By Melissa Antoinette Garza
As my party CorriGeddon gets closer, I am seeking out more and more Kevin Corrigan movies. I had seen Living in Oblivion when it came out years ago. I was 16 years old and I enjoyed it but I remember walking away knowing the filmmakers had created something that was a bit over my head. Watching it again, I realize I had over-analyzed the movie. I still do that but with Living in Oblivion, it really is a straightforward production. That isn’t to say that it’s a simple film. It’s an intelligent, comedic film that shines light on the making of an independent movie.
Steve Buscemi stars as Nick Reve, the anxiety ridden director who is filled with self-doubt and desperate to get a shot. His anxiety carries over to his dream where he is stuck filming the same scene over and over again.
Meanwhile, the star actress Nicole (Catherine Keener) who cares about Reve but remains silent. She sleeps with the male protagonist and love interest, Chad Palomino (James Le Gros) but immediately regrets it. Her remorse carries over to a dream as well.
In the final act which takes place in reality, Nick struggles with getting the correct scene. His insecurities take over and he revisits ghosts of the past who told him to quit and become a second grade English teacher. He nearly quits the production, when his mother Cora (Rica Martens) saves the day. Cora wandered on the set when she left her nursing home unbeknownst to the faculty. The final scene which is thirty seconds of silence shows what most characters are thinking of and how their self-doubt is still present.
Nick is a really cool character as Buscemi portrays him with the passion of someone not only desperate to make his movie, but also to prove everyone wrong. Artists, musicians and filmmakers are often misunderstood by the 9-5 workers. Monday Football watchers and Saturday soccer coaches of the world. People who are not creative often have difficulty appreciating or encouraging those that are. My brother, Geno McGahee faced this for years and after more than a decade, he finally is getting either compliments or silence motivated by envy. It’s a difficult task to pump yourself up when mentors and colleagues tell you that your work isn’t good enough or being famous is a pipe dream. Buscemi does a magnificent job (as always) portraying this struggle.
It’s cool to see how often these actors have worked together. It makes me think that they are pretty cool people who get along and don’t engage in drama or infighting. Steve Buscemi worked with Kevin Corrigan in both this and Tree Lounge (1996). Kevin Corrigan worked with James Le Gros in this, Scotland PA and The Last Winter.
Catherine Keener was in both this and Walking and Talking (1996) with Mr. Corrigan, although in that movie her character made me angry. She portrayed Amelia who insulted Bill (Corrigan) who was just a nice guy who ran a video store. They make amends but as I get way more involved in films than I should, it made me angry.
I’m sure that I am missing a ton of connections. I always love to see multiple actors in films that are quite different from one another. It shows their versatility especially when they interact with actors who they performed with before but who are playing completely different roles. My over-analyzing goes into overdrive.
For example, if you were to watch James Le Gross in Scotland PA and then watch him in this where he plays a pompous jerk, it’s night-and-day. He’s an amazing actor.
All around the cast for Living in Oblivion is perfect. You can’t go wrong with Steve Buscemi. He made Domestic Disturbance interesting. There’s an interview online where he speaks with Kevin Corrigan and it’s fantastic. Any Buscemi fan should watch it as it really delves into a lot that people may not know. I was not aware, for example, that Buscemi had been a wrestler. It’s from The Corrigan Show.
Here’s the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVobNJUB8dQ
On a side note, I noticed that Kevin Corrigan’s character was listed as Assistant Camera, but in the film he introduces himself as Maurice. My OCD kicks in and I wonder why this is. I know that his introduction was during a dream sequence, so maybe that really isn’t his name; but on the other hand it was Nicole who had the dream and she had to know his name. I don’t know. I’m curious. Small things like this sit with me for such a long time.
Overall review, seek this out. I know it’s rather expensive. I bought my copy off eBay because Amazon had it for $50.00. If you have the $50, it’s worth it but I’d check eBay first.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10
