BLUE IN THE FACE

US, 1995, 82 minutes, Colour.
Harvey Keitel, Lou Reed, Michael J. Fox, Roseanne, Mel Gorham, Jim Jarmusch, Lily Tomlin, Jared Harris, Giancarlo Esposito, Jose Zuniga, Victor Argo, The John Lurie National Orchestra, Madonna, Mira Sorvino, Keith David, Peggy Gormley, RuPaul?, Michael Badalucco.
Directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster.

An extremely ingratiating comedy drama, Smoke is set mainly in a corner shop in Brooklyn and some houses down the street. It is the work of novelist, Paul Auster, ((The Music of Chance) and director, Wayne Wang (Dim Sum, Joy Luck Club). And there is excellent acting from Harvey Keitel (who owns the store) and William Hurt (as a novelist). Stockard Channing leads a supporting cast of interesting and often eccentric locals.

There is plot, but it is mainly an exploration of characters and their interactions, with well-crafted dialogue. Auster, Wang and Keitel and their producers were so pleased with Smoke that they decided to improvise something of a sequel, Blue in the Face, centred on the shop and Keitel's character. It was filmed in a week with cameo roles from stars like Lily Tomlin, Michael J. Fox, Madonna and Roseanne. It is rougher and readier than Smoke but is an engaging post-script. Cinema character treats.

1. The success of Smoke? Characters? The corner store? Glimpse of Brooklyn? Extra material? The plots, the characters?

2. Auggie’s Corner Store, for shopping, the various materials on sale, a meeting place, a talking place, for building community, Auggie and his long years, the planned demolition, the ethos of Brooklyn?

3. Brooklyn, the verbal praise, the visuals, the range of statistics and the individuals giving them, racial, gender, various interests? The home movie documentary clips? The picture of the street, the view from the shop? The background of the photos in Smoke? The sidewalk, the people, the types, ordinary? The memories of the Dodgers, the vision of Jackie Robinson, the real estate built on the stadium?

4. The range of songs, the score, the band, the guitar songs?

5. The performers and their improvising, the situations and their interpreting them? The effect? Spontaneous – sometimes strained? The range of talent?

6. The cumulative effect, the impressions?

7. Harvey Keitel, Auggie, the anchor of the film? His presence in the store, for so long? His being content, at east with people, talking and listening? His relationships? Especially with Violet?

8. The statistics? The range of information and impressions about Brooklyn? Cross-section? Smiles?

9. Lou Reed, his to-camera monologue, his life, leaving Brooklyn, the vibrancy of the city, his comments about Sweden, the humorous explanation of his lensless glasses, marketing them? His acting as a kind of chorus?

10. Jim Jarmusch, his background, his last cigarette, the Lucky Strikes, the discussions about smoking, the changes in smoking behaviour? Affable? Auggie and the discussion about Richard Conte in A Walk in the Sun? The cigarette butts? The clip from the film?

11. Violet, her talk, relationship with Auggie, her flirting, the dates, her dressing up, her song?

12. Jimmy Rose, simple, sweeping the floor, hanging around, a place where he could be accepted, his hugging the waitress?

13. The group of men, Tommy Finelli, the Italian and black background, his suave manner? The men philosophising? Jerry, his comments, Dennis, his being accosted by the waitress? Her outburst, his response? Seen later in the film, their discussions with the man posing as a salesman?

14. The young lady, her bag being snatched, Auggie chasing the boy, bringing him back, her not wanting to charge the boy, compassion, Auggie and his reaction, the danger of young kids, his wanting him to be charged, giving her bag back to the boy and telling him to run? Her outrage?

15. The waffle eater, her clothes, the document, her vagrancy?

16. Madonna, the singing telegram, her performance, complaint about the tip?

17. Roseanne, loud, intrusive, her earbashing Auggie, wanting to go to Las Vegas, the criticisms of Vinnie? Her return, with Vinnie, accusing him of not listening? His listening to her, reconciliation, the trip to Las Vegas?

18. Vinnie, his age, business interests, the guitar and singing, wanting to close the store, the attack by Roseanne, listening? Sending the telegram to say that he would not close the store?

19. Pete Maloney, discussions with Tommy, their memories of college, his questionnaire, intrusive, the nature of the questions?

20. The black man and his impersonations, trying to be a salesman, friendly with the men, his record deal?

21. The final credits – and the continuing of the stories through the credits? The street band? Vinnie and his vision of Jackie Robinson?

22. The cumulative effect – an affectionate portrait of human nature? Of Brooklyn? A piece of patriotic Americana with sentiment?