Rennie's Landing (2001) User Reviews (9)

A Spoiler Could Only Improve Things

[aimless-46 · 3/10 · 7 February 2006]

"Stealing Time" actually dates back to 2001 when it was mysteriously titled "Rennie's Landing". Which explains how director Marc Fusco was able to afford this cast of now established television/movie actors in what is obviously an extremely low budget production. About ten minutes into the film you understand why this thing never got a theatrical release after it made the film festival rounds several years ago.

Its recent distribution by Franchise Pictures probably reflects a perception that the rising popularity of certain cast members can be milked to recover some of the modest production costs. Although not a great addition to anyone's resume, young actors have done worse things when they were desperately seeking acting work of any kind.

Peter Facinelli, Ethan Embry, Scott Foley and Charlotte Ayanna play college friends who do an early "Big Chill" reunion and compare war stories about the failure of reality to measure up to their dreams.

Unfortunately nothing else happens, absolutely nothing. Yes Alec (Facinelli) dreams about a liquor store holdup and a bank robbery, which are then "cheaply and lamely" staged to completely inappropriate music. It is the least suspenseful bank job since W.C. Fields was the guard in "The Bank Dick".

If anyone can point to any moment in "Stealing Time" where something "actually" happens I would like to know about it, because as far as I can tell, not a thing happens in the whole film. Perhaps Fusco, through incessant visual reflections, is trying to say something profound about taking control of one's life before it is too late. Like "St. Elmo's Fire" the movie is littered with every profound thought ever uttered by a young adult who has left the ivory tower to experience the real world for the first time.

I felt Fusco was going for a kind of Howard Hawks Young Professionals in Action "Only Angels Have Wings" motif. Then again, I'm sure I was reading much too much into the film. After all, things actually happen Howard Hawks films.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Decent Low-Budget Film with Great Acting

[BaiNst · 7/10 · 23 October 2006]

The worst thing I can say about this movie is that the plot reminded me of the story that Chevy Chase's character was writing in FUNNY FARM (a very funny film for those who like Chevy Chase humor). That is, there's not much original to the plot, and it's delivered in a rather clumsy way.

That said, I could see what the writer/director was trying for, and appreciated the attempt. This appreciation was bolstered by the great acting, which really carried the film. I was not familiar with more than two of the actors who made cameos (Garner and the old guy, who's name escapes me), so I wasn't distracted by knowing where they are today (doing fairly well on television, it seems).

I won't go into details of the plot, as there are several reviewers that have already covered the main beats, and the subsequent problems. However, the dialog and direction was decent enough, the cinematography and camera movement excellent, and the acting superb. I was expecting a train wreck, but was pleasantly surprised, and even though a portion of the ending left me a bit let down (the reveal is not handled as well as it could have been...and degrades the story up until that point), the overall tenor and message was something that many of today's films don't succeed at, if they even try.

I am a person who will turn off a DVD, or walk out of a film, if I don't enjoy it. I watched this through to the end, because I found the actors enthralling, and their characters well developed. And as far as story and the rest, it's certainly on a par with most everything else released by major studios.

Good when it is funny

[vchimpanzee · 22 April 2008]

At the start of the movie, Alec, Samantha, Trevor and Casey are about to graduate from college. They reunite one year later in Los Angeles, and none of them are doing exactly what they expected.

Alec and Trevor are living together in what can best be described as a dump. Alec would like to be a movie writer, but for now he is basically a secretary to a demanding female boss. Trevor wants to be an actor, but he can never succeed. Casey arrives in town with big dreams and gives the impression he is a success, but he isn't, and he's stuck living in the dump with the others. Plus he needs to find a girl who he had a child with years ago. Samantha, who goes by Sam, is an idealistic social worker who hopes she can keep an immigrant family from being deported, but this proves to be harder than she thinks, and her superiors are no help.

