JEFF OF THE CINEFILES: HALL OF FAME: FILE #25: BLUE IN THE FACE (1995)

Directed By: Wayne Wang & Paul Auster; Harvey Wang (Video Segments) 
Written By: Wayne Wang & Paul Auster (Situations) 
Cinematography By: Adam Holender 
Editor: Christopher Tellefsen 

Cast: Harvey Keitel, Victor Argo, Malik Yoba, Roseanne, Madonna, Lily Tomlin, Mel Gorham, Mira Sorovino, Jared Harris, Jim Jaramusch, Lou Reed, Giancarlo Esposito, Jose Zuniga, RuPaul, Michael J. Fox

Wayne Wang's follow-up movie to Smoke presents a series of improvisational situations strung together to form a pastiche of Brooklyn's diverse ethnicity, offbeat humor, and essential humanity. Many of the same characters inhabiting Auggie Wren's Brooklyn Cigar Store in Smoke return here to expound on their philosophy of smoking, relationships, baseball, New York, and Belgian Waffles. Most of all, this is a movie about living life, off-the-cuff.

A semi Sequel to the movie SMOKE

The only reason this film was made is that production on the film SMOKE finished filming a week early and under budget. The cast and filmmakers enjoyed the experience so much. They figured why not make a movie. They still had most of the cast and the locations. So the filmmakers decided to come up with a loose central storyline that the owner might sell the cigar store and using that basis the filmmakers called up as many of their friends as they could to comedown and do improvised scenes. Or create characters they wanted to try and play.

This was an early example of the technique used in the films of Judd Apatow. Only in quite a different way and genre. As Apatow’s films are usually more plotted then this one.

Filmed in just five days, using the same set and much of the same cast as SMOKE. 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. 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.

So it ended up almost like a block party for a week. Where you never knew who was going to show up. Now even though the film plays like a long running inside joke that maybe only the cat gets. It still manages to entertain, surprise and amuse. It’s almost like watching Saturday Night live each new scene a different cast of characters usually revolving around host Harvey Kietel. Obviously having fun as he smiles and holds back laughter through each scene.

The characters are usually out there, but hilarious and endearing most of all they all ring true.

Mel Gorham's monologue was filmed three months after the film wrapped. At the film's wrap party, Gorham performed a rendition of "Fever" that so impressed the film's producers they decided to add a scene with her performing the song. --I feel like this film is a valentine to Brooklyn and all it’s cultures and citizens. The film has a feel like CLERKS without as much profane, gross dialogue and humor. The film is also in color. Jim Jaramusch's scene was originally intended for William Hurt who was to reprise his role from SMOKE. But Hurt was unavailable.

Even though the whole cast is good. the standouts are the scenes with Jim Jaramusch, Michael J. Fox, Lou Reed, Malik yoba and Lily Tomlin. They even have a band play in the cigar store.

This is definitely worth a look if you enjoy experimental indie comedies. This film also has an overwhelming sense of collaboration.

This film while not one of the best films made the list of my favorites with ease. It has a laid back comfortableness that makes watching the film make you feel like a film you have seen before and can never watch it enough. It’s one of the few films I can watch over and over and never get tired of it.

This film wasn’t supposed to happen it only did come into being because the film SMOKE finished a week ahead of schedule and under budget so the director and screenwriter Celebrated Author Paul Auster decided why not make a mini movie a pseudo sequel. So they had 6 days to come up with a idea film it and with half the cast gone they decided amongst themselves and the cast to call up any friends who were available and wanted to be in the film for improved scenes held together by a loose narrative and thin plot. So the film plays more like a series of scenes that are only connected through a main character and location the smoke shop.

It’s more like a companion piece then a sequel, but it is so freewheeling it’s like a Freelance jam session where you think you have the rhythms figured out and are getting into the groove but before you know it it’s changed up it’s style and your expectations. Usually I only see this type of thing happening in horror films.
The film plays like the block party that ends the film. It takes place right at the beginning of the gentrification of Brooklyn and plays eclectic and with a lot of multi-culturalism. You get the rare chance to actually see the actors having fun in what they are doing and it must have been infectious with the celebrities they get to cameo in the film. Since the narrative is so loose the actors allow themselves to be open and on there toes but with a good amount of professionalism. So its’ not like you pay to see them be leisurely and telling inside jokes. Now while not all of the cameos work at least they tried and came out to support the film and it’s actors. If I could use a word to describe the film is it feels homemade. Something that is safe makes you nostalgic all at once.

Harvey Kietel really shines in his role and surprisingly it’s the cameos by non filmmakers that are the most memorable Musician Lou Reed, Director Jim Jaramusch., and Rupaul. So automatically the film has indie cool but isn’t pretentious. Plus a song on the soundtrack performed and written for the film by the late Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead fame. The video to the song Coffee & Cigarettes is included right before the film

I went to see the film twice in theaters it s very quotable and it presents itself as a type of film when I hopefully achieve my dream of filmmaking I would like to make. It’s experimental. So if you are looking for a straightforward narrative blockbuster film this is not for you. But if you are an indie fan it’s a must see. I remember reading all the movie magazines like FILM THREAT and PREMIERE about it and while I never made it to go out and see smoke I knew this film I would catch so with my usual companion at the time my cousin Aziza we went to see this film to a half full theater. It was one of the good times I remember really enjoying a film at the Angelica Theater and living up to it’s admittedly limited hype.

I can’t really go into the plot because really there isn’t one. The film takes place in a week inside a Smoke shop that is due to be closed and the neighborhood comes out to say goodbye to it and the staff as they reminisce over there memories. While seeing how it will affect the citizens of the neighborhood.

It’s like the Pseudo sequel so SMOKE where as that film was deeply dramatic this film is more silly and fun.

I know I’m giving the movie probably more credit then it deserves, but it is a movie that means a lot to me. So while the grade I give it isn’t grand. It means more then just a grade.

It’s short and sweet and while not perfect is worth seeking out. Give it a chance I don’t think you’ll be sorry

GRADE: B+