Film Overview"Empire State" is a 2013 American criminal activity thriller film directed by Dito Montiel and produced by Randall Emmett, George Furla, Sandy Kyrkostas, and Mark Stewart. The film includes a cast led by Liam Hemsworth, Emma Roberts, and Dwayne Johnson. This film is based on the 1982 Sentry armored cars and truck break-in in New York City, where 2 youth good friends plan one of the biggest cash break-ins in America's history.
Plot SummarySet in 1982 in New York City, the movie starts with Chris Potamitis (Liam Hemsworth), a boy whose dream is to become a police officer. Nevertheless, his plans are warded off when he fails the exam due to his previous criminal record. Entrusted no other alternatives, Chris takes a job as a security guard with Empire State Armored Truck Company.
When Chris's buddy Eddie (Michael Angarano) learns about the company's lax security measures, he takes the opportunity to carry out an intricate million-dollar heist. Chris is slowly roped into this adventurous plan. Chris's decision to leave the vault's doors open one night leads to Eddie and his gang robbing the vault of almost $11 million without getting caught.
CharacterizationLiam Hemsworth's portrayal of Chris portrays a man torn between his ambitions and his ethical values. This character is put in a challenging position, where he needs to decide which side of the law he really belongs to. On the other hand, Michael Angarano as Eddie represents a drive for quick success and product wealth. Emma Roberts plays the role of Nancy, Chris's love interest, whose character adds more depth to Chris's personal life.
Dwayne Johnson, as Detective James Ransone, bases on the opposite side of the law, trying to solve the criminal offense and bring the offenders to justice. His character brings suspense to the story as he chases the reality behind the break-in.
Conflict and ResolutionThe film's core complexity arises as Chris, who intended to uphold law and order, gets entangled in a severe criminal activity. His friendship with Eddie likewise puts him in a challenging position, facing dispute between commitment and the right thing to do.
The circumstance gets more made complex when Detective Ransone begins to surround them, rapidly finding out Chris's involvement. Heavily pursued by mobsters, corrupt authorities, and Ransone, Chris and Eddie's strategy begins to unwind.
The climax of the film is the resolution of this extreme cat-and-mouse chase. Dito Montiel does a good task of mixing historic facts and fiction in the film's climax. Despite its grim premise, the movie concludes with a twist of paradoxical justice.
Last ThoughtsAs an action-packed crime thriller, "Empire State" offers a solid narrative based upon a real story. Credit goes to Dito Montiel for recreating this historical event with authenticity and engaging storytelling. Hemsworth and Johnson provide strong efficiencies. Overall, "Empire State" is an appealing expedition of a male's moral dilemma and the repercussions of his choices amidst an audacious break-in.
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