Rating:  -
I was expecting much more from this series of short films. More humor, more artistic expression, something. I watched until the end, hoping it would get better. It didn't. Most of the scenes were mildly entertaining, but not really worth watching for more than a few minutes.
Rating:  -
This film is a collection of eleven vignettes the cover what happens after the big meal, the calm with just the after-dinner coffee and cigarettes. This is not meant to be as satisfying as a meal, but it lets us enjoy the interaction when people just meet and share some time together to catch up (or not).
Jim Jarmusch uses an all-star cast to show us the entertainment in everyday human interaction. Although some combinations seem obvious (like Meg White and Jack White), some seem almost contradictory (like Steven Wright with Roberto Benigni), while others are simply odd (Cate Blanchett with Cate Blanchett). Regardless of the pairing, we hear recurring themes which blend the stories together as well as connect us with the stories. A viewer would be hard pressed to find a conversation that he or she hasn't heard or had before.
This is an off-beat film, but it is thoroughly enjoyable. I would recommend taking a moment to revel in our casual meetings, as shown here over coffee and cigarettes.
Rating:  -
You see names attatched to a movie such as Bill Murray, Steve Buscemi, Cate Blanchett and Alfred Molina and you think that could be a really killer combination if they did it right. Jim Jarmusch completely squanders this opportunity and instead delivers one of the biggest blights on any of these actor's resumes. What a waste of talent and film.
If I could summerize the plot for you I would, except there is no plot. It's little segments of actors, usually two to three sitting around talking about nothing in particular while drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. Usually the majority of the conversation has to do with doing so. It's as if Jarmusch just invited some friends over to a coffee house, set up a camera and rolled film just to see what would happen. "What's my motivation in this scene Jim?", "You're drinking coffee and you're smoking and whatever else pops into your head.". I can imagine that's pretty much how it happened.
Cate Blanchett acts opposite herself and was the only actor that I was interested in watching really, cause she actually acted and played a character. Most of the others just kind of showed up and didn't perform, they just improv, but it's hard to do that when you're working with no material.
Trust me, stay away from this mess. It boggles my mind that this actually got distributed in any shape or form. If there were no big names in it, you would have never heard of it and it would be better for it. You'd be better off having coffee and cigarettes with your friends. Even if you don't like coffee and don't smoke you would still have a much better time.
Rating: -
I think this set of vignettes was a great idea but fails because of a lack of real substantive creative material. The participants generally suffered from bad timing and they seemed lost. The settings were canned and awkward and sterile whereas places where people consume coffee and cigarettes are generally interesting.
I believe the creator was counting on the hipness of himself and his cool creative crowd to carry the day, but that's not a substitute for a script, or good dialogue, or having the scenes come to some kind of point or resolution.
I'll put it on when I want to fall asleep or when I need to vacuum.
Rating:  -
humor like this is so rare and so wonderful. there is no action to speak of, just conversations at tables, which lets the actors really do their stuff. it is amazing to see them work. if you need to see car crashes and explosions, this is not for you, but for those who appreciate subtle, hip comedy and fine acting it is highly recommended.
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