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Amazon.co.uk Review
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, Frangois 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
Product Description
*SPECIAL FEATURES* - DIRECTOR COMMENTARY DELETED SCENES INTERVIEW WITH TOM DICILLO AND STEVE BUSCEMI - Steve Buscemi is Nick Reve, a luckless low-budget director struggling against all odds to get his artistic vision onto the screen. The big name leading man arrives on set with a big ego and some scene-improving ideas of his own, the leading lady has confidence issues, his inept crew include a cinematographer who fails to capture a rare moment of brilliance as he s busy throwing-up and a dwarf for the dream sequence is angry at typecasting - 'I don't even have dreams with dwarves in them'. Insecurities, love rivalries, mounting tension and an exploding smoke-machine all add to the catalogue of trials for Nick as he desperately tries to hold onto his sanity.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is one of those hidden gems. I don't know why it took me so long to find out about it, but it's one of the best films I've seen this year. Buscemi is in top form and the writing and direction put most films to shame. buy it, watch it, tell all your mates about it, them watch it again with them, glowing in the pride of having discovered such a top film :)
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I can't remember how I came across this film, but I did and read a review for a region 1 copy and bought it for region 2 via amazon. While it is an independent film, it is not so kooky as to make it so far from the mainstream as to be inaccessible to most film audiences and would appeal to teanagers upwards. The interview in the bonus material is a good insight to how the film came to be made and developed, which only adds to the experience. Steve Buscemi brings a quality to the film that only he can and the rest of the cast are excellent too. The storyline concerns the frustrations and difficulties of making a low budget movie - a neat idea for a low-budget film and one that is both instructive and hilarious. A most enjoyable film that had me laughing out loud and a feel good film too. It should be a stonking hit, so I recommend everyone who is interested in film to buy it asap.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Art House style, extremely funny story about a completely incapable film crew trying desperately to produce a movie. This Movie is a must for anyone who has: studied media, attempted to make their own move, involved in television and film production, or anyone who just wants a laugh. Beware this is not a high gloss, hollywood style comedy. But it is exactly this that makes it so appealing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
one of the best comedies ever
I love this film. Great directing by Tom DiCillo. Magnificent acting from Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener, James Le Gros, Dermot Mulroney and the rest of the cast. Read more
Published on 16 May 2009 by budgy smuggler
this is as Cult as Kevin Smith Clerks and the likes
My sister saw this film when doing her MA in film production and her teacher said this was a must see to understand the frustration of film directors. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2009 by Mr. A. J. Crook
I think I may have missed the point here...
Living in Oblivion stars Steve Buscemi, who plays Nick Reve, a luckless low-budget film director trying to get his artistic vision onto the big screen. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2008 by Lucy Felthouse
So Accurate
Hidden gem of a film which deserved much more publicity than it got.
I work in the film industry and this is so spot on! Read more
I work in the film industry and this is so spot on! Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2006 by Lizard King
very very funny/good behind the scenes of a movie shoot
Why have I only just seen this film it came out in 1996 never even saw it advertised. It's amazing all the cast are brilliant and Buscemi is well on form. Read more
Published on 22 April 2001 by M. H. Oliff
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