Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

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

Director:

Jim Jarmusch

Writer:

Jim Jarmusch

Stars:

Bill Murray, Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni

2 wins & 9 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	...	Danny (segment "Twins")
Iggy Pop	...	Iggy (segment "Somewhere in California")
Tom Waits	...	Tom (segment "Somewhere in California")
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

Eleven separate vignettes are presented. In each, celebrities, playing semi-fictionalized versions of themselves (with the exception of the characters of various wait staff, and one actor playing a lookalike cousin of herself), meet in a food service establishment with coffee/tea and cigarettes involved. Beyond the topic of discussion that brought them together, they often talk directly about coffee and cigarettes, more often that coffee and cigarettes, and by association caffeine and nicotine, are not healthy, especially if they are the only things constituting lunch. Other recurring themes include the Lee family, cousinhood, celebrity worship, the connection between the medical and musical careers, and Nikola Tesla's belief that the Earth is a conductor of acoustic resonance. In all cases, the coming together for coffee/tea and smokes acts as a bridge to overcome disagreements, and/or makes uncomfortable situations less uncomfortable.

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Plot Keywords:

musician | vignette | addiction | restaurant | cafe | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

0

Did You Know?

Trivia

Because they are very health-conscious, RZA and The GZA (credited as GZA) do not drink coffee. So they are drinking tea in the film.

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Goofs

There are numerous continuity errors in positions of items on the table throughout the movie. Coffee jugs disappear (Twins), cigarettes disappear from ashtrays (No Problem), cigarette packets move around (Somewhere in California). Cigarette lengths and coffee levels also vary.

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Quotes

Jack: Well, Nikola Tesla invented fluorescent light. Without him we wouldn't have alternating current, radio, television... x-ray technology... induction motors, particle beams, lasers; none of that would even exist if it weren't for him.
Meg: [sarcastically] Hmm, or the rock band Tesla.
Jack: [visibly dispirited] Funny.

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Crazy Credits

The credits end with a list of the historical, scientific, musical, and cinema-related figures that are mentioned or referenced throughout the film: "RESPECT TO: Nikola Tesla, Otis Blackwell, Junior Parker, Elvis Presley, Jesse Garon Presley, Lee Marvin, Henry Silva, Giant Robo, Heckle & Jeckle, Abbott & Costello, Vivienne Westwood, Spike Jonze, Spike Lee, Sam Mendes, PT Anderson, Michael Winterbottom, Harold Ramis, Gary Goldberg, Ghostface Killa, Old Dirty Bastard and the rock band Tesla...in a way..." After this list it closes with the memorial: "LONG LIVE JOE STRUMMER!"

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Connections

Referenced in Das Leben ist keine Autobahn (2011)

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Soundtracks

Fantazias for the Viols
Written by Henry Purcell
Performed by Fretwork
Courtesy of EMI Classics
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

No tea and biscuits

Short films with nonsense dialogue of shifting dignity. Lots of self irony or even self sarcasm. Tom Waits is mocking with Iggy Pop in a way that it's hard to believe they ever can talk to each other again. Bill Murray is pulling the leg of the hip hop movement and the movement finds that funny. Cate Blanchett is on a genial level playing the double part of the filmstar and her jealous cousin.

Jim Jarmusch can't be beaten. The dialogue seems to be mostly improvised, but the concept is not. Every short chapter here has a meaning and gives us something to think about. The films are in black and white, like coffee and cigarettes and that still is, and will always be, a way of pushing things harder. This is very much comedy and very much serious.

Details

Country:

USA Japan Italy

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 August 2004 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Café e Cigarros

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$99,162, 16 May 2004

Gross USA:

$2,198,924

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,929,307

Company Credits

Production Co:

Asmik Ace Entertainment, BIM Distribuzione, Smokescreen Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1