Pinching Penny

What a brash hodge podge of stolen material. Only a few notes off from being made of material copied and pasted from the peers of this genre. Don't let friends and family convince you that this is some grand opus. This is merely a student film far longer than it ever need be. Actors do what they can but sadly they can do little when a project is flawed from so many directions. The main character and his setting seems completely forced. It's one thing to enjoy a Guy Ritchie film but it's an entirely other thing to forcibly shove a bad knock off of one of Mr. Ritchie's characters into a place he has no good reason being in the first place. The only explanation for this being in the Top 500 is probably because calling in some family favors to make a few simple clicks is rather easy.

I attended a screening of Pinching Penny and was blown away by the performances. Lauren Wertz as Penny was totally believable; Tim Meyer was the witty and fun sidekick; Ginny Glaser was the perfect femme fatale; and Steven Molony as the main character, Alex, was utterly mesmerizing, all the way from the clever hilarious opening to the undeniably tragic end. He definitely has great presence, a lovely voice (!), and talent oozing out of his eyeballs. The four main characters interact honestly, which kept me interested all the way through. Wow...the message is clear: Money isn't everything, and one bad thing leads to another! I think this movie WILL be noticed for its introduction of raw new talent to the movie industry. I predict Dan Glaser will be a famed director who reminds us of Aronofsky and Ritchie, but who develops his own unique tradition. As for Steven Molony, I predict he will carve his place in movie star history at the TOP. He is amazing, and I want to see MORE!

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've read everything, I've seen the trailers, and I've heard a lot of buzz about this film. On facebook, friends are talking about it. I like to make up my own open mind, so I rented the movie. I had a BLAST watching it. There are some problems with the writing, which is due, I think, to a young writer who is trying to fit a LOT into 2 hours. I would have preferred a more limited story and stronger character development, but other than that, the movie was pure fun. The leads were terrific, especially Molony and Myer. I think the following critical review excerpt sums it up for me: "The acting was good here, though, and just helped to provide more entertainment. Steven Molony is great in the lead role of Alex. His gritty performance really holds the movie together. The kid shows a lot of promise here. If given the opportunity and time, it could be interesting to see where his career goes. One good role and he could prove to be something of a breakout star in the future. Or, at the very least, one of those respectable mainstays in the indie world. Timothy Meyer does well playing Murray bringing a certain level of charm and humor to the movie." --- Couch Potato; Josh Lyons. I agree completely!!!!

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.