list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Coffee and Cigarettes on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Coffee_and_Cigarettes/232813/default.aspx Title: Coffee and Cigarettes
Year: 2003
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Plot: Jim Jarmusch's black-and-white feature Coffee and Cigarettes contains three vignettes originally released as short films along with separate yet somewhat related sketches. As the title suggests, most of the vignettes involve famous people smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. The first, "Coffee and Cigarettes," is a six-minute short from 1986 starring Stephen Wright and Roberto Benigni. The 1989 installment, "Memphis Version," stars Steve Buscemi, Joie Lee, and Cinqué Lee. The award-winning 1993 segment, "Somewhere in California," stars musicians Iggy Pop and Tom Waits. The remaining sketches include Cate Blanchett performing a duel role, a conversation with Bill Murray and members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and Alfred Molina and British television actor Steve Coogan as themselves. In its full-length version form, Coffee and Cigarettes was shown at the 2003 Venice Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 29
Number of Lists: 26
Number of blog posts: 3
Number of discussion threads: 6
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:20:57 GMTCoffee and Cigarettes2003Jim Jarmusch<a href="/players/P____95892/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jim Jarmusch</a>'s black-and-white feature Coffee and Cigarettes contains three vignettes originally released as short films along with separate yet somewhat related sketches. As the title suggests, most of the vignettes involve famous people smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. The first, "Coffee and Cigarettes," is a six-minute short from 1986 starring Stephen Wright and <a href="/players/P____81377/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Roberto Benigni</a>. The 1989 installment, "Memphis Version," stars <a href="/players/P_____9838/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Steve Buscemi</a>, <a href="/players/P____41425/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Joie Lee</a>, and Cinqué Lee. The award-winning 1993 segment, "Somewhere in California," stars musicians <a href="/players/P____57341/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Iggy Pop</a> and <a href="/players/P___115730/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Tom Waits</a>. The remaining sketches include <a href="/players/P___215038/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Cate Blanchett</a> performing a duel role, a conversation with <a href="/players/P___103861/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Bill Murray</a> and members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and <a href="/players/P____49914/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Alfred Molina</a> and British television actor <a href="/players/P___134980/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Steve Coogan</a> as themselves. In its full-length version form, Coffee and Cigarettes was shown at the 2003 Venice Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide29Tag Target (>10)26363http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t47612ldryo.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Coffee_and_Cigarettes/232813/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jim_Jar/657/42041/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 5/5/2009 3:30:01 PM
Body: Out of the films I've seen (Broken Flowers, Stranger Than Paradise & Coffee and Cigarettes) I'd have to go with Coffee and Cigarettes. I was never a coffee drinker or social smoker until I got to college and got swept up in the whole late night coffee shop study group session culture that I'm sure every college town has. After graduating, I swore off espresso as my addiction had gotten completely out of control (at my worst I was drinking a good 16 shots a night) which led to countless nights of insomnia. Thankfully I've learned to control my urge for espresso and have once again returned to my local coffee shops where I can now enjoy a single Americano and utilize the free Wi-Fi to do all my internet workings. With that said, Coffee and Cigarettes was the only Jarmusch film that I could really get in to. The meandering conversations of pseudo-intellectuals about this and that in the dark, smoky corners of java huts was instantly relatable.
