Hi, my name is James and I'm currently a student at the University of Exeter in Devon. I'm a film ob...
Hi, my name is James and I'm currently a student at the University of Exeter in Devon. I'm a film obessive, love my music and also like a good book now and then. I'm currently at home from Uni for summer and working in a job I hate. I love summer.
Member since:12.03.2004
Reviews:11
Living In Oblivion remains one of 1990s cinema's most overlooked gems Coming out at the tale end of the late '80s/ ealry '90s US indie revival, which launched the careers of Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh to name but a few, this was overshadowed by many other great films of '94, including Pulp Fiction.
Steve Buscemi stars as a budding auteur, facing crisis after crisis on his latest film. Not only is his "star" (leGros) trying to take over his project, but his cameraman, Wolf (Dermot Mulroney) is suffering from a personal crisis, the female lead, played by Catherine Keener, is suffering from a breakup and his supporting cast, including Peter Dinklage (recently seen in The Station Agent) is not co-operating. Are these recurring nightmares, prophecies or what is really happening?
Released shortly after Robert Altman's "The Player", this is a far more effective spin on the working of the film industry. The claustrophobia and constantly increasing chaos of the film is simultaneously hilarious and tragic, with director Tom DiCillo maintaining both elements throughout, whilst breeding a genuine empathy with the suffering director.
It is too hard to pick favourites, but Keener is fabulous as the wannabe starlet, almost outshining a never better Steve Buscemi. Keener's intelligence and flawless comic timing lift the film a further notch, proving she is one of the most consistent, effective indie actresses in the business.
You can get the VHS, but unfourtunately, not the DVD of this wonderful film. Once the DVD is released in the UK (it has only been recently released in the US), it will hopefully gain the audience it so richly deserves.
Cillo has never made a better film, to date. It's a slight, but massively effective and memorable insider's look at low-budget filmmaking which should be compulsory viewing at all film schools.
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So a niche film I don't know about. Is it anything like Cecil B Demented? I reserve judgement at the moment - the last film I saw about a film was Burn, Hollywood Burn by Eric Idle - NOT a good film!!
MAFARRIMOND 08.06.2004 09:07
Welcome to Ciao. I don't know how I missed this when it came out - it sounds like a film I would enjoy. Maureen
Steve Buscemi is Nick Reve a luckless low-budget director struggling against all odds to ... more
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 co...
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Jun 7th, 2004
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