Reach the Rock (1998)

Two school kids who are best friends are drinking on the side of a river. One friend bets the other that he can't swim across the river and "Reach The Rock". The friend takes the bet and ... See full summary »

Director:

Bill Ryan

Writer:

John Hughes

Stars:

William Sadler, Alessandro Nivola, Bruce Norris

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Sadler	...	Quinn
Alessandro Nivola	...	Robin
Bruce Norris	...	Ernie
Karen Sillas	...	Donna
Brooke Langton	...	Lise
Richard Hamilton	...	Ed
Norman Reedus	...	Danny

Storyline

Two school kids who are best friends are drinking on the side of a river. One friend bets the other that he can't swim across the river and "Reach The Rock". The friend takes the bet and drowns halfway towards the rock. The entire town blames the the kid for his friends death, he runs away never to be seen again. He eventually comes back to his home town of Shermerville and goes crazy, and starts to trash the town (i.e. breaking store-front windows, stealing a police car). He also meets up with his old high school girlfriend. The majority of the movie takes place in one night.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | rock | bet | river | stealing a police car | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

A szerelem rabja

Filming Locations:

Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,317 (USA) (16 October 1998)

Gross:

$4,960 (USA) (23 October 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gramercy Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was the last non-PolyGram film to be released by Gramercy Pictures.

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Soundtracks

"Window Lights"
Written and Performed by The Sea and Cake
Recorded by John McEntire

User Reviews

Down with the (professional) critics!

While 2/3 of the IMDb reviewers cast a very satisfactory and satisfied vote between 7 and 10, most professional critics unmercifully panned the movie… you cannot help wondering if we saw the same film… Unfortunately, the film had already several disadvantages: a somewhat cryptic title which failed to attract attention, no stars, no backing from the distributor; so, if you look at the gross turnover in movie-halls, the result is a sheer catastrophe…. It is a pity, as the film is highly enjoyable - though unusual in many respects: it combines extremely funny scenes with very serious ones; there are practically two settings only: the street at night and the jail; and the cast is limited to seven players: two cameos (wizened Richard Hamilton, and intriguing Norman Reedus as the drowned man), two supporting ones (lovely Karen Sillas and seldom-seen Bruce Norris as the pair looking unsuccessfully for privacy); and three main roles : reliable William Sadler, excellent as the police sergeant; bland-faced promising Alessandro Nivola as the hero, and strikingly beautiful (and good actress) Brooke Langton, climaxing the film. Like many others, I came across the film on TV by chance, – but probably in a shortened version: I witnessed Nivola setting up an intricate booby-trap with a paint-tin and the town-clock… but nothing came out of it. Missed a good laugh, for sure….