]]>Tue, 05 May 2009 19:30:01 GMTmercurialMovie Polls5/5/2009 3:30:01 PMOut of the films I've seen (Broken Flowers, Stranger Than Paradise &amp; Coffee and Cigarettes) I'd have to go with Coffee and Cigarettes. I was never a coffee drinker or social smoker until I got to college and got swept up in the whole late night coffee shop study group session culture that I'm sure every college town has. After graduating, I swore off espresso as my addiction had gotten completely out of control (at my worst I was drinking a good 16 shots a night) which led to countless nights of insomnia. Thankfully I've learned to control my urge for espresso and have once again returned to my local coffee shops where I can now enjoy a single Americano and utilize the free Wi-Fi to do all my internet workings. With that said, Coffee and Cigarettes was the only Jarmusch film that I could really get in to. The meandering conversations of pseudo-intellectuals about this and that in the dark, smoky corners of java huts was instantly relatable. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jim_Jarmus/657/42037/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 5/5/2009 1:56:36 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Jim Jarmusch's latest release The Limits of Control is having a limit release very shortly here. I'm quite excited to see it as Jarmusch is one of my very favorite directors. I'm curious to see what he does in the thriller genre. Another of my fovorite directors Hal Hartley who sometimes gets thrown in similar categories as Jarmusch did a fantastic job with his take on the genre with the recent Fay Grim, so I have some hope. Anyone else here a big Jarmusch fan? Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Broken FlowersCoffee and CigarettesDead ManDown By LawGhost Dog: The Way of the SamuraiMystery TrainNight on EarthPermanent VacationStranger Than ParadiseYear of the Horse
]]>Tue, 05 May 2009 17:56:36 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls5/5/2009 1:56:36 PMPlease reference this thread for the rules of this group. Jim Jarmusch's latest release The Limits of Control is having a limit release very shortly here. I'm quite excited to see it as Jarmusch is one of my very favorite directors. I'm curious to see what he does in the thriller genre. Another of my fovorite directors Hal Hartley who sometimes gets thrown in similar categories as Jarmusch did a fantastic job with his take on the genre with the recent Fay Grim, so I have some hope. Anyone else here a big Jarmusch fan? Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Broken FlowersCoffee and CigarettesDead ManDown By LawGhost Dog: The Way of the SamuraiMystery TrainNight on EarthPermanent VacationStranger Than ParadiseYear of the Horse http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_major_Bill_Murray_role_ou/657/37824/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Smooth_J
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 12/1/2008 8:13:29 PM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] I put my 2 cents in for Steve Zissou but I'd like to give an honorable mention to Bill Murray playing Bill Mutha F$%^$in Groundhog Day Ghostbustin' Murray (himself) in the best part of Coffee and Cigarrettes. [/quote] Haha. "Yous a caffeine junkie mayn!" I had to pick Life Aquatic a) because I wasn't a huge fan of Lost in Translation, although Murray was excellent, and b) because Garfield was a travesty and I haven't seen any of the others (I'm working on Broken Flowers as I slowly make my way through Jarmush's repertoir). Even so, Murray's performance as Zissou was perfect, from his initial stony immaturity to his emotional final encounter with the jaguar shark (one of Wes Anderson's best scenes). Anderson's movies are perfect for both Murray's deadpan comedy and his obvious dramatic acting abilities...however, his best performance ever came before Life Aquatic, in Rushmore.
]]>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:13:29 GMTSmooth_JMovie Polls12/1/2008 8:13:29 PM [quote user="leeroy711"] I put my 2 cents in for Steve Zissou but I'd like to give an honorable mention to Bill Murray playing Bill Mutha F$%^$in Groundhog Day Ghostbustin' Murray (himself) in the best part of Coffee and Cigarrettes. [/quote] Haha. "Yous a caffeine junkie mayn!" I had to pick Life Aquatic a) because I wasn't a huge fan of Lost in Translation, although Murray was excellent, and b) because Garfield was a travesty and I haven't seen any of the others (I'm working on Broken Flowers as I slowly make my way through Jarmush's repertoir). Even so, Murray's performance as Zissou was perfect, from his initial stony immaturity to his emotional final encounter with the jaguar shark (one of Wes Anderson's best scenes). Anderson's movies are perfect for both Murray's deadpan comedy and his obvious dramatic acting abilities...however, his best performance ever came before Life Aquatic, in Rushmore. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_major_Bill_Murray_role_ou/657/37817/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 12/1/2008 6:45:03 PM
Body: [quote user="leeroy711"] I put my 2 cents in for Steve Zissou but I'd like to give an honorable mention to Bill Murray playing Bill Mutha F$%^$in Groundhog Day Ghostbustin' Murray (himself) in the best part of Coffee and Cigarrettes. [/quote] Quite right Leeroy. I tried to pick more major film roles for the options available, but Bill playing himself (to some extent) in that film was one of my most favorite of his somewhat recent film appearances.
