Living in Oblivion

Amazon.com

You won't find a smarter, more amusing, or more accurate send-up of low-budget filmmaking than Tom DiCillo's 1995 independent feature, Living in Oblivion, wherein a motley cast of would-be artistes blunders its way through a day on the set. Steve Buscemi plays goateed Nick Reve, a harried, sweating director whose crew of numbskulls and egotists seems hell-bent on ruining his film. The trials and tribulations of independent filmmaking are not foreign material for writer-director DiCillo, who cut his teeth as Jim Jarmusch's cinematographer on 1985's Stranger Than Paradise before going on to direct his own work, such as the offbeat 1992 comedy Johnny Suede. Like that film, Living in Oblivion rides a precariously thin line between the real and the surreal, featuring a midget actor and an exploding smoke-effects machine, as well as a ridiculously narcissistic Brad Pittesque character played by James Le Gros. While films like Get Shorty, François Truffaut's Day for Night, and Jean-Luc Godard's Contempt suggest that moviemaking is hip and glamorous, Living in Oblivion will have none of that. The film within the film feels like a director's primer on what not to do, and this modest-budget gem both lovingly and caustically strips the "cool" veneer from the filmmaking process. They should show this one to kids thinking of entering film school. It might make them think better of it. --Nick Poppy

Customer Reviews:

Living in Oblivion.......2007-07-13

This hilarious send-up is a both a loving tribute to the art of filmmaking and a farcical rendering of DiCillo's real-life experiences on the set of his previous indie breakout, "Johnny Suede." Never before has the absurdity and madness of trying to orchestrate the making of a movie been so nuttily and honestly captured. Keener, Mulroney, and Le Gros (whose character is modeled after Brad Pitt, star of DiCillo's debut) are fabulous, and Buscemi--scrawny, seemingly malnourished, and deeply agitated--has rarely been so funny or sympathetic. In reality a disaster movie, "Oblivion" is ingenious, briskly paced, and full of odd surprises.

His moon is in Uranus.......2006-07-27

I normally do not enjoy movies about the making of movies, so I was very pleasantly surprised to be thoroughly entertained by 'Living in Oblivion'. The reason I took the chance at all was due to the presence of Catherine Keener, one of our most overlooked and under-appreciated Hollywood actresses. She once again did not disappoint, but the entire cast was extremely good. You get a real education on the frustrations and challenges involved with making a low budget film. Buscemi is also right on target as the stessed out director. The Amazon reviews are for the most part positive about this film and for good reason. I'm glad to join my fellow Amazonians in heaping praise on this low budget gem.

The Experience of making a low-budget movie can't be fun?.......2006-06-06

Living in Oblivion was highly recommended to me by my fellow film crew members, because they all say that we are practically experiencing this film on our shoot. The only difference is this film actually have stars and a budget, dispite the story is about low-budget filmmaking. I found this film hugely entertaining and realistically depicted and I can totally relate to what goes on throughout Oblivion. Yes, a lot of chaos and mishaps take place and in this movie.

Catherine Keener is great as a somewhat well-known actress who has worked on a Richard Gere movie, and now she's the star of a super low budget movie. She has very low confidence in herself as a actress, but the director(Buscemi) still believes in her. He miscast a well-known arrogant male lead who ended up having a one-nite-stand with Keener. The two lead have no chemistry working together on set, and they just can't stand each other anymore. The crew is also kind of nut case. From the cameraman(Dermot Mulroney) who has a disfunctional relationship with the 1st A.D., to the Boom operator who constantly crosses into frame during a take, to the actors not remembering the lines and so on.... It's just so funny. You just wonder how people can work on shows like this.

I really enjoyed watching Steve Buscemi, Keener,Mulrony, and the Sharon Stone look-alike actress who played the 1st A.D.

Will make you fall in love with acting..........2006-03-03

An education in filmmaking disguised as a love/hate note to independent cinema production. Will make you either fall in love with actors or wish they could all be replaced by computers! NOTE: Make sure you get the right version! The inexpensive version I got off Amazon Marketplace (rated Canadian Home Video 14A) didn't include director Tom DiCillo's great commentary.

