Main Cast: James LeGros, John Cusack, Ethan Hawke, Maritza Rivera, Lisa Zane, Steve Buscemi, Kim Wayans
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Noted independent film producer Peter McCarthy made his writing and directing debut (Angie Brown served as co-director) with this surreal comedy. John Boyz (James LeGros) is an aimless sad sack who is wandering Los Angeles in the wake of the 1992 riots. John is in an unclear state of mind; he can't find a job (and doesn't really want one), the IRS has confiscated his money, his girlfriend Jessica (Lisa Zane) is sleeping around, he can't figure out what the beautiful but mysterious Elle (Marzita Rivera) wants from him, his drug-addicted brother Jimmy (Ethan Hawke) needs 3,000 dollars for a detox program, and police chief Merryl Fence (Nelson Lyon) is encouraging the citizens of L.A. to kill themselves. A stellar roster of actors and musicians appear in cameo roles, including John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Piven, Dave Navarro, Dave Alvin, and Exene Cervenka. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Sy Richardson - Commander K; Ebbe Roe Smith - Dougie; Billy Bob Thornton - Gun Clerk; Nelson Lyon - Chief Merryl Fence; Nina Siemaszko - Gal; Jeremy Piven - Guy; Alex Cox - Photographer; Brian Wimmer - Hunk; Bill Yaeger; Jo Harvey Allen - Mom; Viggo Mortensen - Homeless Man; Exene Cervenka - Homeless Woman; Olivia Barash - Ruthie; Ned Bellamy - Phonebook; Gary Gershaw - Loan Officer; John Marshall Jones - Bodyguard; Rick Najera - Good Samaritan; Ed Pansullo - Flower Vendor; Mary Portser - Suzie; Theodore Raimi - Sale Salesman; Doug Williams - Freddie; Biff Yeager - Dad; Del Zamora - 2nd Crack Smoker; Dave Alvin - Chauffeur; Tom Cortese - Drug Dealer; Bill Fishman - Insurance Salesman; Zander Schloss - Catatonic Man; Kelly Coffield - Christi; David H. Goodman - Businessman
Credit
Greg Eliason - Associate Producer, Kevin Morris - Associate Producer, Jeanne McCarthy - Casting, Keron Wheeler - Costume Designer, Peter McCarthy - Director, Angie Brown - Director, Peter McCarthy - Editor, Dody Dorn - Editor, Pray for Rain - Composer (Music Score), Aletha Rodgers - Musical Direction/Supervision, Cecilia Montiel - Production Designer, Denis Maloney - Cinematographer, Peter McCarthy - Producer, Lisa Monti - Set Designer, Peter McCarthy - Screenwriter
John (James LeGros) is an unemployed young man, living alone and trying to pay hospital bills for his brother and only family. The film is told as a narrative delivered by John under the pessimism of the early 1990s. A misanthropic shut-in, he 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 is 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.
