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:

vignette | musician | cigarette smoking | drink in title | cult director | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA Japan Italy

Language:

English French

Release Date:

11 June 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Café e Cigarros

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

€72,167 (Italy), 14 March 2004, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$99,162, 16 May 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,971,135, 18 July 2004

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

As Jim Jarmusch, together with Tom Waits and John Lurie, is a member of the Lee Marvin look-alike club "Sons of Lee Marvin", a portrait is hanging over The White Stripes during the "Tesla" section.

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Goofs

Jack White plugs in his Tesla coil in order to show it to Meg White, but never unplugs it before pulling it away in his wagon.

Jack never plugs anything in. The cord he has in his hand is connected from the the coil to the on/off switch. Furthermore, Tesla employed the Tesla coil in his efforts to achieve wireless power transmission, and as Jack built his coil based on Tesla's original designs, he would not require the use of outside electrical current.

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Quotes

GZA: Bill Groundhog-Day, Ghostbustin'-ass Murray!

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Crazy Credits

Not the Executive Producer ... Bart Walker

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Connections

References 24 Hour Party People (2002)

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Soundtracks

Down on the Street
Written by Iggy Pop (as J. Osterberg) / Ron Asheton (as R. Asheton) / Scott Asheton (as S. Asheton) / David Alexander (as D. Alexander)
Performed by The Stooges
Published by Warner Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) o/b/o itself and Stooge-Staffel Music/Bug Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By Arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing

User Reviews

Odd concept works wonders.

An odd concept for a film, Coffee and Cigarettes can be seen as either one of two ways. On one hand a dark, clever, ingenious piece of cinema, or on the other hand a dark, clever, ingenious piece of cinema. Jarmusch has succeeded in gathering as diverse a cast as you're ever likely to see, the site of GZA, RZA, and Bill Murray waxing intellectual over smokers cough and herbal medicines is enough to interest even the most fervent sceptic of such work. Even the Cate Blanchett (whom i'm not a huge fan of) scene was so well set up and written (or improvised, who knows) that you find your self unable to turn away, so intent are you on what she has to say next. Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan are so wonderful as over blown versions of themselves, Coogan as a super arrogant celebrity and Molina as a bumbling, sweet, excitable actor. Together they form what would be the best scene of the whole film, that is if it wasn't for Iggy and Tom. Ah Iggy and Tom, such characters, such dialogue, such a beautifully surreal piece. Iggy (or Jim to his friends) is more like an over nervous school boy than an ageing rock star, and Tom is strong as the defensive perfectionist. All in all this film succeeds in what it tries to do, if you like dark surreal comedy then you'll like this. Be warned though it will give you a craving for Coffee and Cigarettes.