steelguitar_t10 Reviews

Smoke (1995)

The Place where all Stories Meet.

[10/10 · 12 January 2003]

Based on the Christmas Story that writer Paul Auster published on the New York Times on 25th December 1990 "Auggie Wren's Christmas Story".

Director Wayne Wang incorporates into the film 6 stories, from 6 people who have separate lives, but meeting in one place Auggie's Cigar Shop (played by Keitel).

The story of a somewhat frustated writer Paul Benjamin(Hurt), and his meeting with a young thug, and his father whom he never met (Whitaker).

With a beautiful photography of New York seen from each characters perspective, Auster makes a superb script and beautifully directed by Wang.

The film is a nice view of Brooklyn where all things meet.

Blue in the Face (1995)

The skeleton of Brooklyn.

[9/10 · 12 January 2003]

"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.