]]>Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:45:03 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls12/1/2008 6:45:03 PM[quote user="leeroy711"] I put my 2 cents in for Steve Zissou but I'd like to give an honorable mention to Bill Murray playing Bill Mutha F$%^$in Groundhog Day Ghostbustin' Murray (himself) in the best part of Coffee and Cigarrettes. [/quote] Quite right Leeroy. I tried to pick more major film roles for the options available, but Bill playing himself (to some extent) in that film was one of my most favorite of his somewhat recent film appearances. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_major_Bill_Murray_role_ou/657/37814/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 12/1/2008 6:04:07 PM
Body: I put my 2 cents in for Steve Zissou but I'd like to give an honorable mention to Bill Murray playing Bill Mutha F$%^$in Groundhog Day Ghostbustin' Murray (himself) in the best part of Coffee and Cigarrettes.
]]>Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:04:07 GMTleeroy711Movie Polls12/1/2008 6:04:07 PMI put my 2 cents in for Steve Zissou but I'd like to give an honorable mention to Bill Murray playing Bill Mutha F$%^$in Groundhog Day Ghostbustin' Murray (himself) in the best part of Coffee and Cigarrettes. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/10/20/36532.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 10/20/2008 6:00:27 PM
Body: This is the first in what will be a series of posts examining the artistic life cycles of Oscar winners who failed to find continued mainstream success after taking home the statuette. If you have suggestions for stars or filmmakers that you’d like to see profiled, let us know in the comments. Roberto Benigni swang from general obscurity in the United States to media darling following his Academy Award for Life Is Beautiful. But what’s happened to him since? He was only the second filmmaker since Sir Laurence Olivier to direct himself in an Oscar-winning performance. That’s a long way to go for someone who had only been seen here in Blake Edwards’ terrible Son of the Pink Panther and as a sex-obsessed cabbie in Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth. While we love the underdog success story, we also love the fall from grace, and we’re in search of the crater that Benigni must have left somewhere. Benigni was poised to become an Italian Spielberg (if Spielberg appeared in his own movies) after Life is Beautiful, but in the five years after winning the Oscar, he only appeared as an actor in the comic book adaptation Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar. That film was never even seen in American theaters, and only an import version of the DVD is available to order. Since then, he’s appeared in a one tiny role, and directed himself in two flops that failed to connect with audiences or critics, and is now touring in a one-man show based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. The comic actor didn’t return to the other side of the camera until 2002’s live-action Pinocchio, which has the dreaded distinction of being both the most expensive Italian film ever made, and one of its biggest critical failures. It grossed just over three and a half million dollars in the States, a far cry from Life’s $57 million. Critics said that the film had wonderful sets and costumes, but that no one could swallow Benigni in the role of a little puppet boy who wishes to be real. Especially since he was 50 years old at the time. But can one enormous flop really turn audiences off for good? With Benigni it’s more of a case of the curtain being drawn back to reveal The Wizard, and The Wizard not being what he’s cracked up to be. Benigni’s followup to Pinocchio was 2006’s The Tiger and the Snow, a comedy about an Italian poet stuck behind enemy lines during the Iraq war. The film received some of the worst reviews of the year. Jeannette Catsoulis at the New York Times said, “Roberto Benigni’s film is a scorching affront to Italians, Iraqis and the intelligence of movie audiences everywhere.” Prior to that, Benigni was in 2003’s Jarmusch’s short film mashup Coffee and Cigarettes, which oddly pairs him with narcoleptic comedian Steven Wright, although both of them seem highly caffeinated in this scene. This scene had been filmed as a short in 1986, and it’s a big departure from his dialogue heavy role as the chatty taxi driver in Night On Earth. In Coffee, he just looks manic and nervous, and check out that hairstyle. For someone as chatty and witty as Benigni seems to be, he’s fairly silent in this clip. Looks like a bad day at the Improv. A few years before Life is Beautiful, Benigni starred in Blake Edwards’ last theatrical film (to date) in an attempt to reboot the Pink Panther series. Despite Benigni’s pratfalls and enormous smile, it failed with audiences and critics, and mostly just underscored the fact that Peter Sellers was no longer with us. How they could possibly be making a sequel to Steve Martin’s The Pink Panther is still beyond me. Regardless, Son has been relegated to this discard bin, and is not considered part of the official Panther canon and has quietly been swept under the rug. What’s interesting is