Empire ★★½ 2002 (R) Leguizamo is Victor Rosa, a slick South Bronx drug entrepreneur hustling to keep his patch of heroin turf. Through narration, Victor walks us through his seedy world and his decision to leave it. His opportunity arises when he meets Wall Street couple Trish (Richards) and Jack (Sarsgaard). Jack cuts him in on an investment deal that helps launder his money, but Victor soon finds out that even a player can get played. Reyes's gangster flick aspires to the heights of "Scarface" and "The Godfather," but sinks in a quagmire of cliches and obvious plot devices. Excellent cast includes Rosellini as an over-the-top drug queenpin as well as rappers Fat Joe and Treach. 195m/C VHS, DVD. John Leguizamo, Peter Sarsgaard, Denise Richards, Delilah Cotto, Vincent Laresca, Isabella Rossellini, Sonia Braga, Nestor Serrano, Fat Joe, Treach;
Director:
Franc Reyes;
Writer:
Franc Reyes;
Writer:
Kramer Morgenthau;
Cameo:
Ruben Blades.
