Floundering (1994)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Peter McCarthy

Writer:

Peter McCarthy (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

In this scathing and subversive social comedy, life in post riot Los Angeles is dissected under the sardonic eye of John Boyz...

Plot Keywords:

Venice California | Los Angeles California | Independent Film

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James LeGros	...	John
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
Gary Gershaw	...	Loan Officer
Bill Fishman	...	Insurance Salesman
Bobby Collins	...	Insurance Salesman
Ted Raimi	...	Safe Salesman
Ned Bellamy	...	Phonebook
Brigid McBride	...	Imagemaker
Steve Buscemi	...	Ned
Alex Cox	...	Photographer
Timothy P.J. McKee	...	Make-up Artist
Cynthia Ojeda	...	Model
Stokely Chaffin	...	Photographer's Assistant
Nelson Lyon	...	Chief Merryl Fence
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Gun Clerk
Dave Roberson	...	Burly Driver
Hugh McKay	...	Bob
Mary Portser	...	Suzie
David M. Navarro	...	Drug Kid
Kim Wayans	...	Unemployment
Catherine Butterfield	...	Nurse Folicle
Ethan Hawke	...	Jimmy
Ed Pansullo	...	Flower Vendor
Alex Michel	...	Producer
Lisa Zane	...	Jessica
Ebbe Roe Smith	...	Dougie
Fernando Cruz Jr.	...	Cholo Kid
Demetrius Navarro	...	Cholo Driver
Brian Wimmer	...	Hunk
Olivia Barash	...	Ruthie
Doug Williams	...	Freddie
Kelly Coffield	...	Christi
Jo Harvey Allen	...	Mom
Biff Yeager	...	Dad
Sy Richardson	...	Commander K
Chazz Carter	...	Crack Smoker
Del Zamora	...	2nd Crack Smoker
Ted Chase	...	Businessman
Brian Hermelin	...	Businessman
Rick Najera	...	Good Samaritan
Dave Alvin	...	Chauffeur
John Marshall Jones	...	Bodyguard
Sam Lewitt	...	Neighborhood Kid 1
Barney Broomfield	...	Neighborhood Kid 2
Scott McCoy	...	Delivery Man
Saar Klein	...	News Anchor
Henry Mortensen	...	Homeless Child (as Henry Blake Mortensen)
Viggo Mortensen	...	Homeless Man
Exene Cervenka	...	Homeless Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Douglas Glazer	...	Voice of Radio DJ (uncredited)
Eddie Schmidt	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter McCarthy

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Peter McCarthy		writer

Produced by
Peter McCarthy	....	producer

Original Music by
Pray for Rain

Cinematography by
Denis Maloney

Film Editing by
Dody Dorn
Peter McCarthy

Production Design by
Cecilia Montiel

Sound Department
Piero Mura	....	sound editor
Rocky Quiroz	....	boom operator
Aletha Rodgers	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Lindsay Brice	....	still photographer
Kenn Ferro	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Jacob Craycroft	....	assistant editor
Scott J. Gill	....	assistant editor (as Scott Gill)
Douglas Glazer	....	assistant editor
Eddie Schmidt	....	assistant editor
Yon Van Kline	....	assistant film editor

Other crew
Michael Barnes	....	financing

Production Companies

• Front Films

Distributors

• A-Pix Entertainment
• Strand Releasing

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Front Films

Soundtrack:

My Drug Buddy

The Crystal Ship

"Everyone thinks racism is wrong."

Really?

"Sophomoric."

But aren't we all sophomores when we flounder?

Well then, I suppose this movie needn't have been made.

These judgements come from other comments on this film.

They will not be borne out in mine.

A truly remarkable coming-of-silliness take on coming-of-age films, this movie will p**s off those who dislike surrealism. This film, detailing the miserable turns that James Le Gros's life in LA takes, is NOT needle-tip satire. Like "Kicked in the Head", this film treats its audience as insiders to the joke.

As such, it treats viewers as intelligent, and alert to the weird angles at which the the plot zips off into a new scenario. My particular pleasure in this film comes from Peter McCarthy's ability to run the show without making the film seem choppy.

Far from vacuous, Le Gros is poignant and low key. His 'Cezanne' was one of the high marks in "The Myth of Fingerprints", and this film gives a good introduction to his style.

The objections to this film seem largely based on its perceived political sentiments; a shallow reading leads to a shallow conclusion.

If you liked "Tape Heads", "Kicked in the Head", "The Doom Generation" (or anything by Greg Araki), and "The Myth of Fingerprints", then likely this film is for you.

People who tire easily should seek their pleasures elsewhere.