200 Cigarettes (1999)

A collection of twentysomethings try to cope with relationships, loneliness, desire and their individual neuroses.

Director:

Risa Bramon Garcia

Writer:

Shana Larsen

Stars:

Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Dave Chappelle

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Affleck	...	Bartender
Casey Affleck	...	Tom
Jennifer Albano	...	Cheryl
Jenni Blong	...	Cheryl's Friend (as Jenny Blong)
Morgan Brown	...	French Rocker
Caleb Carr	...	Cynical Bar Patron
Dave Chappelle	...	Disco Cabbie
Elvis Costello	...	Elvis Costello
Guillermo Díaz	...	Dave (as Guillermo Diaz)
Angela Featherstone	...	Caitlyn
Patrick Frederic	...	Tiki Sobbing Man
Janeane Garofalo	...	Ellie
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Stephie
Kate Hudson	...	Cindy
David Johansen	...	Tiki Bartender

Storyline

New Year's Eve, 1981, the Lower East Side. Monica's having a party, but as late as 9, no one's there. She stews (and drinks). Folks are on their way, all looking for love, sex, or both. En route, paths cross, gambits misfire: a performance artist, her boyfriend until today and his long-time pal Lucy, two Long Island high-school girls, two punk rockers, a bartender, a Scottish painter who's lousy in bed, a pretty face named Jack who runs when women say they love him, his cute but clumsy date Cindy, two trendy vamps, a loquacious cabby, the man-crazed Hillary, and Elvis Costello. Nearly everybody smokes, and nearly everybody scores. And all get who and what they deserve.

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Plot Keywords:

cigarette smoking | number in title | new year's eve | party | friend | 

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Taglines:

It's 11:59 on New Year's Eve. Do you know where your date is?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Islander

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,244,277, 28 February 1999

Gross USA:

$6,852,450

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,852,450

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dogstar Films, Lakeshore Entertainment, MTV Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dave Chappelle, Guillermo Díaz & Janeane Garofalo all appeared in the 1998 American stoner comedy film, Half Baked.

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Goofs

In the taxi cab when the taxi driver is talking to the two women looking for dates, the lights from the disco ball are rotating one way on the women and then in the next shot, it is seen rotating the other way on the taxi driver.

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Quotes

Disco Cabbie: [Ellie is riding with Disco Cabbie complaining about finding Kevin with Lucy] Uh, I'm sensing a lot of hostility coming from the back seat.
Ellie: Oh, really? That's very astute.
Disco Cabbie: Well, that's not good for me, man. That kind of energy damages the plush interior of my cab, right? And you're blowing a $5.00 high, mama. You need to find yourself a man who's secure enough to appreciate you for the superior woman that you are. I like a strong woman.
Ellie: Oh... yeah. Mm-hmm.
Disco Cabbie: And you are a strong woman. If I was ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

At the end of credits Disco Cabie can be heard saying, "If you only remember one thing I've said, remember this; James Brown is the baddest motherf@cker in show business."

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Alternate Versions

A workprint copy exists, which does add some extra footage

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.6 (2005)

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Soundtracks

Rapture
By Debbie Harry & Chris Stein
Performed by Blondie
Produced by Mike Chapman (as Mike Chapman)
Courtesy of Chrysalis Records, a division of EMI
Under license from EMI Music Special Markets

User Reviews

"Ditch the chicks and drink till we stink"

200 Cigarettes focuses on a couple with evident sexual tension, two lost teenagers who wind up in a punk-rock club searching for a new years party, a ditz dating a neurotic idiot, a flirtatious bartender, a smooth-talking cab driver, and several others as they spend the last night of 1981 attempting to find love, answers to their questions, and acceptance in the tumultuous setting that is the 1980's decade.

Despite its classification as a campy party-romp, I wish more characters actually did some partying. 200 Cigarettes isn't a showcase for witty comedy or debauchery but a lengthy excursion with miserable characters that don't seem to be happy unless they complain. For a film that attempts to define a decade, through loud colors, live-in-the-moment party music, and wild costumes, this film doesn't do much more than showcase characters that bitch and moan better than they could ever party. At times, the film acts as that one sadsack guest that is the biggest pessimist of the entire party and the only thing harder than getting him to leave is trying to cheer him up.

Normally, this wouldn't be such an issue. Party films that focus on drama and character issues are fairly common, and the issues can often raise viable discussion pieces for an audience or can at least be understood enough to be believed. Not in the case of 200 Cigarettes; it's as if these characters are miserable by choice and nothing, not even a glittery night of carelessness could cheer them up. When characters are barricaded by poor circumstance is when I can feel sympathy for them. When they just seem miserable for the sake of being miserable is when I simply can't.

It also doesn't help that the characters personalities are very narrow and even the likes of Paul Rudd, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Christina Ricci, Dave Chappelle, Gaby Hoffmann, Jay Mohr, and Guillermo Diaz can't bring much to their characters outside of their own vacuous stereotypes. On occasion, you'll hear the characters provide us with some decent conversations or some interesting twists, but for the most part, the film is firmly confined in its thin characterization, seemingly unaware that a party film may as well be shot from innocent passersby if you don't provide any humanization, especially when many actors here possess sizable names.

Keeping the film on its feet is a terrific soundtrack of hits true to the time period and excessive costume and set design, showing the eighties was all about color, expressive loudness, and everything from drugs to decorations done in excess. The color of the film and its soundtrack are the main things that kept me connected to the film, as its characters could only find ways to disconnect from me.

At times 200 Cigarettes is carefree enough to like in its lax, wholly unpretentious behavior. At other times, it's as dull as a single-man New Year's Eve partied defined by a tall bottle of Martini and Rossi champagne and a pack of cigarettes. The only memory I'll likely sustain from it is Ben Affleck's character reciting one of the best lines of his career, saying this to two young, attractive women at a bar, "how do you like your eggs in the morning, scrambled or fertilized?"

Starring: Christina Ricci, Paul Rudd, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Dave Chappelle, Guillermo Diaz, Angela Featherstone, Janeane Garofalo, Gaby Hoffmann, Kate Hudson, Courtney Love, Jay Mohr, Nicole Ari Parker, and Martha Plimpton. Directed by: Risa Bramon Garcia.