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

Catherine Keener and James Le Gros appeared together as a couple (in this film they have a one-night stand) in the Winona Ryder film Boys (1996), which was released the following year. In this film, LeGros' character mentions that he's about to do a film with Winona Ryder.

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Goofs

When a light explodes Wanda asks "Is everybody hurt? Is anybody OK?", whereas she should be asking "Is anybody hurt? Is everybody OK?"

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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

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: Air Force One/Good Burger/Cafe Society/In the Company of Men/Box of Moonlight (1997)

User Reviews

The best movie by a human being ... ever!

A movie director and his leading lady feel the pressure as their shoot teeters on the edge of disaster ...

Witty and big-hearted satire of the process of making an independent movie. This comes in three parts, each act dealing with a particular scene and bringing a change of emphasis. The story is almost perfectly self-contained, with unity of action, place and time, and the writing and editing keeps it clipping along at a good pace. The writer/director uses the full potential of his set up by bringing in a host of characters and a range of technical aspects of the shoot, and yet wraps it up nicely through the romantic concerns of his creations.

Performances are good all round, and some real insights are delivered - the objection to dwarfs in dream sequences, the most self-obsessed person in the room coming up with the best idea (the blocking for the "admired from afar" scene). It's not a laugh a minute, but there are plenty of good moments.

The only time I noticed the music was when the director was giving a pep talk to one of the actors. Maybe there could have been more jokes on that "score" - or maybe I missed them.

Overall: Not a classic, but thoroughly enjoyable.