Review // Loitering with Intent

The indie comedy Loitering with Intent is flying pretty low under the radar despite its star studded cast and Tribeca film festival début. The film follows two friends, Dom (Michael Godere) and Raphael (Ivan Martin) who abandon NYC for the country in order to write a screenplay in just ten days. While staying with Dom’s sister Gigi (Marisa Tomei) their quiet workspace is quickly invaded by uninvited guests, the alluring Ava (Isabelle McNally), Gigi’s ex-lover Wayne (Sam Rockwell) and his surfer brother Devon (Brian Geraghty). Instead of finishing their noir about two private detectives who get caught up in a cult looking for a missing girl, the pair embark on individual journeys of self discovery.

Art imitates life in this one, written by Godere and Martin the pair also star as the wannabe actors turned screenwriters who instead of nailing auditions work as bartenders. Carefree Raphael is attempting to reconnect with his lost love Gigi, who is rebounding from her break up with the highly unstable Wayne. Dom appreciates the beauty of Ava but doesn’t want any distractions from what he believes is his one shot at finally making it in the entertainment biz. The cast spout deep thoughtful snippets of interesting dialogue that ultimately leads to nothing.

I’d like to say the biggest problem with the film is that Sam Rockwell only shows up half way through. Its a shame because he brings with him a powerhouse performance as the slightly unstable but loveable Wayne. Of course that might have been intentional since he also quickly outshines Godere and Martin. Marissa Tomei is enchanting as Gigi while Geraghty and McNally are solid in their supporting roles. The real problem with the film is that nothing happens and it all feels a bit mundane. It’s the gist the film is going for but the sentiment is lost in the tiresome dialogue driven narrative that feels overdone.

I feel like a common trap for any creative is making that project about making the project because, well, you can’t think of anything else to do and the clock is ticking. That’s what Loitering with Intent feels like. Godere and Martin had to write a script but didn’t have any idea what to write about so the mashed together some common tropes of love and self discovery all the while just writing a movie about writing a movie. The result was well crafted, poetic dialogue in a film that feels too familiar without any original insight. Loitering with Intent isn’t a bad movie, but it’s one we’ve already seen, and it was done better before.

Reviewed by Vithiya Murugadas.