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:

unemployment | 1990s | venice california | los angeles 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

Did You Know?

Goofs

At 80 minutes, at the motel, John tucks his revolver into his belt but less than a minute later, he again tucks his revolver into his belt.

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Quotes

John: I don't think a lot about the big picture. I'm a rationalist and I'm a romantic. That doesn't leave a lot of time for spiritual bullshit.

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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

Better than its reputation

(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon.)

This sixties time-warped retro kind of "power to the people" nineties flick is mostly a procession of set pieces, some of which are not bad. The bit at the gun store with Billy Bob Thornton was superb. The crack philosophers scene was also very good. And the way "What's So Funny ‛Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?" was sung so badly was just perfectola. (Actually that's "What's So Bad about Peace, Love and Understanding?" but whatever...)

And the way that big silver fish popped those gold fish...gulp!

I think some of the negative comments about this movie ought to be greeted with a "Whoa, dudes--get a sense of humor." Or, "Don't be offended, man, it's only a movie." Or maybe, "Uh, the soundtrack is awesome, dude." (Oh, god, people really did talk like that!) The dream sequences fooled me at least twice. They were funny. Funniest line: when the trash lady pulls her rifle out of her cart and says "Vive la Revolution!" Second funniest line: "What kind of music do you want to hear?" "The farm report."

Okay, this was no masterpiece, and any episodic movie sans plot is not going to rival The Godfather here at IMDb. And James LeGros ain't no Marlon Brando. And if you've ever been to Venice Beach...well, you know it's a freak show. But I think director and screen writer Peter McCarthy did a nice job of bringing that slacker street scene to life. I think the big mistake was to headline actors like Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, Ethan Hawke, and Billy Bob Thornton when they only had cameos. That should have been made clear up front. And there was more than a touch of the kind of sixties moral pretension that we've all grown a little tired of. But bottom line for me, this was a funny movie.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Haltlos

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,604, 6 November 1994

Gross USA:

$20,031

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,031

Company Credits

Production Co:

Front Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1