Chris makes the mistake of mentioning the company's lax security to his best friend, Eddie (Michael Angarano), and is soon unwittingly drawn into an elaborate scheme to rob the abundant amounts of cash being stored there - resulting in the largest cash heist in U.S. History. Based on a true story. After he was released, he decided to write a script about his life and the robbery, to show the world that sometimes we have the power to turn our mistakes into something positive. These two might be the main characters in the film, but it’s hyper and impatient young thug Eddie (Michael Angarano) who is by far the most interesting character we meet. They negotiate a shady deal with a Colombian drug lord, who is played on film by an actor who has apparently never heard a real Colombian accent in all of his life. Sorry, you have Javascript Disabled! Empire State is a 2013 American crime drama film based on a true story centered on two childhood friends who rob an armored car depository, and the NYPD officer who stands in their way. Chris makes the mistake of mentioning the company's lax security to his best friend, Eddie (Michael Angarano), and is soon unwittingly drawn into an elaborate scheme to rob the abundant amounts of cash being stored there - resulting in the largest cash heist in U.S. History. Given the intriguing story on which it is based, it’s surprising that Empire State doesn’t pack more punch. When Chris and his friends finally do carry out the heist, they do so with a lot less panache than one might expect for such a big theft. Empire State Movie Review Summary. We sit in the lonely Empire Armored Car headquarters with Chris, who plans to phone friends waiting a few blocks away once everyone else has left the building. By Cory Stillman Published Feb 19, 2021. Coach Carter. In Theaters: Streaming: Dec 17, 2015. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. 0. In the movie, the friends spend most of their time planning the heist in dingy neighborhood cafes. Directed By: Dito Montiel. The lone security guard on duty, a 23-year-old kid from Queens, claimed that three men handcuffed him and then committed the robbery. The trial lasted two months and he was given a maximum sentence of 15 years. His worries are quickly eased by the arrival of a second, unknown robbery squad who are met by the NYPD. When the young security guard lets slip in front of a few friends that the armored truck company where he works is poorly secured at night, the young men immediately begin dreaming of the high life. Empire State. Too much morality and too little action make Empire State just another heist movie. Directed by Dito Montiel and starring Liam Hemsworth, Emma Roberts and Dwayne Johnson, the film was released straight to DVD and Blu-ray on September 3, 2013. First of all, this movie is nothing to do with Empire State Building. What Happened To The People . “When you come to Africa, you think you will change her -- but she changes you. Info; Cast; Report; what going on? Before he can do so, though, NYPD officers burst into the office, telling the guard that they’ve received a tip that there might be a robbery at the company that night. It’s not clear how much – if at all – Empire State is indeed based on a true story but if it is it could actually have done with more dramatisation. R. Your rating: 0. They were arrested only two months later when a conspirator broke down and gave them up to the police. Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden. Silent. Empire is a 1964 American black-and-white silent art film by Andy Warhol. It’s hard to believe that Chris Potamitis committed such a serious crime when you meet him today. One might also wonder how Chris, who professes to have never shot a gun at all in one of the movie’s first scenes, suddenly becomes an expert marksman. Empire State R | 1h 44min | Crime , Thriller | April 1988 (USA) In London's yuppie-dominated docklands of the 1980s Paul tries to make a deal with an American businessman However, he underestimates the clout of his old boss, a powerful Eastender. But of course, trusting Eddie is precisely what Potamitis does. Actors: Liam Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Angarano. When he isn’t caught, he begins to believe that he and his friends can pull off a major heist and walk away with enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. True story films gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the production of films based on actual events that first aired on CBS, ABC, and NBC. This real-life story serves as the inspiration for Empire State, an action vehicle starring Liam Hemsworth and Dwayne Johnson. When projected according to Warhol's specifications, it consists of eight hours and five minutes of slow motion footage of an unchanging view of the Empire State Building. The resulting shootout is much less interesting than it could be, because the cinematography itself is quite dark and key players are difficult to pick out on the screen. Although the characters in ‘Centigrade’ are entirely fictional, it does draw its inspiration from several true stories of people who got buried under snow and somehow made it out alive to tell their tales. They resided in New York City, and young Chris lived through the tough years of NYC where crime was a daily routine and, for some people, even an act of glory. It’s dull and languid and despite its relatively promising premise, next to nothing actually happens across its 90-minute running time. Because the film fails to create any real tension between the characters, scenes that are written to be tense and explosive are instead so banal and straightforward that no guesswork is needed to determine exactly what’s going to happen at the end. When I saw the movie poster with that building the background, I thought the movie would be something like 'White House Down' which will be defended against the terrorist takeover/attack. The film Empire State chronicles the facts of the real-life heist which resulted in the theft of $11 million from the deposits of the Sentry armored company in New York City in 1982. Potamitis co-wrote the script and is also a producer of the movie, which stars Liam Hemsworth alongside Mike Angarano, Emma Roberts, Dwayne Johnson, Nikki Reed, Chris Diamantopoulos and others. PopMatters is wholly independent, women-owned and operated. See instructions. In London's yuppie-dominated docklands of the 1980s, Paul tries to make a deal with an American businessman. After you've finished reading our analysis of the 300: Rise of an Empire true story vs. the movie via the questions above, enjoy the related videos below, including the Rise of an Empire trailer and videos that provide a closer look at the movie's … Nomadland, starring and produced by two-time Academy Award winner Frances McDormand ( Fargo; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri ), tells the story of Fern, a woman who leaves her hometown of Empire, Nev. to travel around the American West. Dwayne Johnson, Liam Hemsworth and Emma Roberts star in the true crime thriller. So while we know that the drama has a lot of potential, it brings one big question: Is Empire based on a true story? “Yes I feel redemption and you can definitely see it in the movie,” says Potamitis during our exclusive interview. After failing to get into the police academy, Chris Potamitis (Liam Hemsworth), settles for a security guard job with the EMPIRE STATE Armored Truck Company. To see this page as it is meant to appear, please enable your Javascript! Is Centigrade Based on a True Story? He admits that in the beginning it was hard to make the movie and grab people’s attention, but eight years later, Empire State stayed in the top 10 DVD charts for months. 8 1 vote. Empire State is a tremendous thriller based on a true story, written and directed by Dito Montiel, and if you don't know the name, you should. Empire State is a 2013 American crime drama film based on a true story, centered on two childhood friends who rob an armored car repository, and the NYPD officer who stands in their way. In one of the first scenes, we learn that Chris can’t become a police officer because he was caught smoking pot with Eddie as a teen. He stayed in jail for nine years, and with the help of his family, he once again became part of society. Subscribe here to get Greek Reporter's latest news right to your inbox, once daily! It’s immediately clear that Eddie cannot be trusted with secrets. Movies; Empire State; Empire State 7 years old . Empire is located about 100 miles northeast of Reno, just south of the Black Rock Desert where the Burning Man arts festival takes place. Potamitis was actually in Puerto Rico with his girlfriend at the time on vacation when they finally caught up to him. This real-life story serves as the inspiration for Empire State, an action vehicle starring Liam Hemsworth and Dwayne Johnson. Empire State: Chris Potamitis On Famous Heist and His Life's Story (video), Meet the Greek Educator Turned Author in Africa, Why Greek Orthodox and Western Easter will Never Coincide After 2700. Jumpy and unpredictable, Eddie is one of Chris’ best friends. Goaded on by his friends, Chris decides to steal a bag containing some $25,000. As a result, Ransone’s pursuit of the crew also seems less than enthusiastic. The cast also includes Gretchen Mol, Betty Gilpin, and John Sharian. That night, Chris was the only guard at Sentry and helped three other Greek-Americans to enter the building and steal the money. Jimmy's cross-country bus trip to Manhattan is as hapless and funny as Jimmy himself. Empire State (2013) - Cast & Crew - IMDb. He would be released from prison in 1991. Mosul. Essaying the pop culture that matters since 1999. Goyo: The Boy General. Empire State is a drama centered on two childhood friends who plan to rob the armored car depository, and the NYPD officer who stands in their way. Empire State. How can he possibly tell his associates to get out of the neighborhood before the police pick them up? Based on a true story. R , 1h 35m. The Greek-American