Blue in the Face (1995)

Directors:

Paul Auster
Wayne Wang

Writers:

Paul Auster (situations) and
Wayne Wang (situations)

Release Date:

13 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Welcome to the planet Brooklyn.

Plot:

Wayne Wang's follow-up movie to Smoke presents a series of improvisational situations strung together...

Plot Keywords:

Red Panties | Ad Lib | Sequel | Color In Title | Cigar Shop

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Lou Reed	...	Man with Strange Glasses
Michael J. Fox	...	Pete Maloney
Roseanne	...	Dot
Mel Gorham	...	Violet
Jim Jarmusch	...	Bob
Lily Tomlin	...	Waffle Eater
Jared Harris	...	Jimmy Rose
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Tommy Finelli
Malik Yoba	...	Watch Man
José Zúñiga	...	Jerry (as Jose Zuniga)
Victor Argo	...	Vinnie
Stephen Gevedon	...	Dennis
The John Lurie National Orchestra	...	Street Band
Madonna	...	Singing Telegram
Sharif Rashed	...	Purse Snatcher

Also Known As:

Brooklyn Boogie (UK)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Brazil:14 | USA:R (No. 33629) | Australia:M | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Filmed in just five days, using the same set and much of the same cast as Smoke (1995). The premise of the film came to directors Wayne Wang and Paul Auster while watching an improvisation session between Harvey Keitel et. al. to help them get into character for filming Smoke (1995). They decided that the improvisations were so funny that they would spend a few days after shooting Smoke just filming film is almost entirely improvised. Auster and Wang claim to have "borrowed" the idea of shooting another movie on the back of an existing one from Roger Corman who often used to shoot movies very quickly on leftover sets from other productions.

Goofs:

Continuity: Dot bolts the store door to talk with Auggie, then leaves without unlocking it.

Quotes:

Bob: Coffee and cigarettes. That's like the breakfast of champions.

Movie Connections:

References Clerks. (1994)

Soundtrack:

Dime A Dozen

An understated, but brilliant film

Blue in the face is a follow up to 'Smoke' a film which I saw recently and very much enjoyed. I thought I'd give this one a try as well.

Like the first film (even more so) this is a collection of beautifully acted, largely improvised vignettes, involving the customers and general passers-by of the Brooklyn based cigar shop run by Auggie (Harvey Keitel). There is a lose storyline involving the relationship between Auggie and his girlfriend Violetta (brilliantly played by Mel Gorham) and the troubled marriage of Vinnie the storeowner and his wife. The store has been a part of the local community for years and when Vinnie gets a very good offer to sell up, it's bound to badly affect a lot of people.

The best moments of the film lie in the documentary style rambling of Brooklyn residents (including Lou Reed) as they describe what it means to them being part of the city, and also the brilliant monologues that some of the characters perform. There are moments of genius in this film. It is very funny in a very understated way, the assembled characters are all eccentric in their own way but totally believable. The dialogue is natural and you get to know and feel for the characters very quickly in to the movie.

I loved this film; I thought it was better than 'Smoke' a film I also liked. 'Blue in the Face' might be harder to get in to for some people, it's improvisational style and lack of structured story might put people off or make them think it's hard to follow, but it isn't. Don't try to make too much sense of what's going on you don't need to. Treat it as a series of snapshots in to the lives of a collection of colourful New Yorkers. Just sit back and watch the characters play out their lives, you'll very soon be engrossed by it.

It was an absolute delight to watch. Not for everyone maybe but definitely for me!