"Coffee and Cigarettes" (2003) - Movie Review

What more can any one ask for a title? The two conversational catalysts which can make the most uneventful dry topic last for eternity. The movie having the right tones and talented performers does appeal in couple of segments. The film has eleven segments each of which goes over of course, with Coffee and Cigarettes which are directed by Jim Jarmusch. The film does not have plot. It is a casual talk and strange incidents surrounding couple of people over the table. Hence it may be sullen some time where in totally neurotic in the other. As a whole the movie does not appeal as the title promises but there are certainly good segments.

The top class segment of all the eleven would be Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan conversation. It is amazing how in those ten to fifteen minutes, they got a small teeny winy plot. Then they had the twist in the end of that segment. But the whole of it is so extremely funny and interesting is due to the performance of Molina and Coogan. The funny and darkish thing about it is the way the frankness and uncomfortable nature has been shown. They play themselves and with the ego and current trend of their competitiveness it is something unusual in their behaviour. I do not know how I would react if some totally strange person from work comes and says that we are related. I will be surprised but would I seriously want to consider his relationship based on that? I guess in one of the episodes of “Seinfeld”, the character Elaine says that there are too many people in her life to involve and she does not need one more. The conversation is in a funny way though. But would it go out here? I don’t know but majority of us are strange to strangeness. A sudden attention out of the blues from a person and what would go through any one’s mind. Is he trying to sell me something? Or is he in need of money? Some times true offering of friendship is always the most suspected one. This particular segment really brings those in total comical manner. A definite winner of the eleven.

The next close thing is the segment of Cate Blanchett having her conversation with her cousin which again is played by Blanchett herself. So there is one is herself and the other her cousin who is envious about her movie star cousin’s life. There is a sense of connection between the segments of Molina and Coogan with Cate’s. Apart from the commonality of the two characters being related, there is the “suspicion” having the bridge. Cate is brilliant as her cousin. While she acknowledges the fact of the movie star seeing her but at the same time does not believe in it. She believes that her cousin is rubbing salt over her wounded wretched failed life. The whole conversation with her becomes an argument of whose better in the silliest things. Enviously Funny.

Apart from the two, there are nine other which are either slow or unnecessarily boring. It does not bring out the required importance of the factor of using the amazing feature of Coffee and Cigarettes. Take the example of the segment “Renée”, there is not much of events happening apart from a waiter trying to shyly hit on his customer. It does not seem funny and it is truly ordinary. Similarly some of the segments seem artificial and not properly orchestrated. “Those Things'll Kill Ya” is one of them. The characters say lot of “f” word and that does not induce comic or for that matter any nature of interest at all. The movie’s starting episode is another strange abstract sequence. There is no existence to create a sense of attachment of each segment to the other. The theme is the only thing which connects each of them. A strange connection of people’s behaviour is in between the “Cousins” and “Cousins?”, but it rarely gets replicated in others. This connection sort of failed even the good ones in it. “Somewhere in California” is something like that.

The movie state in most of the segments as how unhealthy it is to have coffee and cigarettes and also finds answers over it too. That seems clever. But the problem with the film as a whole is the ride is an uneven road. And unfortunately there are lots of bumps than nice clean one.

The style is interesting though. Black and white photography with most of the characters playing themselves is different. The movie since taking the form of having segments should have dwelled in to the discussion of arranging it. It is like compiling for an album. The way of putting the songs in order is critical. This movie is a compilation too. The compilation has couple of good songs but as a whole, a mediocre album/movie.