the fact that Benigni’s early Italian television career is just as colorful as some of his roles. He starred in a television show called Onda Libera, where he sang a hymn about the joys of defecation entitled “L’inno del corpo sciolto,” which was later censored. He’s also been a constant political figure in Italy as well, publicly criticizing the former Pope (which was also censored) and demonstrating for the Italian Communist Party. His outspoken nature and eccentric acting style brought him a lot of infamy in Italy, and before long he was starring in feature films, including 1985’s Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he plays a modern day schoolteacher who time travels to the 15th century and plays cards with Leonardo da Vinci while trying to keep Columbus from discovering America. He starred in more than a dozen films from 1977 until Jarmusch put him in a short segment in Coffee and Cigarettes in 1986, just before giving him a larger role in Down By Law, which is still his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes. So what is this Oscar winning actor/director doing now? For the past few years since directing and starring in The Tiger and the Snow he’s been starring in TuttoDante on stages across Europe. It’s a one-man show based on The Divine Comedy, and is supposed to be coming to America next year. It wouldn’t be surprising if he tries to make a feature film out of it. But would audiences even turn out for it? Based on his quickly plummeting box office appeal, it’s doubtful. Benigni was once hailed by the press as an Italian Charlie Chaplin, but it’s a name he hasn’t lived up to. Not to slight Life is Beautiful, which is a very touching film and Benigni’s performance is endearing, but he’s a one-note actor who thrives on slapstick comedy. Audiences quickly tired of repeated gags and pratfalls, and he was left exposed like the Emperor in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Studios didn’t want to dismiss him so quickly, since surely someone who has won an Oscar knows what they’re doing, but Pinocchio and The Tiger and the Snow both show that he was probably highly overrated as a director. Perhaps he needs to work with Jarmusch again, or try more serious roles. Although for a terrific example of Benigni’s comedy in a darker setting, go rent his 1994 movie The Monster, which is probably one of the funniest films about a serial killer you’ll ever see. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:27 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com10/20/2008 6:00:27 PM This is the first in what will be a series of posts examining the artistic life cycles of Oscar winners who failed to find continued mainstream success after taking home the statuette. If you have suggestions for stars or filmmakers that you’d like to see profiled, let us know in the comments. Roberto Benigni swang from general obscurity in the United States to media darling following his Academy Award for Life Is Beautiful. But what’s happened to him since? He was only the second filmmaker since Sir Laurence Olivier to direct himself in an Oscar-winning performance. That’s a long way to go for someone who had only been seen here in Blake Edwards’ terrible Son of the Pink Panther and as a sex-obsessed cabbie in Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth. While we love the underdog success story, we also love the fall from grace, and we’re in search of the crater that Benigni must have left somewhere. Benigni was poised to become an Italian Spielberg (if Spielberg appeared in his own movies) after Life is Beautiful, but in the five years after winning the Oscar, he only appeared as an actor in the comic book adaptation Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar. That film was never even seen in American theaters, and only an import version of the DVD is available to order. Since then, he’s appeared in a one tiny role, and directed himself in two flops that failed to connect with audiences or critics, and is now touring in a one-man show based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. The comic actor didn’t return to the other side of the camera until 2002’s live-action Pinocchio, which has the dreaded distinction of being both the most expensive Italian film ever made, and one of its biggest critical failures. It grossed just over three and a half million dollars in the States, a far cry from Life’s $57 million. Critics said that the film had wonderful sets and costumes, but that no one could swallow Benigni in the role of a little puppet boy who wishes to be real. Especially since he was 50 years old at the time. But can one enormous flop really turn audiences off for good? With Benigni it’s more of a case of the curtain being drawn back to reveal The Wizard, and The Wizard not being what he’s cracked up to be. Benigni’s followup to Pinocchio was 2006’s The Tiger and the Snow, a comedy about an Italian poet stuck behind enemy lines during the Iraq war. The film received some of the worst reviews of the year. Jeannette Catsoulis at the New York Times said, “Roberto Benigni’s film is a scorching affront to Italians, Iraqis and the intelligence of movie audiences everywhere.” Prior