Film Review: Living in Oblivion (1995)

Films are often said to be dreams. However, they can also be nightmares, at least for those who are making them, as in the case of protagonist of Living in Oblivion, 1995 black comedy written and directed by Tom DiCillo. Nick Reve (played by Steve Buscemi) is director of independent low budget film who struggles with dysfunctional set where everything that can go wrong goes wrong. His situation isn’t helped by equally dysfunctional crew and cast, which includes emotionally insecure actress Nicole (played by Catherine Keener) who hopes that success in independent film would help her career after failure of big budget Hollywood production. Nicole’s on screen partner Chad Palomino (played by James LeGros) is already established big Hollywood star who hopes that independent film would gain him critics’ favour, but his ego often in a way of Nick’s vision. Nick’s cinematographer Wolf (played by Dermot Mulroney) is talented but vain man whose work is affected by health issues and apparent failure of romantic relationship with first asssistant director Wanda (played by Danielle von Zerneck).

While American independent cinema was very much in vogue during mid 1990s, few such titles were as “meta” as Living in Oblivion. Tom DiCillo here delivered low budget independent film about making of low budget independent films. Much of his inspiration came from experiences during production of his debut Johnny Suede, film nowadays known as something of a starting point in the career of its main actor and future Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt (who was later often rumoured to be model for character of egotistical and vain Chad Palomino, something that DiCillo would spend lifetime denying). DiCillo, who, like his alter ego Nick Reves, had to struggle to make this film happen (and secured financing only after cast agreeing to play for free and even co-financing project), used Living in Oblivion not only as an opportunity to exercise his personal demons and provide satirical take on the world of independent cinema, but he actually managed to provide something like an education for audience. While there are films showing how films are being made aren’t that uncommon, few allow viewers with insight how seemingly simple and banal scene requires great deal of hard work, co-ordination and talent from various people. Almost entire film is made of Reve and his crew trying to shoot one scene and that one scene getting shot again and again because Murphy’s Law manifests itself in various ways, ranging from sudden street sounds, food poisonings, wrong people getting into shot or actors getting strange ideas what they should do. Although effect might look repetitive and some viewers might have problems getting accustomed, the result is often incredibly funny.

Unlike his protagonist, DiCillo was actually quite fortunate during production. When he directing original script, he realised it was simply too short for feature film. Then he got brilliant idea of making the film in form of three separate segments, with two of them conveniently being revealed to be characters’ dreams. The theme of “film as dream” is not only presented through protagonist’s name (“Reve” means “dream” in French), but also in the final scene when various crew and cast members, after the exhausting scene is finished, have their own brief fantasies. DiCillo had wonderful cast at his disposal, most notably Steve Buscemi, one of the greatest character actors of his generator who confidently plays main role and whose character, being described as “tight with Tarantino” provides interesting “meta” dimension in light of Buscemi’s brilliant role in Reservoir Dogs. Another brilliant performance comes from Catherine Keener, actress who worked with DiCillo in Johnny Suede and who here confidently handles complex and demanding role of insecure actress playing role. Keener’s real life husband Dermot Mulroney is also good in the role of eccentric cinematographer. Fans of Game of Thrones are, on the other hand, be delighted with Peter Dinklage appearing in his feature debut as dwarf actor loudly complaining about being typecast and unhappy from participating in dream sequence. DiCillo’s structure and plot work very well, while great sense for tempo allow film to fit into near perfect hour and half of running time. Living in Oblivion is very good comedy that would entertain even those viewers usually not interested how the films are actually made.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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