Chinese Coffee (2000)

Harry and Jake, two unsuccessful writers, spend a cathartic evening arguing about money, aesthetics, their friendship, and Harry's new manuscript.

Director:

Al Pacino

Writers:

Ira Lewis (play), Ira Lewis (screenplay)

Stars:

Al Pacino, Jerry Orbach, Susan Floyd

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Harry Levine
Jerry Orbach	...	Jake Manheim
Susan Floyd	...	Joanna
Ellen McElduff	...	Mavis
Michel Moinot	...	Maurice
Judette Jones	...	Supermarket cashier
Paul J.Q. Lee	...	Counterman
Joel Eidelsberg	...	Harry's brother
Maria Gentile	...	Sarah / Bellydancer
Christopher Evan Welch	...	Hamlet actor
Neal Jones	...	Eteocles / Actor in play
Laura Esterman	...	Actor in play / Messenger
Hazelle Goodman	...	Cafe Dante waitress (as Hazel Goodman)
James Bulleit	...	Sgt. Boyle - Undercover cop #1
Mark Scarola	...	Undercover cop #2

Storyline

When aging, unsuccessful Greenwich Village writer Harry Levine is fired from his job as restaurant doorman, he calls on friend and mentor Jake, ostensibly to collect a long-standing debt. Harry takes the opportunity to solicits his opinion on his latest manuscript, a work of semi-fiction based on their longtime friendship. Although he initially denies having read it, Jake later attacks it on aesthetic grounds, and deep-seated feelings of betrayal and jealousy surface, resulting in a traumatic confrontation.

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | writer | jealousy | doorman | greek tragedy | 

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Taglines:

There's a fine line between friendship and betrayal.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kínai kávé

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chal Productions, Shooting Gallery

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Al Pacino starred in the 1992 Broadway stage production of "Chinese Coffee".

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Goofs

Near the end of the film Harry is poured a full glass of seltzer with a lime in it by Barney. Although he does not touch it, the glass is empty when he gets up to leave.

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Quotes

Harry Levine: Fucking French.

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Connections

Referenced in Biography: Al Pacino: Inside Out (2001)

User Reviews

very entertaining though it seems like it should be

Chinese Coffee (2000)

5 word summary

friends argue about their life

Chinese Coffee is an interesting movie. If you read what its about or even watch it it seems like it should be boring but for some reason its not.

Al Pacino and Jerry Orbach play two old friends who sit and talk for an hour and a half. They talk about their past, money and Harry's (Pacino) new book. That's pretty much it. 2 guys in a room talking, and somehow it's really entertaining. The movie is based on a play, which makes sense, it just doesn't seem like one that would become a good movie, but it does.

The style of Chinese Coffee reminded me of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, it's not as good but both are very play like and are mainly set in one room and completely dialog driven.

Al Pacino and Jerry Orbach both had great performances. I would actually consider this Pacino's last great performance, but hopefully that will change soon.

So if you like Al Pacino or Jerry Orbach try to find this film. Especially since it's one of the only movies Pacino directed. Hopefully this film is carried more places soon because it really is worth watching. I had to order it off ebay just to see it.

8/10