Alec finds out he has a brain tumor, and this may be what is giving him visions. (Can you say "Eli Stone," boys and girls? I knew you could.) He may be seeing the future, or he may be finding out how to solve his problems and those of his friends. The visions give him the idea to rob a bank (though he keeps the source of his idea a secret from the others). And the bank robbery itself is the funniest part of the movie.

This is okay, but overall nothing great. Too much of the movie is depressing, but I did like the funny parts. The ending comes as kind of a surprise.

Waste of Time

[sondicogk · 3/10 · 18 April 2006]

This movie is a waste of time. Though it has actors who have the potential to do something decent, the acting in the movie is sub-par, and has a cliché point. "You never know what's going to happen tomorrow, so live your life to the fullest and do what makes you happy." That sentence saves you from wasting hours of your life on this movie. People who like this movie are the same people who would enjoy sitting for two hours before finding that the entire movie was a dream sequence. If the most important part of the movie isn't even going to happen, at least make it enjoyable to watch and captivating. There's a reason this project didn't make a theatrical release, and though indy films can turn out very good, this one does not even come close.

Terrific, why wasn't this in theaters?

[megdaleg · 8/10 · 15 August 2002]

This movie has a great Gen Y ensemble cast, including Peter Facinelli (Riding in Cars With Boys), Ethan Embry (Can't Hardly Wait), Scott Foley (Felicity), and a cameo by Jennifer Garner (Alias). The clever script has its ups and downs, but is generally carried well throughout the movie. Marc Fusco's (Steven Spielberg's personal assistant) direction is stylized and stimulating, thoroughly disguising the use of digital video. Although it starts out as a millennial update to Saint Elmo's Fire, the unique spirit of this film saves it from tedium, and the twisty ending elevates it far above the ordinary. Rennie's Landing sucks you in from the first frames, and doesn't let go until long after the credits have rolled.

More movies like this should be released in theaters.

[ombudsgirl · 9/10 · 15 December 2003]

I know, it's not rare to see really small movies with developed, interesting characters and a great storyline in theaters, but I wish some of them didn't slip through the Hollywood cracks so easily. This movie is so great, and I can't even pick a specific reason why. While not Oscar-worthy, I just liked all of it: the characters, the performances, the photography, the editing, the story, everything. Not to mention that it's thought-provoking, which is more than I can say for the majority of movies with wide releases. Movies like this are perfect examples for why independent movies need to paid more respect than they are.

great movie

[Sarah-Embry · 26 January 2004]

I don't understand how this movie wasn't released until now. Incredible movie, great story, amazing cast. Possibly my favorite performance from Ethan Embry [and I've seen nearly everything he's done]. Peter Facinelli shows he has more talent then he showed on Fastlane.

And Jeff Anderson!! Heck yeah!! Randal pops up for a quick scene :D

best movie

[love-aykroyd-forever · 20 March 2004]

This was such a great movie! i bought the dvd because it had such a great cast line up and i love ethan embry but i did not think i would like it that much. it is such a great movie! wow is all that i can say. why is this not a more popular movie. i bought it at my video store . i had never even heard of it. that is ashame because this is a excellent movie and now one of my all time favorites. the ending was great because it was not a typical sad ending. well it was still sad but not in the way you expected. the cast was excellent! great jobs by everyone in this movie which is hard to say about alot of movies. i recommend this movie to everyone. you will not be sorry. a must see film.

Question (Spoiler)

[impactplayazecw · 11 March 2004]

I just wondered at what point in the movie did it become a fantasy? I know that the whole bank robbing part was not real, but were they really planning on robbing the bank or was that all fake too? I bought this on DVD and just watched it for the first time and thought all of the actors did a great job. It was great to see Ethan Embry and Peter Facinelli do another movie together after Can't Hardly Wait. Plus Kiele Sanchez one of the hottest stars on TV as Emily the bank teller. The storyline about Casey and Kylie was not that enjoyable to me, but the rest of the characters made up for that. My favorite part in the whole movie is when Ethan Embry starts to do his acting thing in the middle of the bank robbery.