businessman and film producer looks more like a kind giant who does not hide his past, and he keeps repeating that he did it “without thinking of the consequences. As they plot from these not-so-hidden places, they must also decide how they can avoid letting neighborhood crime boss Spyro (Chris Diamantopoulos) in on their plan. The film is based on a true story about a heist that took place at Empire State armored truck company. Johnson plays Det. After failing to get into the police academy, Chris Potamitis settles for a security guard job with an armoured truck company. Nomadland's Fern loses her home after the erasure of Empire, Nevada. An interview with the real Chris Potamitis, featured as an extra of the Blu-ray release of the film, is the most interesting thing on the whole disc. Your email is only visible to moderators. Hemsworth plays as Christos Potamitis, the young Greek-American security guard who provided insider information to his heist-hungry friends. Comment. Today, he has a business and lives in New York City with his wife and their three children. The story is really flat and boring. Hidden Figures. First Official Photos From Empire State. At the time, it was the largest cash heist in US history. According to Mr. Nagel, the robber took him to an adjacent room and handcuffed him to a pipe, the police said. Morning Deposits Typical. Empire State has a story that has plenty of potential, but this movie is honestly pretty tough to get through. A teenager then, Potamitis could not imagine that the path he had chosen would lead him to prison for many years. 300: Rise of an Empire Movie Trailer & Related Videos. In 1982, a group of small-time thieves broke into the headquarters of an armored car company in the Bronx and stole $11 million. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Empire State; This movie is based on a real robbery that occurred in 1982, what was the the largest cash heist in U.S. history. Action Drama. Potamitis wants to help his struggling parents; Ransone takes his oath to serve and protect seriously. Movies. As the night of the heist approaches, the viewer hopes that perhaps this is the scene where the action is going to kick into high gear. Nomadland True Story: Is Empire, Nevada Real? As he talks about planning the heist and what has happened in the years since, the viewer can’t help but feel that the fictionalized version of the events has cheated them out of the rich character of Potamitis. Based on the memoir of the same name by Michael Finkel, the film stars Jonah Hill, James Franco and Felicity Jones. You can also follow Greek Reporter on Google News. A violent thug and restaurant owner, Spyro also happens to employ Chris’ father. Poster also misleads that the movie is a complete action pack, but it was not. The problem of lackluster action plagues the entire film. He screws up his courage, writes Sara a letter about his true feelings, and asks her to meet him at the top of the Empire State Building (a nod to their ongoing debate about Sleepless in Seattle). Potamitis and Ransone are portrayed as one-dimensional characters who are driven almost entirely by strong moral and ethical sentiments. crime , action , drama. The events of Chloe Zhao's Nomadland spiral outward from the closure of the United … Potamitis immediately begins to worry: Did one of his friends tell Spyro about their plan? © 1999-2021 PopMatters Media, Inc. All rights reserved. As he says during our interview, “My dad could not even afford to buy me a bicycle.”. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Exclusive interview: Chris Potamitis of “Empire State,” who as a young man took part in the largest cash robbery in US history, talks to Greek Reporter about the real events of the heist, the jail time he faced, and his life today after he co-produced the famous film starring Liam Hemsworth and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. After failing to get into the police academy, Chris Potamitis settles for a security guard job with an armoured truck company. Emmett/Furla Films. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Here's everything you need to know about this real-life ghost town. Ip Man 2. Share Share Tweet Email. Chris is never quiet about his past and he does not try to hide it, as do others who have done jail time. I don’t know if the film followed the true story closely or not, but it seems like most of the main characters in this film are idiots. True Story is a 2015 American mystery drama film directed by Rupert Goold in his directorial debut based on a screenplay by Goold and David Kajganich. This is it; the viewer can feel that Chris will make the call and the heist will happen. Menu. Synopsis. In the Heart of the Sea. It probably could have been a lot better were its leading man not such a dead weight. Potamitis, after spending nine years in jail, decided to make a movie about his life and the robbery to show that “people make mistakes and they pay for them.”. 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