Living In Oblivion
"Simultaneously hair-raising and hilarious!" -Bruce Williamson, Playboy
Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs), Dermot Mulroney (Copycat), James Le Gros (Bad Girls) and Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich) star in this inventive, wickedly funny satire of the movie-making business.
The leading man has just had a disastrous one-night stand with the leading lady; the cinematographer is breaking up with the assistant director; the director's mother has wandered onto the set; and the dwarf hired for the dream sequence has an attitude.
Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival, Living In Oblivion proves there is no such thing as smooth shooting when it comes to low-budget filmmaking.
Member Reviews
So much fun - lise
Living in Oblivion is Tom DiCillo's contribution to films about film-making, and what a fun contribution it is. Steve Buscemi plays the director of a low-budget film who has to deal with an obstinate cinematographer, a sloppy crew, an actress who has no confidence and a movie star who keeps suggesting new things for his character, including a hilarious scene where he insists that his character should wear an eye-patch. The film they are making even includes a dream sequence with a dwarf holding an apple ("Is that the only way you can make this a dream, to put a dwarf in it?...Have you ever had a dream with a dwarf in it?")
The cast (who all worked for free) were outstanding and the script is funny as hell. I've seen this one at least four times and never get tired of it.A Clever Look Inside Low-Budget Filmmaking - Josh_J
'Living in Oblivion', a smart and humourous look at the various characters, egos and clashing artistic interests on a low-budget film shoot, poignantly captures the process of independent filmmaking. The ups. The downs. The compromises. The catastrophes. The moments of pure inspiration that can stem from the most unlikely places.
Dermot Mulroney, Catherine Keener, James LeGros, Peter Dinklage and the entire supporting cast are perfectly quirky in their respective roles but, as one would expect, it's Steve Buscemi that steals the show with his nuanced and expressive performance as the film's exasperated director who struggles to overcome the various obstacles that are thrown in his path.
Worth a look for anyone, but certainly a must-see for those with a keen interest in independent filmmaking.It's a tough life in oblivion - Alleee
Unlike Truffault's Day For Night, which examined the filming process of a high-profile movie, Living in Oblivion follows a lesser director, played by Buscemi, filming what looks like a pretty bad low-budget romantic drama.
There are many elements that stand out here. LeGros' portrayal of a macho self-absorbed actor rings truer than nature (and has shades of the satire of Zoolander), Keener is very good as a low-rent actress who gets that one great moment, and Buscemi is competent as always. Each part of the movie has a high point, including an embarassing scene where Keener listens in on a conversation between Buscemi and LeGros, a perfect moment missed by the cameraman, and a dwarf who makes pointed remarks about how the movies treat his stature.
Ironically, Living in Oblivion is itself a very low-rent movie, and it deals with this very well by restricting the environment. The important action is there and the acting is great. It really looks like a million dollar movie. Everything works. A high four stars.
Member Reviews
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So much fun - lise
Living in Oblivion is Tom DiCillo's contribution to films about film-making, and what a fun contribution it is. Steve Buscemi plays the director of a low-budget film who has to deal with an obstinate cinematographer, a sloppy crew, an actress who has no confidence ...A Clever Look Inside Low-Budget Filmmaking - Josh_J
'Living in Oblivion', a smart and humourous look at the various characters, egos and clashing artistic interests on a low-budget film shoot, poignantly captures the process of independent filmmaking. The ups. The downs. The compromises. The catastrophes. The ...It's a tough life in oblivion - Alleee
Unlike Truffault's Day For Night, which examined the filming process of a high-profile movie, Living in Oblivion follows a lesser director, played by Buscemi, filming what looks like a pretty bad low-budget romantic drama.
There are many elements that ...