Pinching Penny

One of the great things about HD filmmaking is its affordability. These days pretty much anyone with the willpower and a few months savings can buy a camera and make their vision a reality. This is great for the artist on a shoestring budget with a unique and creative story to tell, but the problem is most peoples vision is of little interest to anyone but themselves. Pinching Penny fits into the latter category.

As reviewers have said before, Pinching Penny is a film that takes stock characters from myriad other films and places them in situations where they clearly don't belong. The result is an entirely disjointed and unbelievable experience that, in the end, plays out like an overly-long student film. Now, I can tolerate the occasional student film when it has something interesting to say, but Pinching Penny seems so detached from reality that I wonder if the director incorporated any of his personal experiences into this movie at all, or if its entirely fabricated out of bits and pieces he's picked from other films.

Perhaps the saddest part of all is the fact that so many have given this movie a ten star rating. If Dan Glaser ever hopes to evolve as a filmmaker he'd do best to ignore these high scores, which have clearly been padded by his family and friends, and acknowledge his shortcomings as a storyteller. Once he does this and starts drawing from his own experiences, he'll hopefully be able to give us something worth watching.

ATTENTION: I copied this from my Amazon review. I said it well then and still believe it: This movie grabs you at the first scene and doesn't let go. From comedic crime caper to the riveting emotional end, it's a gritty roller coaster of consequences. Knowing that this was Dan Glaser's directorial debut on a shoestring budget (literally), I was amazed to discover two hours of really great entertainment, complete with powerful acting, imaginative montages, and cool camera shots. Most impressive? Steven Molony's exceptional performance in the lead role. He reminds me of a young Christian Bale in both looks, intensity, and charisma. He's definitely got the chops to make it to the top; this film gives us a glimpse of his immense talent. Other main characters delivered strong, believable support for the story. (Yeah, it's full of F-bombs; get over it. You know what rated R means.) All in all, you won't go wrong with this film. I recommend you buy it, watch it again and again, and proudly tell your friends in the future, "I own a copy of Dan Glaser's first film, the one that introduced Steven Molony as a promising new star." Very cool.........

This is a great movie that should appeal to many viewers on several different levels. The story is interesting and not too far off what could happen to many young people (or older people) as they get sucked deeper into a life of crime and violence. The characters are fascinating and each one has his or her personality that is defining. The message is certainly an important part of the film: important but not overwhelming or distracting. The tone and style of the movie add to the overall power.

I thought the production values were a plus. It's obviously NOT a Hollywood film. It's an independent, early career, well-thought-out visualization. The film travels back and forth between the bright sun scenes and the dark ominous scenes. The camera angles and editing heighten the pace and the off-balance feel of the characters' lives. The music definitely supports the action and the tone.

It IS interesting to read the various OTHER reviews of the film, as obviously some of the reviewers take themselves pretty seriously (particularly the bashers) and seem determined to downgrade the movie.

The bottom line, in my opinion, is that the movie does what I have learned and taught: it moves. It entertains. It tells a story. It carries a message. It grabs the audience and doesn't let go.

I'd say "watch it!"

I'm a fan. No question about it. When a group of college guys commit to creating a gritty feature-length movie and actually get it completed, sold and distributed nationwide, you have to sit up and take notice. I was intrigued in Pinching Penny's first moments, laughing out loud the next, and ready to cry by the end. Steven Molony stars as Alex, craving money to spend for the sake of spending and acquiring "stuff," but making poor choices to get the needed bucks. As he and his partners in crime move from petty thievery to kidnapping (aka pinching) and worse, viewers begin to literally feel Alex's misery. Molony demonstrates an entire repertoire of faces, emotions, and attitudes that are REAL. For me and my friends, the movie is a 10 based on the strength of his acting. In terms of the direction, Dan Glaser scripted some great comedic scenes as well as a few sudden shockers. He crafted cool settings, costuming, and makeup to complement effective montage editing. By casting Molony and some strong supporting characters, this little indie film has the potential to become a cult classic. Indeed, Pinching Penny is one to watch.

As somebody who knows the filmmakers, I have no problem professing that all the high reviews as of 10.31.11 are from the filmmakers or their friends and family. In fact, they haven't even bothered to type new reviews, but have copied and pasted their previous glorifying comments from Amazon.com.

As for my review; this movie is your standard film student fare. It borrows from dozens of popular movies and makes no original additions of its own. Pinching Penny would be a good movie to watch if you know the people involved or are stoned, drunk, or otherwise mentally incapacitated. If not, I would suggest you don't waste your time.