to that, Benigni was in 2003’s Jarmusch’s short film mashup Coffee and Cigarettes, which oddly pairs him with narcoleptic comedian Steven Wright, although both of them seem highly caffeinated in this scene. This scene had been filmed as a short in 1986, and it’s a big departure from his dialogue heavy role as the chatty taxi driver in Night On Earth. In Coffee, he just looks manic and nervous, and check out that hairstyle. For someone as chatty and witty as Benigni seems to be, he’s fairly silent in this clip. Looks like a bad day at the Improv. A few years before Life is Beautiful, Benigni starred in Blake Edwards’ last theatrical film (to date) in an attempt to reboot the Pink Panther series. Despite Benigni’s pratfalls and enormous smile, it failed with audiences and critics, and mostly just underscored the fact that Peter Sellers was no longer with us. How they could possibly be making a sequel to Steve Martin’s The Pink Panther is still beyond me. Regardless, Son has been relegated to this discard bin, and is not considered part of the official Panther canon and has quietly been swept under the rug. What’s interesting is the fact that Benigni’s early Italian television career is just as colorful as some of his roles. He starred in a television show called Onda Libera, where he sang a hymn about the joys of defecation entitled “L’inno del corpo sciolto,” which was later censored. He’s also been a constant political figure in Italy as well, publicly criticizing the former Pope (which was also censored) and demonstrating for the Italian Communist Party. His outspoken nature and eccentric acting style brought him a lot of infamy in Italy, and before long he was starring in feature films, including 1985’s Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he plays a modern day schoolteacher who time travels to the 15th century and plays cards with Leonardo da Vinci while trying to keep Columbus from discovering America. He starred in more than a dozen films from 1977 until Jarmusch put him in a short segment in Coffee and Cigarettes in 1986, just before giving him a larger role in Down By Law, which is still his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes. So what is this Oscar winning actor/director doing now? For the past few years since directing and starring in The Tiger and the Snow he’s been starring in TuttoDante on stages across Europe. It’s a one-man show based on The Divine Comedy, and is supposed to be coming to America next year. It wouldn’t be surprising if he tries to make a feature film out of it. But would audiences even turn out for it? Based on his quickly plummeting box office appeal, it’s doubtful. Benigni was once hailed by the press as an Italian Charlie Chaplin, but it’s a name he hasn’t lived up to. Not to slight Life is Beautiful, which is a very touching film and Benigni’s performance is endearing, but he’s a one-note actor who thrives on slapstick comedy. Audiences quickly tired of repeated gags and pratfalls, and he was left exposed like the Emperor in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Studios didn’t want to dismiss him so quickly, since surely someone who has won an Oscar knows what they’re doing, but Pinocchio and The Tiger and the Snow both show that he was probably highly overrated as a director. Perhaps he needs to work with Jarmusch again, or try more serious roles. Although for a terrific example of Benigni’s comedy in a darker setting, go rent his 1994 movie The Monster, which is probably one of the funniest films about a serial killer you’ll ever see. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2008/7/7/32202.aspx Post By: pippin06
Post To: Reel Thoughts
Post Date: 7/7/2008 12:11:33 AM
Body: This week's Netflix entry featured a small respite from the AFI Project (to be continued shortly). I have no idea in retrospect why I thought I wanted to watch this movie. To be fair, this is the first Jim Jarmusch film I think I've watched (or consciously watched), and I'm feeling that, perhaps, I shouldn't have started with this one. Perhaps, I was supposed to think this was a quirky, artsy little film that celebrates both the art of conversation and simple pleasures, like a cup of joe and a ciggy. I suppose, on the one hand, it was that, but on the other hand, it was really an uneven collage of vignettes that left me just a bit sleepy. Coffee and Cigarettes are the ties that bind several vignettes featuring random famous people talking, smoking, and sipping coffee - unless the people are British, and then they prefer tea. Or, unless they're the Wu-Tang Clan, and then they prefer herbal refreshments of all kinds. Some of the vignettes work: I think my favorites were Cate Blanchett, playing herself, talking to her supposed ne'er-do-well cousin, also played by Cate; the scene in which Alfred Molina tries to convince Steve Coogan that they are distant cousins who should hang out; and the scene in which Wu-Tang has a conversation with a delirious Bill Murray. I also liked the scene with Iggy Pop and Tom Waits in a diner where the juke box has none of either artist's music and the scene featuring Jack and Meg White of the White Stripes, only because that appearance was something