Floundering (1994)

In this scathing and subversive social comedy, life in post riot Los Angeles is dissected under the sardonic eye of John Boyz, an unemployed thirty nothing flounderer on Venice Beach who is... See full summary »

Director:

Peter McCarthy

Writers:

Jo Harvey Allen (additional dialogue), John Cusack (additional dialogue),

Stars:

James Le Gros, Shaka, Zander Schloss

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Le Gros	...	John (as James LeGros)
Shaka	...	Shaman
Zander Schloss	...	Catatonic Man
John Cusack	...	JC
Nina Siemaszko	...	Gal
Jeremy Piven	...	Guy
Dolores Deluce	...	Breadstore Clerk (as Dolores Delucé)
Eddie Baytos	...	Paper Thief
Maritza Rivera	...	Elle
Yolanda García	...	Yolanda (as Yolanda Garcia)
Ángel García	...	Pepe (as Angel Garcia)
Tom Cortese	...	Drug Dealer
Therman Statom	...	Drug Buyer
Margaret McNally	...	Westsider
Anna Wacks	...	Westside Kid

Storyline

In this scathing and subversive social comedy, life in post riot Los Angeles is dissected under the sardonic eye of John Boyz, an unemployed thirty nothing flounderer on Venice Beach who is trying to figure out what to do with his life. John can't be bothered with apathy, but no matter how much he wants to help people, he is too immobilized to do anything useful. Haunted by chronic insomnia and impending sense of doom, all he can do is watch, and John is an avid observer. Through his voyeuristic binoculars, he struggles to make sense of all the alienation and disaffection he sees in his neighborhood. In his journal he meticulously chronicles the mundane down to steadfast march of ants across his kitchen counter. John is desperately trying to keep one meaningless day from blending into next. He compulsively watches homemade videos of LA riots looking for a clue. But everywhere around him the city's social fabric is coming apart at the seams, and now it is John Boys's own threadbare ...

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Plot Keywords:

los angeles california | venice california | independent film

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, sexuality and drug use, and for some violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Haltlos

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Front Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

John: V.D.? Who the fuck wants V.D.?

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Soundtracks

"My Drug Buddy"
Performed by Stan Ridgway & Zander Schloss
Words & Music by Stan Ridgway
(c) & (p) Mondo Spartacus/Illegal Songs

User Reviews

The movie flounders

How can good intentions go so awry?

The movie has the right things to say. It attacks greed, racism, corporate indifference, and shallow relationships, and it features cameos by such interesting people as Steve Buscemi. John Cusack, and Billy Bob Thornton.

Unfortunately, it lacks one thing one usually looks for in a comedy, namely humor. It just isn't very funny.

Our hero has a really bad hair day. His girl is with another guy when he shows up early for a date. His brother breaks out of rehab, gets wasted and now thinks our hero is the devil. His bank accounts are possessed by the IRS. His unemployment runs out. His idealistic high school teacher has become a racist greedhead. He is pursued in a drive-by shooting.

He O.D.'s. He is sodomized after he passes out. ....Well, you get the point.

There are two ways to attack a hateful target. One is to use the sharp eye of satire, the other is to say "hey, that stinks". This movie does the latter. It uses the Beavis and Butthead level of analytical depth.

Unfortunately, everyone knows that racism stinks, and they go to movies to be entertained. Viewers may agree with the ideas in this one, and so they may feel good when he strikes back, but not many people will be entertained by it.

Sophomoric.