Living in a brain-splattered bloody living room from the shotgun blast to my mouth.........2005-10-03

I firmly state that this touches the highest level of cinematic genius; right next to Too Wong Foo, Thanks for everything Julie Newmar....

Average customer rating:

Living in Oblivion

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Description

Tagline: Nick is about to discover the first rule of filmmaking: if at first you don't succeed... PANIC! Plot Outline Film about filmmaking. It takes place during one day on set of non-budget movie. Ultimate tribute to all independent filmmakers. Plot Synopsis: Recapitulating the movie-within-a-movie concept, here Nick Reve is directing an independent movie with a shoestring budget and a film crew with at least as many neuroses as goatees. When the action spills outside of the scenes and everything goes all wrong, (real- life) writer/director Tom DiCillo throws tragicomic jabs at the strange, and painfully human, process of making movies.

Living In Oblivion [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - France ]

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Living In Oblivion [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - France ]
Director: Tom DiCillo
Manufacturer: Films Sans Frontiers
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

France released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Mono), French (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: Recapitulating the movie-within-a-movie concept, here Nick Reve is directing an independent movie with a shoestring budget and a film crew with at least as many neuroses as goatees. When the action spills outside of the scenes and everything goes all wrong, (real- life) writer/director Tom DiCillo throws tragicomic jabs at the strange, and painfully human, process of making movies.

Average customer rating:

Living in Oblivion
His moon is in Uranus
The Experience of making a low-budget movie can't be fun?
Will make you fall in love with acting...
Living in a brain-splattered bloody living room from the shotgun blast to my mouth..

Living in Oblivion
Starring: Steve Buscemi , Catherine Keener , Dermot Mulroney , Danielle von Zerneck , and James LeGros
Director: Tom DiCillo
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

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Buscemi, Steve | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Corrigan, Kevin | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Keener, Catherine | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Wightman, Robert | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Zerneck, Danielle Von | ( Z ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

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ASIN: 6303924891
Release Date: 1999-03-16

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Living in Oblivion.......2007-07-13

His moon is in Uranus.......2006-07-27

The Experience of making a low-budget movie can't be fun?.......2006-06-06

Will make you fall in love with acting..........2006-03-03

Living in a brain-splattered bloody living room from the shotgun blast to my mouth.........2005-10-03

I firmly state that this touches the highest level of cinematic genius; right next to Too Wong Foo, Thanks for everything Julie Newmar....

Average customer rating:

Living in Oblivion
His moon is in Uranus
The Experience of making a low-budget movie can't be fun?
Will make you fall in love with acting...
Living in a brain-splattered bloody living room from the shotgun blast to my mouth..

Living in Oblivion [Region 2]
Starring: Steve Buscemi , Catherine Keener , Dermot Mulroney , Danielle von Zerneck , and James LeGros
Director: Tom DiCillo
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000050FJD

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Living in Oblivion.......2007-07-13

His moon is in Uranus.......2006-07-27

The Experience of making a low-budget movie can't be fun?.......2006-06-06

Will make you fall in love with acting..........2006-03-03

Living in a brain-splattered bloody living room from the shotgun blast to my mouth.........2005-10-03

I firmly state that this touches the highest level of cinematic genius; right next to Too Wong Foo, Thanks for everything Julie Newmar....

Charlie Rose with Bill McCollum & Dick Reavis; Mary Fisher; Tom DiCillo; Claudia Shear (July 18, 1995)

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Charlie Rose with Bill McCollum & Dick Reavis; Mary Fisher; Tom DiCillo; Claudia Shear (July 18, 1995)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Description

Congressman Bill McCollum and journalist Dick Reavis offer their thoughts on the upcoming Waco hearings, the government reaction to the Branch Davidian situation, and David Koresh. Then, Mary Fisher talks about her unlikely AIDS activism and her new collection of speeches, titled I'll Not Go Quietly. Next, director Tom DiCillo discusses his new film Living in Oblivion, which tells the story of what's involved in the making of a low-budget feature film. Finally, Claudia Shear on her new film Body Language and her one-woman show, Blown Sideways Through Life.

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