Empire State ** (1987, Cathryn Harrison, Jason Hoganson, Glen Murphy, Ian Sears, Martin Landau, Ray McAnally) – Classic Movie Review 10,769

Director Ron Peck’s 1987 crime thriller Empire State is an intriguing attempt to bring the American gangster style to Britain in an adult yarn about a young Yankee mobster arriving at the title nightclub to muscle in on the pickings at London’s burgeoning Docklands area.

Empire State is certainly stylish but it is not very convincing or well developed, and there is a sudden shootout at the last minute to try to rescue some earlier tedium.

It remains intriguing and the filming in the East End of London is an asset, but it is slow moving and variably acted, and, with quality players like Ian Sears, Martin Landau and Ray McAnally, you expect a better film.

Also in the cast are Cathryn Harrison, Jason Hoganson, Glen Murphy, Elizabeth Hickling and Jamie Foreman.

It is written by Ron Peck and Mark Ayres.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,769

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