Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

A series of vignettes that all have coffee and cigarettes in common.

Director:

Jim Jarmusch

Writer:

Jim Jarmusch

Stars:

Roberto Benigni, Tom Waits, RZA

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roberto Benigni	...	Roberto (segment "Strange to Meet You")
Steven Wright	...	Steven (segment "Strange to Meet You")
Joie Lee	...	Good Twin (segment "Twins")
Cinqué Lee	...	Evil Twin / Kitchen Guy (segment "Twins / Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil")
Steve Buscemi	...	Waiter (segment "Twins")
Iggy Pop	...	Iggy (segment "Somewhere in California") (archive footage)
Tom Waits	...	Tom (segment "Somewhere in California") (archive footage)
Joseph Rigano	...	Joe (segment "Those Things'll Kill Ya") (as Joe Rigano)
Vinny Vella	...	Vinny (segment "Those Things'll Kill Ya")
Vinny Vella Jr.	...	Vinny Jr. (segment "Those Things'll Kill Ya")
Renee French	...	Renée (segment "Renée") (as Renée French)
E.J. Rodriguez	...	Waiter (segment "Renée")
Alex Descas	...	Alex (segment "No Problem")
Isaach De Bankolé	...	Isaach (segment "No Problem")
Cate Blanchett	...	Cate / Shelly (segment "Cousins")

Storyline

A comic series of short vignettes built on one another to create a cumulative effect, as the characters discuss things as diverse as caffeine popsicles, Paris in the '20s, and the use of nicotine as an insecticide--all the while sitting around sipping coffee and smoking cigarettes. As director Jim Jarmusch delves into the normal pace of our world from an extraordinary angle, he shows just how absorbing the obsessions, joys and addictions of life can be, if truly observed.

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Plot Keywords:

coffee | vignette | caffeine | addiction | nicotine | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [United States]

Country:

USA Japan Italy

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 March 2004 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Café e Cigarros

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$99,162 (USA) (14 May 2004)

Gross:

$1,971,135 (USA) (16 July 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Asmik Ace Entertainment, BIM, Smokescreen Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was made over a 17-year period. The Roberto Benigni and Steven Wright segment was filmed in 1987. The Tom Waits and Iggy Pop segment was shot in 1992.

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Goofs

When Bill Murray is joining RZA and The GZA at the table, he is holding the coffee pot in his hand, but after the cut the pot is standing on the table.

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Quotes

Taylor: [Taylor is pretending the coffee he and Bill are drinking is champagne] I propose a toast.
Bill: So what should we toast?
Taylor: Oh, god... Paris, in the 1920's. Josephine Baker, the Moulin Rouge. Q'est-ce que c'est...
[mutters, trails off]
Bill: And also, New York, in the 70's. The late 70's.
Taylor: Really? Oh, alright.
Bill: [they touch cups] Cheers.
Taylor: Cheers.
[they sip their coffee]
Bill: Mmm. Délicieux, isn't it?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Tesla Coil Wrangler ... Peter Kunz

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Connections

References Boogie Nights (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Ich Bin der Welt Abhanden Gekommen (I Have Lost Track of the World)"
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Lyrics by Friedrich Rückert
Performed by Janet Baker and the New Philharmonia Orchestra
Courtesy of EMI Classics
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

great after some wine, with friends

This movie is better than the first reviewer claims. The context of the movie is definitely social, but the humor is only superficially based on the character's real-life celebrity. True, the background music is interesting if you are a film buff. But, take my advice, watch this movies after a couple drinks, at a social gathering, to really enjoy it. The humor is better than in most full length feature comedies. I laughed loud and hard and had a lot of fun when I caught this at the university of Chicago's student movie theater.

the real interest in this film is the social awkwardness created when people meet under false pretense or forced circumstance, versus the natural comfort that is obvious between longtime friends who enjoy each others company.. The gestures and facial expressions by these great actors more than make up for the weaknesses of the film. The brother/sister pairs show boredom and typical familial nit-picking. Iggy and Tom waits are brilliant. buschemi is a little misplaced in the scene where he shows up. my 2 favorite scenes, that i feel show the real genius of jarmusch, are 1.) the moment when molina's gestures have revealed that he is not, as indicated in the first review, a sycophant, but simply an honest and interested human being who is higher up in the scheme of things than the pretentious jerk he tries to befriend; and 2.)the scene where the old guy falls asleep and the camera zooms in on him for a moment, revealing a great moment of humanity.