Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: LOAFERS [Dances With Films NY - New York, New York]

While Mumblecore did have its day, watching "Loafers" from writer/director Zach Schnitzer, despite its obvious low budget, the film really gets its voice right and paints a picture of brotherly (and sisterly) love with enough humor and heartbreak to facilitate some interesting discussions and questions in its process. Schnitzer plays Isaac who, along with his roommate Cameron (Dan Heller), are just living life obviously right post college, finding their way in the world and with relationships. They have their small circle of friends who are weird, funny and get high a lot but are also very comfortable saying "I Love You" to each other in a platonic way (mostly). These young adults are here for each other and don't hold grudges. They screw up of course and there is definitely a matter of consequence but life is like that. Isaac is more well adjusted in certain aspects and his burgeoning relationship with longtime friend Q (Ruby Sevcik) and the way that plays out in parallel to the back and forth relationship of her roommates Molly and Lucia is both tender but also authentic.

The external friends including Beck (Beck Nolan) and especially Cole (Cole Stevens) really are individual with Stevens really giving that frat vibe while still being a goofball but not arrogant. Nolan has the bohemian vibe down and one small quiet musical interlude in the morning sequence (before or after another great breakfast comic sequence with the both of them and a partygoer holding a fire extinguisher leaning on the fridge) really captures those feelings of those parties in that era of one's life where there was responsibility but not much and there was room for mistakes. Haller (as Cameron) has the most difficult role in ping ponging back and forth without becoming overdramatic. His character obviously has underlying issues he is dealing with...which compounds in his drinking more than the others. A small scene behind the restaurant Cameron works talking to Q & Isaac before his boss comes out is really telling. Schnitzer made the film it seems in a suburb of Chicago but it could be anywhere and yet it feels at home where it is. Schnitzer captures the voice and some really subtle performances as the movie moves on well without seemingly being vague either in direction or overt visual style, much like Cooper Raiff when he first started. Schnitzer lets his characters exist and sometimes that is the best medicine. B+

By Tim Wassberg