Living in Oblivion (1995)

Film about filmmaking. It takes place during one day on set of non-budget movie. Ultimate tribute to all independent filmmakers.

Director:

Tom DiCillo

Writer:

Tom DiCillo

Stars:

Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney

7 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Buscemi	...	Nick Reve
Catherine Keener	...	Nicole Springer
Dermot Mulroney	...	Wolf
Danielle von Zerneck	...	Wanda
James Le Gros	...	Chad Palomino (as James LeGros)
Rica Martens	...	Cora
Peter Dinklage	...	Tito
Kevin Corrigan	...	Assistant Camera
Hilary Gilford	...	Script
Robert Wightman	...	Gaffer
Tom Jarmusch	...	Driver / Intern
Michael Griffiths	...	Sound Mixer
Matthew Grace	...	Boom
Ryan Bowker	...	Food Service / Clapper
Francesca DiMauro	...	Production Assistant

Storyline

Film about filmmaking. It takes place during one day on set of non-budget movie. Ultimate tribute to all independent filmmakers.

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Plot Keywords:

neo screwball comedy | looking at oneself in a mirror | filmmaking | filmmaker | vomiting | 

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Taglines:

He only needs three things to get through the day ... an espresso, an aspirin, and a miracle.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Csapnivaló

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,148,752

Company Credits

Production Co:

JDI Productions,Lemon Sky Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Tom DiCillo didn't want to beg people for money to make this film, so he asked his actors if they would work for free. All of them agreed and most of them even put up money themselves. Eventually anybody who contributed a few dollars got a part in the movie.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie when Nick talks to Nicole, the shadow in the street behind Nicole changes in the close-up.

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Quotes

Wolf: Hey! That's my eye patch and I don't want anyone else wearing it. It's insanitary.

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Crazy Credits

statement after the end credits: The characters and incidents portrayed and the names herein are sort of fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character or history of any person is sort of coincidental and unintentional.

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Connections

Featured in Cinemassacre's Top 5 Movies About Making Movies (2009)

User Reviews

A smart, biting sleeper

"Living in Oblivion" is one of your video store's coolest secrets. Writer-director Tom Dicillo takes a satiric look at independent films while capturing the ups and downs of making a movie. For the cast and crew of the film within this film, the downs hilariously outnumber the ups.

Steve Buscemi shines in an all-too-rare lead role as the frustrated director. There's also great work by James LeGros as the pompous leading man, Catherine Keener as the insecure leading lady, and Dermot Mulroney as the broken-hearted cinematographer.

Dicillo is especially concerned with the nightmares and daydreams of his characters, and rightly adopts a dreamy visual style that shifts between black and white and color.

It all adds up to an uncommonly intelligent, artistic, and funny(!) comedy that deserves your attention.