of a novelty. Still, the other vignettes I didn't mention really didn't work for me or left me slightly on the bored side. None of the vignettes have any real point, seemingly, other than to remark on the absurd while attempting to remain casually conversational. There are ties that bind, little nuggets common to all of the stories other than the caffeine and nicotine, but those drugs of choice are the main affair. I'd like to say that I thought the whole thing was witty and original and clever. I guess I'd think that if: a) The movie wasn't so erratic. The movie took a half hour to get engaging because the first few vignettes, featuring the likes of Roberto Benigni, Steven Wright, and Steve Buscemi, among others, are awkward, and the early conversations seemed more pointless than the average pointlessness of the other conversations. b) The movie wasn't so seemingly caught up in itself. I'm sorry, but there were times when I thought the whole thing was too tritely contrived and a little pretentious. I'm all for cerebral and absurd, I'm a Monty Python fan, after all. I just felt that some parts of the movie tried too hard, and while that may actually have been the point, on occasion, this quality actually annoyed me. c) The whole conversational movie in black and white hadn't been done before, and by a director of less artistic repute. This movie, ironically, reminded me of Clerks: pages and pages of dialogue in a fixed setting or settings, very east coast in feel, absurd situations mined for whatever awkward comedy they can produce, shot in seedy locations for the whole independent vibe of the thing. Sorry, Jim, but Kevin Smith's vehicle actually left me laughing. The only vignettes I laughed at of yours were the ones I listed above as my favorites. Filmmaking-wise, it was an independent effort, and low budget entertainment was no doubt the aim of the picture in keeping with the apparent themes. Still, nothing spectacular jumped out at me as being particularly wonderful, except I did like the use of the lighting in the White Stripes piece, especially since it related to that Tesla gizmo I can't remember the name of 30 minutes later. All in all, perhaps I missed the point, but I really just found this film kind of mediocre in every way. In fact, I find it so mediocre, I give it a 5. I wasn't even entertained enough to think it was cute. And hey, I love dialogue driven movies, don't get me wrong. I'm just wondering if the fact that I don't smoke and practically never drink coffee might have something to do with my less-than-amused take on this film. In any event, it fails the test. I couldn't give it another 96 minutes. The film just didn't hold my interest for any length of time, and considering that it was a collage of short films, that's saying something.
]]>Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:11:33 GMTpippin06Reel Thoughts7/7/2008 12:11:33 AMThis week's Netflix entry featured a small respite from the AFI Project (to be continued shortly). I have no idea in retrospect why I thought I wanted to watch this movie. To be fair, this is the first Jim Jarmusch film I think I've watched (or consciously watched), and I'm feeling that, perhaps, I shouldn't have started with this one. Perhaps, I was supposed to think this was a quirky, artsy little film that celebrates both the art of conversation and simple pleasures, like a cup of joe and a ciggy. I suppose, on the one hand, it was that, but on the other hand, it was really an uneven collage of vignettes that left me just a bit sleepy. Coffee and Cigarettes are the ties that bind several vignettes featuring random famous people talking, smoking, and sipping coffee - unless the people are British, and then they prefer tea. Or, unless they're the Wu-Tang Clan, and then they prefer herbal refreshments of all kinds. Some of the vignettes work: I think my favorites were Cate Blanchett, playing herself, talking to her supposed ne'er-do-well cousin, also played by Cate; the scene in which Alfred Molina tries to convince Steve Coogan that they are distant cousins who should hang out; and the scene in which Wu-Tang has a conversation with a delirious Bill Murray. I also liked the scene with Iggy Pop and Tom Waits in a diner where the juke box has none of either artist's music and the scene featuring Jack and Meg White of the White Stripes, only because that appearance was something of a novelty. Still, the other vignettes I didn't mention really didn't work for me or left me slightly on the bored side. None of the vignettes have any real point, seemingly, other than to remark on the absurd while attempting to remain casually conversational. There are ties that bind, little nuggets common to all of the stories other than the caffeine and nicotine, but those drugs of choice are the main affair. I'd like to say that I thought the whole thing was witty and original and clever. I guess I'd think that if: a) The movie wasn't so erratic. The movie took a half hour to get engaging because the first few vignettes, featuring the likes of Roberto Benigni, Steven Wright, and Steve Buscemi, among others, are awkward, and the early conversations seemed more pointless than the average pointlessness of