Can one really make a 97-minute movie, with no discernable plot, consisting of 11 short sequences of nothing but people sitting over coffee (or tea) and cigarettes? The whole premise seemed to me hopelessly smug, pretentious, and self-congratulatory. And it's not as if Coffee and Cigarettes isn't all of those things, almost to a fault. The first scene, with Roberto Benigni, is clearly the weakest, as it's clear throughout that many of the actors struggle with a lack of material. There's only so much an audience can take in awkward pauses of conversation before it wonders why it paid to watch bad improv that claims to have had a script.
But as it turns out, the film has enough enjoyable moments to make it worth seeing. Cate Blanchett's turn as herself and simultaneously her bitter cousin again proves her worth as an amazingly versatile and high-quality actress, and in itself makes the film worth renting. Bill Murray's wacky juxtaposition against RZA and GZA is an added bonus. But the touching scene at the end really brings home the nature of those aspects of life that are ephemeral and negligible, but also enjoyable and essential, like conversations over a cup of coffee (we'll pardon the director his omission of Starbucks and chai).
It's not the "existentialist masterpiece" some people think it is, but it's an okay film. See Coffee and Cigarettes (maybe with a good cup of green tea? I should never recommend coffee, or cigarettes for that matter...) on a rainy afternoon, when you're not expecting too much out of a movie.
It did have a script—or at least some of the scenes did. There was an interview with Tom Waits in which he recalled not finding the script for his section very funny.
ReplyDeleteIt's also worth noting that the scenes were filmed independently over a 15-20 year period.
I think this movie is really funny, even the first scene. Existential whatever though. I guess on the big screen, Roberto Benigni and the other guy's caffeinated jiggling is really huge and bizarre.
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