Review of Living in Oblivion (1995) by Alex S — 01 Nov 2006

[b][color=lemonchiffon]PLOT: [/color][/b].

[i][color=lemonchiffon]Director Nick Reve (Buscemi) just wants to finish his film, but everything is going wrong. Lights explode, cameras fail, the smoke machine is broken, actors sleep with each other... The ultimate nightmare shoot.[/color][/i].

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[color=lemonchiffon]If the above sounds suspicious, doubt no further - "Living in Oblivion" may be a one-joke film, but the joke is presented by two major comedic talents: the director Tom DiCillo ("Moonlight in a Box"), subsequently infamous amongst the 'independent crowd', and the star, Steve Buscemi, who here once again proves that he is one of the most versatile character actors working today. The result of these two individuals combining forces is one of the funniest motion pictures of the mid-1990s. [/color].

[color=lemonchiffon]Most comedies nowadays either rely on dumb physical humor (celebrities: grimace, puke, punch, scream, trip'n'fall...) or on recycled situational gags. Genres like romantic comedies are sickeningly predictable (Richard Curtis/ Hugh Grant, anyone?) and sentimental. Spoofs like "Scary Movie" refer heavily to the more-successful slapstick of the Abraham/Zuckers' "Airplane!", or other earlier and funnier stabs at eccentric wit (eg. Mel Brooks). What we have in our present times of a Hollywood creative zenith, ladies and gents, are the likes of Robert De Niro hamming it WELL up in the gruesomely exploitative "Analyze That", and Eddie Murphy counting his paycheck in "Daddy Day Care". It is a delight for us film-lovers to witness a comedy that is not desperate and/or indifferent in its attempts to make its audiences laugh, a comedy that is honest and certain of its genuinely witty concept, a comedy that is inspired rather than expired. You may have to dig back to 1995, but "Living in Oblivion" is one of those comedies.[/color].

[color=lemonchiffon]The film's 1995 theatrical release was unimpressive due to the picture's low-budget, and a central theme that held limited appeal. In my opinion, neither of those factors should prevent an average film-goer with a developed sense of wit (you know who you are) to enjoy Tom DiCillo's little masterpiece. Despite the fact that it focuses on the intricacies and hardships of independent filmmaking, the topic is just as accessible as any story contemporary Hollywood has to offer ("Bowfinger" immediately comes to mind). One does not have to possess knowledge of all technical aspects of producing a motion picture to appreciate the film's satire. [/color].

[color=lemonchiffon]Slapstick may play a part in this film, but what makes it different from the forced obnoxiousness of, say, Rob Schneider crap, is how effortlessly it is handled by the cast, which makes the slapstick a natural consequence of built-up, razor-sharp insightful humor. The script avoids cliche and pathos - it keeps the film down in reality, which allows for certain character exaggerations (the blonde arrogant film star (James LeGross) is by far one of the funniest single characters in film history). Steve Buscemi shamelessly adopts yet another identity - where is his "funny-lookin'" thug from "Fargo", or the geeky Mr. Pink from 'Reservoir Dogs"? In "Living in Oblivion", he runs the show as the exasperated director, who has to maintain absolute tranquility with his cast and crew. Buscemi's gradual loss of cool is something to marvel. As for the rest of the cast, it is simply flawless, each character a developed individual worthy of his own feature film.[/color].

[color=lemonchiffon]I realize I did not properly review the film, but how do you talk about a good comedy without spoiling its jokes? Tom DiCillo's brilliant entrance into the filmmaking arena has everything a comedy needs: tight dialogue, witty actors who understand and aspire to their script, sublime direction that does not distract but has style, and, most importantly, the appreciation of its audience's expectations. Too bad the "The Dream Factory" underestimates those expectations, and is still living in oblivion.[/color].

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[b][color=lemonchiffon]BOTTOM LINE[/color][/b].

[color=lemonchiffon]A laugh-out-loud account of filmmaking-gone-bad. Steve Buscemi is in top form, the direction is tight, and the script f-ing hilarious. Forget "Bowfinger" - this is how you make comedy.[/color].