the other conversations. b) The movie wasn't so seemingly caught up in itself. I'm sorry, but there were times when I thought the whole thing was too tritely contrived and a little pretentious. I'm all for cerebral and absurd, I'm a Monty Python fan, after all. I just felt that some parts of the movie tried too hard, and while that may actually have been the point, on occasion, this quality actually annoyed me. c) The whole conversational movie in black and white hadn't been done before, and by a director of less artistic repute. This movie, ironically, reminded me of Clerks: pages and pages of dialogue in a fixed setting or settings, very east coast in feel, absurd situations mined for whatever awkward comedy they can produce, shot in seedy locations for the whole independent vibe of the thing. Sorry, Jim, but Kevin Smith's vehicle actually left me laughing. The only vignettes I laughed at of yours were the ones I listed above as my favorites. Filmmaking-wise, it was an independent effort, and low budget entertainment was no doubt the aim of the picture in keeping with the apparent themes. Still, nothing spectacular jumped out at me as being particularly wonderful, except I did like the use of the lighting in the White Stripes piece, especially since it related to that Tesla gizmo I can't remember the name of 30 minutes later. All in all, perhaps I missed the point, but I really just found this film kind of mediocre in every way. In fact, I find it so mediocre, I give it a 5. I wasn't even entertained enough to think it was cute. And hey, I love dialogue driven movies, don't get me wrong. I'm just wondering if the fact that I don't smoke and practically never drink coffee might have something to do with my less-than-amused take on this film. In any event, it fails the test. I couldn't give it another 96 minutes. The film just didn't hold my interest for any length of time, and considering that it was a collage of short films, that's saying something. http://www.spout.com/blogs/azguki/archive/2007/5/8/8398.aspx Post By: azguki
Post To: azguki Blog
Post Date: 5/8/2007 4:04:57 AM
Body: This movie is worth seeing just for the scene where Iggy Pop and Tom Waits sit down in a little bar to drink coffee and talk about how they've quit smoking. Absolutely hysterical. I love these guys. Did anyone else see where Iggy Pop went stage-diving for his 60th birthday. A rockstar to make Mick Jagger jealous!!
]]>Tue, 08 May 2007 08:04:57 GMTazgukiazguki Blog5/8/2007 4:04:57 AM This movie is worth seeing just for the scene where Iggy Pop and Tom Waits sit down in a little bar to drink coffee and talk about how they&#39;ve quit smoking. Absolutely hysterical. I love these guys. Did anyone else see where Iggy Pop went stage-diving for his 60th birthday. A rockstar to make Mick Jagger jealous!! http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Top_5_black_and_white_movies_made_after_1970/190/3430/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 10/25/2006 12:44:39 PM
Body: What are your favorite black and white films made after a time when color had become the norm? Since I'm not sure exactly when that was (that could be an interesting thing to discuss here as well), I'm going to say 1970. I can actually think of a lot more than 5, so I'm going to say more than that, but I think that's fair and allowable. 1. I'm clumping all of Jim Jarmusch's B&W films together, which is nearly half of them I think: Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, Dead Man, Coffee and Cigarettes. 2. The Man Who Wasn't There. The Coen brothers' tribute to film noir. 3. The Elephant Man. My favorite Lynch film (even though I've only seen three). 4. Ed Wood. It HAD to be in B&W. 5. OK, I can't pick 5, so these all tie for 5th. Clerks, Pi, Young Frankenstein, Raging Bull, Following, Good Night, and Good Luck. Ok, I have a few more I'd like to mention, but I'll hold off for some discussion. There are several that I'm expecting a lot of people to list.
]]>Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:44:39 GMTRisseladaTop 510/25/2006 12:44:39 PMWhat are your favorite black and white films made after a time when color had become the norm? Since I'm not sure exactly when that was (that could be an interesting thing to discuss here as well), I'm going to say 1970. I can actually think of a lot more than 5, so I'm going to say more than that, but I think that's fair and allowable. 1. I'm clumping all of Jim Jarmusch's B&amp;W films together, which is nearly half of them I think: Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, Dead Man, Coffee and Cigarettes. 2. The Man Who Wasn't There. The Coen brothers' tribute to film noir. 3. The Elephant Man. My favorite Lynch film (even though I've only seen three). 4. Ed Wood. It HAD to be in B&amp;W. 5. OK, I can't pick 5, so these all tie for 5th. Clerks, Pi, Young Frankenstein, Raging Bull, Following, Good Night, and Good Luck. Ok, I have a few more I'd like to mention, but I'll hold off for some discussion. There are several that I'm expecting a lot of people to list. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/hilarious/MemberTagFilms.aspxhilarious
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