Living in Oblivion

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Movie On The Troubles Of Filmmaking
Review: I saw this movie in film class and loved it. Steve Buschemi became my favorite actor partly because of this movie. Go see it, and if you don't want to pay 20 bucks (which it IS worth), go rent it from blockbuster. You have to watch this movie at least once.

Rating:
Summary: Big-time Buscemi
Review: If you liked him in "Tree's Lounge," "Fargo" and "Reservoir Dogs," then you'll dig Buscemi's portrayal of a frustrated indie director. But he's only one reason to indulge in this flick. Keener is stellar as the leading lady and Mulroney's eye-patched cinematagropher is hilarious. Loved how this script keeps sending its stars' egoes into head-on collisions. (Even in reality, it's a guilty pleasure to watch co-workers bicker!) This is one of those cheaply-made films that just seems refreshingly sarcastic throughout.

Rating:
Summary: Hollywood! You have to learn from this one !
Review: Just one final day of shooting independent movie . And , of couse , everything goes wrong .But how much we can learn in this one day ? You will be surprise ! This movie is funny , really funny ( if you know , what I mean ) . But the strongest side - it is smart , very talanted , always surprises you . Actors are exellent ! And , what I always watching for - camerawork on highest level ! If you loved " 20 bucks ", " the real blonde ", " Head above water " -- the MUST see film for you !!!

Rating:
Summary: Living in Oblivion
Review: Living in Oblivion is like the cartoon character on Nickelodeon's CatDog, who has a dog's head at one end of it's body and a cat's head at the other and can therefore never decide which of its opposing instincts to follow. The film, that begs for a plot, undulates insanely between being somewhat amusing and utterly ridiculous. I felt like pulling my hair out when I realized that everything I watched was all a dream - TWICE! As the movie begins to climax and make some sort of meaningful sense, you are all of a sudden staring at a black screen of rolling credits, feeling as if you could honestly pull your hair out. (Maybe you'll wake up and realize that it's only a dream!) The only thing right about this movie is its title. "Living in Oblivion." The bottom line here is that there are too many ingredients in the plot and the story line is non-existant. Turn on Nickelodeon instead. You'll get the same effect.

Rating:
Summary: Living in Reality
Review: Most people think making movies is glamorous work, but it's not, especially when you're working with a shoestring budget. Having worked many positions from grip to director on independent and student productions, I wholly identify with this movie. It is a hilarious portrayl of anything and everything that can go wrong, and how the whole show can be saved by just one perfect moment. If you're into filmmaking or would like to see what "really" happens, watch this movie! Similar movies include "The Player" "The Big Picture".

Rating:
Summary: The wonders and horrors of film-making
Review: Okay...yes, I'm biased. I'm an aspiring film-maker. Having a documentary and a short film under my belt, and currently in preproduction stages of my first feature, I found this film to be utterly hilarious in its depiction of indie film-making. Why? Because it's stunningly accurate. Anyone who has ever made a film will laugh heartily at the seemingly absurd situations...because they've BEEN THERE, and they realize that those situations aren't so absurd...they're actually pretty common in film-making. Film-making, particularly low-budget film-making, is hard work...sure, it's often fun...but more than anything, it's stressful and utterly frustrating. Don't ask me how many pots of coffee or how many packs of cigarettes I went through just EDITING a 20-minute short...or how many times I spouted random and profuse profanity at the image on the screen simply because it refused to turn out right, despite the fact that, in the back of my mind, I was sure I MAKE it look right. Don't ask how often actors blow their lines, or burst out laughing for no apparent reason...or how many times one has to reshoot a scene due to background noise, lighting problems, or the looming spectre of a continuity gaff. If you've never made a film, you most likely have no idea what I'm talking about and may not realize that this film is as funny as it actually is. If you're a film-maker, however, you're probably nodding your head right now...and maybe chuckling to yourself a bit. If so, check out "Living In Oblivion" and get ready to laugh out loud. It's your worst nightmare come true...but it's happening to some OTHER film-maker...so it's okay to laugh.

Rating:
Summary: Reality of film-making
Review: One phrase sums up this film -- "Living in Oblivion" is to film-making what "This Is Spinal Tap" is to the music industry. An honest, and humorous look at what really goes on behind the scenes in the business. Yup, it's soooo glamorous! A must-see for those who want to get into the biz, and pure entertainment for those already in it! An awesome gift idea for anyone who works in film production -- what a trip!

Rating:
Summary: Indie navelgazing, strictly for groupies
Review: Some indie films are good, but who wants to watch a film about indie filmmaking? Living in Oblivion told me way more than I ever wanted to know about the world of indie film, and did it in a way that wasn't funny or evocative or convincing or any other quality that might make me watch something. This is kind of the George magazine of indie film, all gossip and no substance. Basically a waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: Hollywood As Guerilla-wood
Review: Steve Buscemi ("Reservoir Dogs," "Fargo") stars in this lyrical story about a group of indie filmmakers trying their damndest to make a really great movie. A big-headed "big name" actor (who's obviously supposed to be Brad Pitt), beautifully played by James Le Gross, has committed to do the pic, but causes way more grief on set than he's worth, while in the background, romantic portions of the script seem to actually be paralleling real life. Though it drives us nuts with all the technical problems of guerilla filmmaking, "Living" manages to also be deeply uplifting and optimistic.

Rating:
Summary: A film is a dream - or, lapping dreams in this case...
Review: The director makes us get lost joyfully in the different layers of cinematic reality in "Living in Oblivion". The passages from one episode of the dreamlike (or nightmare-like) production to the other are extremely smooth and well thought. In what is probably his best performance, Steve Buscemi is an eager young director with a talent which he expects to outburst; but what outbursts is the talent of Tom DiCillo, the director of the movie I watched (or maybe dreamt of)...