks favoured by Guy Ritchie; there's drug dealing aplenty, along with gambling and illegal hand-to-hand fights. The film is a thriller and it certainly held my attention throughout, although that was partly due to the expectation of drama that never really arose. British viewers will spend half of the film struggling to remember the name of that actor they recognise from one British TV show or the other. There is also, unusually, a strong homosexual angle to the plot, as most of the main characters seem to be rent boys and even the imported American star (Martin Landau) gets up to some dodgy goings-on in his hotel room. The director, Ron Peck, appears to be an important figure in British gay cinema. This one-of-a-kind movie is understandably obscure by modern standards.

Try finding this movie its certainly not easy... This was apparently a 1980s Channel 4 production, it certainly has some of its hallmarks. It is most definitely a London 1980s time capsule of a film. Its hyper-stylised which would probably have given this quite a strong impact when it first came out. While its billed as a gangster movie, it has very little to do with actual gangsters until the final act.

The actual story is split between a number of groups of individuals with a nightclub called the Empire State at the centre of the narrative. A problem with the narrative however is that some of the characters simply seem to exit the movie halfway into the story. The most famous face in the movie could have easily been removed from the story, which would have been welcome as this clocks in at one and three quarter hours. In terms of the main actors, you probably haven't seen any of them before or after this, although a few better known faces do appear in bit parts, recognisable from Eastenders. There is also a nightclub scene and I swear I saw the lead singer from Depeche Mode on the dancefloor.

Its actually difficult to describe the story as there are too many characters in the fray and many of their stories simply do not resolve. The final act however is about a young upstart yuppie trying to challenge his old boss, with an underground MMA style fight which still seems over the top in brutality and gore to this day. That is basically what Channel 4 thought was "edgy" at the time. That and lots of gay content as well as heavily featuring of rent boys, which will no doubt put off a lot of the typical London Gangster Geezer genre fan. I don't think there was any heterosexual sex in the entire movie, I lost count of the gay scenes however and its was in the main pointless. Although one look at the directors other projects may explain why. The screeching Communards style soundtrack isn't exactly easy on the ear either, although I suppose in some circles that was music trendy at the time.

I can certainly see why this sunk without a trace, although it has had a recent digital re-release. You cant really market a London Gangster movie which has the under current of not so much gay sex, but the implication being that gangsters are all either rent boys or use their services, to fans of this genre.

Its best viewed as a snapshot of the 80s London clubbing scene, where dress codes meant suits and shoes, designer drugs like ecstasy had just arrive, acid house was round the corner and yuppies make a financial killing. Hard to recommend other than as a curiosity as its certainly not a decent or satisfying watch.

I saw this dvd in the British Film Institute shop in London and had the idea I had liked it years ago. So I bought it and my god it is awful. If there is a plot I don't see it. There are no good performances. I must have enjoyed the titillation of the women's outfits and the nudity when I saw it 30 years ago. The sets are amazing but there is no shape or plot.