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Blue in the Face [Region 2]
 
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Blue in the Face [Region 2] (1995)

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Lou Reed Director: Harvey Wang, Paul Auster Rating: R (Restricted) Format: DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Region 2 encoding (This DVD will not play on most DVD players sold in the US or Canada [Region 1]. This item requires a region specific or multi-region DVD player and compatible TV. More about DVD formats.)

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Product Details

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This oddball sequel to Smoke is less a sequel than a free-wheeling companion piece. Filmed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster the week after they finished Smoke, the idea was to create a wholly improvised film, using the same characters from the first and a few new ones. The challenge was to improvise scenes that would keep the characters talking and interacting for 10 minutes at a crack--the length of a magazine of film. Some of it works well, some less well, but some of it is pure gold (though there is no real story, per se). Among the highlights: Jim Jarmusch as a guy who is about to quit smoking, waxing eloquent about why he loves cigarettes; rocker Lou Reed discussing his various philosophies on life in hilarious deadpan; a few disquisitions on the joys of Brooklyn; and, if you can believe it, a love scene between Harvey Keitel and Roseanne. --Marshall Fine

From The New Yorker

Wayne Wang and Paul Auster's low-budget movie presents itself as a loosely organized sketchbook of neighborhood life in Brooklyn-a collection of doodles in the margins of "Smoke" (which Auster wrote and Wang directed). One of the earlier film's stars, Harvey Keitel, and several of its supporting actors play improvised skits with a bunch of celebrity drop-ins, among them Michael J. Fox, Lily Tomlin, Jim Jarmusch, Roseanne, and Madonna. The movie also includes interview footage, little documentary essays on Brooklyn lore, and a musical number or two-oddball stuff that the filmmakers combine with the salvageable fragments of improvisation in a deliberately messy, random-seeming assemblage. The pointlessness would be vastly more appealing if Wang and Auster didn't make such a point of it. Also with Lou Reed, who-playing himself and speaking directly to the camera-is the weirdest, funniest character on the screen. -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Is there no cult following for this film?, May 8, 2000
By "msgranddame" (Riverside, IL United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blue in the Face [VHS] (VHS Tape)
And why are there only three customer reviews of this brilliant, on-the-edge film? And what's up with Leonard Maltin (see above)? I think he was expecting a Hollywood Production Movie. I think he would also ask for a Belgian waffle in Belgium (can't get them, I learned from watching this.) There is a McGuffin, I guess, for those who must have a plot. Will the cigar store be sold or not? Who cares? I'd much rather hear Lou Reed explaining the source of his life-long cynicism or why cigarettes are really "health tools." I had seen and enjoyed Smoke, but never knew this film existed. I am so glad I found it by chance. I enjoyed it more than Smoke. I think it would be a great film to run at a party. Regardless of the length and clarity of their attention spans, guests would have to ask "What is this?" And gradually this film would get the cult following it deserves (or maybe it already does and I don't know it out here in the Midwest). Of course, as always, I loved my main man, Harvey Keitel which should go without saying. (I wonder what Mr. Maltin had to say about the uncut version of another Keitel film, The Bad Lieutenant," another movie you won't be seeing on t.v. If "innovative" doesn't scare you, buy this. I am still thinking about the bag-in-the-tree man and Michael J. Fox's survey. I think I need to watch it again.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting diversion from the Hollywood norm...., June 28, 2003
By Dave Beards (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blue in the Face (DVD)
'Blue In The Face' chronicles a snapshot of life in Brooklyn NY. At the centre of this life is a cigar store that is frequented by a parade of weird and wonderful people. So that is it - there is no story line, or indeed it appears there is no script - just a series of 'situations' designed to be a wonderful showcase for the actors involved.

And what a cast of actors!!! Memorable performances by Lou Reed, Michael J. Fox, Madonna, Roseanne and a host of others make this movie a must see. They don't appear to have to operate within the confines of a script so their full ad-lib abilities shine. At the centre of the action is Harvey Keitel who gives a wonderful performance as the laid back cigar store worker.

Another fascinating angle to this movie is the inclusion of real Brooklyn residents describing Brooklyn and their lives. Even though the unstructured aspect of the movie makes for no story lines, it does seem as though it is a homage to Brooklyn and its residents.

The picture quality on this DVD is outstanding. Perhaps a little too soft in places, but otherwise it is hard to fault. No special features are included which is a shame. It would have been great to have interviews with the cast to hear their thoughts on the movie.

'Blue In The Face' is a bizarre movie, but with it featuring some very well known faces in roles they have not been seen in before, made Blue in the face riveting viewing for me.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Good... but not as good as Smoke, February 6, 2006
By T. A. Smedes (Nijmegen, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Blue in the Face (DVD)
I bought this DVD because I loved "Smoke". I must admit, this film is not as good as "Smoke". The story line is much looser, the characters are not worked-out as well, and often there is a kind of documentary-style of filming. Though it is nice to see some major stars, such as Roseanne and Madonna - yes, she plays one of her best roles ever! - improvize in this film (because that's what they're doing), I was slightly disappointed. "Smoke" had this special feel to it which this film lacked...

But don't get me wrong - this film is still much better than many Hollywood blockbusters. This is why I still rated the film 5 stars. It deserves it, as much as "Smoke" deserves 10!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Laugh out loud funny
This is a great movie. One of my favorites. It's great to see all these actors doing roles that are far away from their norm. It's quirky and you will laugh out loud.
Published on January 2, 2008 by veronica

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, classic, classic
If you love Brooklyn, NYC, people, cigarettes, movies, funny things, stupid things, and especially Belgian waffles, you'll love this movie.
Published on February 15, 2007 by Jennifer Miller

5.0 out of 5 stars Note: There Are Special Features !

- BONUS FEATURES Include:
=================


- A Conversation With Lou Reed:

* Living In New York.
* The Lower East Side. Read more
Published on March 18, 2005 by M @ S

2.0 out of 5 stars What a shame!!!
What a waste. It's terribly filmed and aimless. It also suffers from shoddy editing. Harvey Keitel is great, I don't think I've ever seen him in a bad film. Read more
Published on August 5, 2002 by Erik Pack

4.0 out of 5 stars Blue in the face
All events go on in one of the most famous districts of New York- Brooklyn.
Ozzy's shop with tobacco is the centre of the action. Read more
Published on December 18, 2001 by Anna

5.0 out of 5 stars Jarmusch Rules.
I had no idea who this guy was...but his bit on Nazis and movies and cigarettes has caused me to recommend this movie to friends. Read more
Published on September 1, 2001 by Regina Alexander-lepus

5.0 out of 5 stars No Script, No Plot, No Problem!
I got this movie to hear Lou Reed talk about New York. It gets 5 stars for that, but it's much more than a few moments of Lou's brillance. Read more
Published on August 10, 2001 by paperback99

4.0 out of 5 stars More entertaining than "Smoke."
This movie is a lot of fun. It was mostly improvised, and the storyline was developed as they filmed it over a week or so. Read more
Published on May 10, 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars brilliantly funny and yet dramatic!
The film was an innovative masterpiece. Harvey Keitel was his classic self, a man in charge and a man of many whimsical ideas and knowledge. Read more
Published on March 18, 1999

3.0 out of 5 stars I love New York but i prefer Brooklyn
Paul Auster is a new yorker, is even more than that, a "brooklyner"!Discovering "Blue in the face" you will enjoy Park Slope, the Brooklyn Cigar company, you... Read more
Published on December 18, 1998

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