Rent Smoke (1995)

Odd title, great film - Smoke review by JD

The central characters grow and grow, the plot weaves them together and gently unfolds their histories. The acting is superb except for a couple of very minor characters who make you realise how good the others are. Ultimately a sad film but not a weepy nor depressing. I loved it.

Where There’s Smoke - Smoke review by griggs

Warmth rises off Wayne Wang’s Brooklyn-set film: a cigar shop as confessional booth, with Harvey Keitel quietly exhaling the neighbourhood’s lives like smoke rings.

Paul Auster’s script is almost too kind-hearted. It charms more than it burns, and the film is so keen to be liked that it occasionally forgets to have edges. You leave pleasantly hazy rather than genuinely moved.

Still, Auggie Wren’s Christmas story quietly devastates, in the way only a well-told lie can. Smoke doesn’t always catch fire — but when it does, the haze is worth it.

Engrossing New York fable - Smoke review by AER

William Hurt, Harold Perrineau jr, and Harvey Keitel have never been better than in this multi-stranded comedy drama that revolves around a cigar stall. The characters are engrossing and it's nice to see these great actors playing normal people. They really don't make 'em like this anymore. A real, quailty film full of engaging, funny, and believable characters... There is an improvised sequel - which isn't as good called Blue in the Face that proves lighting rarely strikes twice. Awesome work all round from Wayne Wang (director - where is he nowadays?) and author Paul Auster!

10 out of 10 - peerless in its class