STARRING:WILLIAM HURT,HARVEY KEITEL,HAROLD PERRINEAU,STOCKARD CHANNING,FORREST WHITAKER,ASHLEY JUDD,JARED HARRIS,ERICA GIMPEL,VICTOR ARGO

WRITTEN BY PAUL AUSTER

PRODUCED BY KENZO HORIKOSHI,GREG JOHNSON,HISAMI KUROIWA & PETER NEWMAN

DIRECTED BY WAYNE WANG

GENRE:DRAMA

RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:15/USA:R

RUNNING TIME:112 MIN

Smoke is an engrossing New York story set in the summer of 1990 about the people who converge around a Brooklyn cigar store run by Auggie (Harvey Keitel). His best costumer is Paul Benjamin (William Hurt), a novelist still mourning the death of his late wife. He takes in Rashid (Harold Perrineau), a highly imaginative and intelligent young artist on the run from thugs, who also tracks down this long absent father Cyrus (Forrest Whitaker), an owner of a run down gas station outside of the city. Meanwhile, Auggie receives a visit from his old flame Ruby (Stockard Channing), who alleges that he is the father of her estranged junkie daughter (Ashley Judd).
Director Wayne Wang has weaved a mesmerizing character driven drama, based on a thought provoking and keenly perceptive script by Paul Auster which speaks of the unexpected fruits that can come from bitter experience.
A fine cast provide exceptional performances. William Hurt is perfectly cast as the wise novelist who dazzles his friends and viewers alike with various tales, such as an interesting story of Sir Walter Raleigh and his attempt to weigh smoke.
Forrest Whitaker is marvellous as the gas station owner seeking penance for his past sins, as are Stockard Channing and Ashley Judd who provide memorable turns in minor roles.
Keeping all of these characters together - or the glue of the film, if you will - is Harvey Keitel, who puts in a great performance as Auggie, with his film ending monologue some of the best work he has put on film.