— Coffee and cigarettes. That’s like the breakfast of champions.

“Blue in the Face” got its title from the actors’ freedom to talk until they did. The result is genial, entertaining and especially interesting if you’ve seen “Smoke” and know the earlier reality they’re coming out of. But “Smoke” is, of course, a much better film, and if you haven’t seen it, then you should start there and not here. “Blue in the Face” is more of a footnote. The best thing about it is the spirit that brought it into being, and the love of film that it reflects. — Roger Ebert