Blue in the Face MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2 1/2

Augustus Wren (Harvey Keitel) works in the Brooklyn Cigar Co. in Brooklyn, New York. One week in the summer, everything begins to go crazy. His girlfriend Violet (Mel Gorham) accuses him of seeing another woman; his boss' wife is threatening to run off to Las Vegas with him, and a strange assortment of characters keep showing up at the cigar store. On top of all this, his boss decides it's time to sell the store, which is continually losing money, and open up a health food store. Augustus is stuck in the middle of the craziness as an observer. People from Brooklyn share their fond memories of the Dodgers, of the neighborhood and of the Brooklyn attitude. A loose collection of episodes are strung together in this talkative movie about the pleasures of a good cigar, of good conversation and of strange company. Cameo appearances by Roseanne, Madonna, Michael J. Fox and Lou Reed help liven up a fairly charming movie about living in Brooklyn.

With the free-flowing sense of action in the movie unfortunately comes an outpouring of disgusting language. While the movie celebrates living in Brooklyn, it wallows in the filth of more than 60 obscenities. Some sexually suggestive actions include a woman grabbing a man's crotch and undressing in the store for him. Another scene shows the same woman in front of a mirror undressing, revealing breast nudity while she is sensually dancing. A fellow employee tells August about doing the dirty with a girl. These elements could all have easily been left out, leaving a wonderful movie about Brooklyn, and the sad day when Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers left town for good. Instead, BLUE IN THE FACE swears a blue streak and, like a cheap cigar, leaves viewers with a bad taste in their mouths.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: Miramax Films, 375 Greenwich, NY, NY 10013