By: Anthony Zangrillo
A film that truly embraces the independent spirit that Tribeca is all about, “Loitering with Intent” manages to bring to light the struggles of being a writer and the comfort we find in family with utter sincerity.
Directed by playwright Adam Rapp, “Loitering with Intent” is about two aspiring writers, Dominic (Michael Godere) and Raphael (Ivan Martin), who unintentionally agree to write up a script within ten days for a film producer eager to invest in a new project. The two decide to head off to upstate New York to work in isolation at the home of Dominic’s sister (Marisa Tomei) while she is away. Things begin to fall apart as Dominic’s sister comes home eager to avoid her boyfriend (Sam Rockwell) who shortly arrives which leads to a series of romantic predicaments and unexpected distractions.
The film was shot in nineteen days with a small crew and a very low budget yet managed to perfectly seize the homey feeling that many indie films fail to capture. Interestingly, a lot of the film genuinely reflects its own creative process. It’s a metafilm that imitates the reality of making a film, which involves throwing out ideas, and trying to make sense of them. However the film chooses to make things interesting by making the focus more about the shenanigans that upset the writing process. Set in an old house in upstate New York, the setting seems to capture an eeriness that plays on this isolation from the external world as the characters talk about life, fool around, and drink.
The real magic in the film lies in the tenacity of the characters. Both protagonists, Godere and Martin, are small time actors in reality whose interaction in the film mirror their very close-knit friendship in reality. Sam Rockwell is funny and playful which perfectly engages Tomei’s bursts of energy and erratic teasing. Despite the apparent gap a viewer might assume appears between the two different levels of actors, the cast flows so well partly due to the bonding off the screen as well as on it.
Despite their only being a two-person crew on camera, having a tight schedule, and tight budget, Rapp captures beautiful shots that really add to the depth of each character. It is very rare to be able to find such a cast of people on different acting spectrums that can actually work together well on screen. The interactions between characters on the screen are highlighted by Rapp’s strategic shots and attention to background. “Loitering with Intent” is a true indie film in every sense of the word and finds its strengths in giving the viewer a feeling of intimacy with the cast.
