Syl
Brooklyn, New York has changed over the last 18 years since this film first premiered. The location near Prospect Park is now one of the most desirable locales to live and reside in the borough and even in New York City. Brooklyn's transformation from a working class borough has changed in some parts. Brooklyn has become hip for the trend setters. It also gentrified in areas especially near the Prospect Park, Brooklyn's Central Park. Still, the film reminds me of another time when Brooklyn wasn't so hip or trendy but real. The people of Brooklyn and New York City like Harvey Keitel, Lou Reed, and others recall their likes and dislikes as well. They spend their time smoking at the Brooklyn Cigar Shop where Augie played by Keitel is the manager but not the owner. The cast includes top notch performers like Lily Tomlin, Lou Reed, Roseanne, Mira Sorvino, etc. A lot of the film's script seems improvised but it makes the film more authentic to documenting the life in a day.
paul2001sw-1
'Blue in the Face' is a low key assortment of ad-libbed scenes, unlikely cameos, and interviews with the real-life inhabitants of Brooklyn. There's no real plot, nothing much happens, and the dialogue has all the incoherence of actual conversation. What it does have is bags of charm, a celebratory spirit, and a huge (physical and spiritual) distance from Hollywood. Well worth watching once.
steelguitar_t10
"Blue in the face", the second movie of Wayne Wang (director) and Paul Auster (writer/screen writer). With the previous one "Smoke", both made up a world of hope, love and hate in a city called New York.
The follow-up, makes a slight distinction. Far from the old several characters' story, little improved situations about Brooklyn, all meeting at Auggie's Cigar Shop.From the New Yorker philosophy and ramble ons of Lou Reed, to an old man who is still sad because the Dodgers left Brooklyn. The movie is a testimony of Brooklyn and its people. From the thug youngsters, to the nostalgia of the Belgian Waffles and the Dodgers. Everything to create a story about the people and memories that live on through today.A Perfect 10!! Brooklyn revealed for the first true time. A Success for both fans of Paul Auster or Wang.Different from the previous but a true and honest portrait of the bones of Brooklyn.
bob the moo
Wang's followup to Smoke is a series of improvised scenes put together to represent the diveristy of Brooklyn's culture. Meanwhile Auggie is struggling with Vinnie's decision to sell the cigar store.The "plot" to this film doesn't really matter. This was shot in the time that was left over when Smoke wrapped earlier than scheduled. In many ways this is a much better film. It's a huge amount of fun to watch and it all ends in a street party - it all makes you want to live in Brooklyn and meet all these weird and wonderful people that live there. It's sketchy nature can mean that it feels a little piecey but most of it is funny or interesting and you may not notice it's lack of structure. The actual story is actually quite good - Vinnie's decision to shut the store is handled as a threat to the friendships that exist around the story and also the importance of such places in holding the community together. It makes a good point and, mixed with the humour, isn't hard to swallow at all.The cast are good - many of Smoke's faces are still there and are complimented by famous faces. Stars such as Fon, Roseanne, Madonna, Lou Reed, Jim Jarmusch, Lily Tomlin, Ru Paul etc all make cameos - Madonna isn't great but MJ Fox is really funny. The remainder of the cast are made up of real quality actors such as Victor Argo, Harvey Keitel and Giancarlo Esposito to name a few.Overall this is a light reward for watching the slighly heavier Smoke. Both films are good in their own way but this is the most fun to watch.
AD
