Review of Living in Oblivion (1995) by Lars V — 12 Oct 2009

This film has remained in my top 20 for over 14 years. I first saw it in a Television/Film Production class in High School. At the time, while going through some of the stumbles and hiccups one experiences while beginning in the industry, it was particularly funny to me and the rest of the class.

I can see why someone outside of the Film production world might not completely understand the film. It is quite simple. It was made for those in the industry. It�s as simple as that. Having said that, Steve Buscemi is so good in it that his performance alone, though a self-indulgent caricature of the film's director Tom Dicilo, makes the movie worth watching. His constant loathing behavior and self-doubt turns into the set crew�s worst nightmare. Katherine Keener and Dermot Mulroney are excellent as supporting players.

Dicilo has this way about him. It is hard to pin point, but if you have seen his films there is a certain low grade quality to them that seems intentional but at the same time seems spontaneous. One would think that he has his actors try to live out their real feelings in their performances just as Keener�s character does in one of the best scenes in the film. Buscemi�s character seems so unsure that he can really make good films that sometimes one wonders how he actually became a small studio director in the first place. However, that is just a small nitpick in an otherwise excellent look at the behind the scenes shenanigans of independent film making.

It is never quite clear exactly what the story of the film they are shooting is, nor is that necessary. The main attraction here is watching these actors have fun with subject matter you know they have experienced first hand before. James Legros comes close to stealing the movie in his hilarious scenes with Katherine Keener and Buscemi as sort of a prima donna Brad Pitt if you will. And the scenes between the dueling �Six Degrees of Lou Diamond Phillips� couple at war Dermot Mulroney and Danielle von Zerneck , both of which starred opposite Phillips in 80s gems Young Guns (Mulroney) and La Bamba (Zurneck) are wonderful yet sad.

Buscemi can really lead a film just so long as it is one like this. One where it is not important what the lead looks like or if he can kick someone's ass. He is what he is and what he is is a director. Take a look at one every now and again and you will see why they chose to stay behind the camera.