Floundering
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| Floundering | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Peter McCarthy |
| Written by | Peter McCarthy |
| Produced by | Peter McCarthy |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Denis Maloney |
| Edited by | Dody Dorn Peter McCarthy |
| Music by | Pray for Rain |
Production company | Front Films |
| Distributed by | Strand Releasing |
Release dates | |
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Floundering is a 1994 comedy film set in the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots of 1992. The film was directed and written by Peter McCarthy in his directorial debut and stars James LeGros, with appearances by John Cusack, Ethan Hawke, and Lisa Zane. The film is told as a narrative delivered by the main character John under the pessimism of the early 1990s.
In the wake of the Los Angeles riots, John Boyz is an unemployed, aimless young man who lives alone in Venice. Things start to go awry for him when the IRS freezes his bank account and his unemployment benefits run out. John must also deal with his unfaithful girlfriend and his drug-addicted brother Jimmy who needs $3,000 for a detox program.
John deals with his personal issues through a series of disjointed and sometimes imaginary encounters with television personalities, dead relatives, a former liberal turned investment banker, drug users and the unemployment office. Each chapter bears a varying degree of social commentary. The film climaxes as John loses hope, and his search for meaning turns to self-destruction. John is finally rescued by the charity of an old friend, then resolving to leave Los Angeles and start his life anew.
Cast
- James LeGros as John Boyz
- Lisa Zane as Jessica
- Ethan Hawke as Jimmy
- Nelson Lyon as Chief Merryl Fence
- Maritza Rivera as Elle
- Kim Wayans as Unemployment Clerk
- Olivia Barash as Ruthie
- Nina Siemaszko as Gal
- John Cusack as J.C.
- Steve Buscemi as Ned
- Billy Bob Thornton as Gun Clerk
- Dave Navarro as Drug Kid
- Viggo Mortensen as Homeless Man
Production
The film is the directorial debut of Peter McCarthy, who had been a producer on American New Wave films like Repo Man and Sid and Nancy.[2] It was shot on Super 16[3] and was scored by Pray for Rain.[4]