75
The action is talky and philosophical but in sweet celebration of everyman going nowhere.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
75
San Francisco Chronicle by Edward Guthmann
A showcase for Wang's greatest strengths as a film maker: a chance to explore friendships, connections and random serendipities.
70
The New York Times by Elvis Mitchell
An inviting but evanescent film that does have casualness, curiosity value and a lot of talent on its side.
88
ReelViews by James Berardinelli
Each conversation has at least one memorable line, and it's always delivered in such a casual manner that it blends right in.
30
Chicago Reader by Jonathan Rosenbaum
Despite a certain grace in the dialogue and casual plot construction, this is positively reeking of a desire to be cheerful in the face of adversity.
75
Entertainment Weekly by Lisa Schwarzbaum
The best vignette, at the very end of the film, is the story Auster originally wrote for a newspaper as a Christmas piece, the one that inspired Wang to make Smoke in the first place. It's the one you'll want to inhale.
78
Austin Chronicle by Marjorie Baumgarten
Knockout ensemble performances like these don't come around all that often, though, and when they do they ought to be savored.
100
Rolling Stone by Peter Travers
A sharply observant and witty film that plumbs unexpected depths of feeling.
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Rick Groen
A film of deceptive narrative wisps and intricate thematic curls.
75
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
A beguiling film about words, secrets and tobacco.