Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

TheBlueHairedLawyer I can't remember why I bought Coffee and Cigarettes; I think it was when I had an obsession with the Cigarette-Smoking Man from The X-Files. Anyway, I watched it with my sister, who immediately got bored of it because it was filmed in black and white (she's a texting nut and cellphone zombie). I loved this movie though, it introduces you to an average variety of people from different walks of life, different genders, classes, races, but they each share one thing in common: they all visit a small city coffee shop, dingy and unpopular, and most of the characters have an addiction to either coffee, cigarettes or both.As the movie goes on, the characters complain about the small problems in their lives, indulging in their addictions and sort of looking down on one another unkindly, though other characters hit it off with each other. Still, despite these characters having next to nothing in common, many of their complaints and problems in life are similar, and they aren't alone in these issues. This movie doesn't really have much of a beginning, middle or end, it's more like an artistic view of how much we take the little things in life for granted, little things like friendly service in a diner, a nice compliment, the smell of freshly-brewed coffee and lit cigarettes, so many small things we often forget and overlook.Though I'm not entirely certain, I think it may take place in the late Fifties to early Sixties, the music style, scenery and fashion shown in the movie would point in that direction. The acting was outstanding and the soundtrack was nostalgic; the black and white film choice really puts more focus on the characters than the scenery so to fully enjoy this movie, you have to focus more on the script and what is being said, as well as the facial expressions and actions of the characters, to put the movie all together. I really loved this movie and I think it definitely deserves 10/10 stars, it's nice to avoid the melodrama of romance movies, cheap jump scares of horror movies and bad effects of sci-fi movies and just watch something simple yet so complex sometimes. In the end, it leaves a lingering depression and a new view on life that maybe in the fast-paced world of the city we often forget how much life is a gift and human kindness is worth a lot more than you'd think.

blanche-2 I run hot and cold with Jim Jarmusch. His "Stranger than Paradise" is a fantastic movie - he has a quirky sense of humor that I love, and also much of "Mystery Train" is wonderful. I liked some of "Coffee and Cigarettes" and some I just didn't.This is a series of vignettes revolving around - well, coffee and cigarettes. My favorite was "Twins" which, besides being a funny segment, has a hilarious performance by Steve Buscemi. "Those Things'll Kill Ya" is also amusing, though it goes on a little long. "Strange to Meet You" stars Robert Begnini and was the first of these vignettes, filmed in 1986, and it's fun - strange, but fun."Cousins" stars the chameleon Cate Blanchett as a well-known personality who visits with her not famous and jealous cousin, also played by Cate Blanchett. This was an interesting personality study of both women, the famous one very sweet and shy, and the not famous one more out there and vocal. It's a real tour de force.Jarmusch really goes back to his student film roots here, with the black and white, simple, low class sets, and his subtle humor. For me some of the vignettes just seemed to have no point, but I think that was the point. Life discussed or happening over coffee and cigarettes can sometimes be crazy, absurd, fun -- or just ordinary.There were several posters here who claim not to know Jarmusch's work. I highly recommend both Stranger than Paradise and Mystery Train.

Terrell Howell (KnightsofNi11) The world said you can't make a movie with no plot, character story arcs, or a variety of set pieces. Jim Jarmush said nay. And so he did it, and he did it well. Coffee and Cigarettes is a very bizarre film. All it is, is a collection of vignettes that each take place in a diner, usually only have two characters conversing with one another, and coffee and cigarettes comes up in the conversation somewhere. Looking at a synopsis like this you would have to stand up, point a critical finger, and shout, "No! You can't do that!" But Jarmush proves any naysayers wrong and pulls it off extremely well.There is one basic principle that carries the entire movie and that is the diner setting with the overall coffee and cigarettes based theme. But the series of characters and scenes have such a great variety to them that it makes each separate segment enjoyable in its own off kilter way. We have all kinds of different scenes ranging from Cate Blanchett having a conversation with herself playing her cousin to Bill Murray hanging out with RZA and GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan talking about alternative medicines and the uses of nicotine. In once scene Jack and Meg White of the alternative rock band The White Stripes (one of my favorite bands of all time) stop for some coffee and a couple cigarettes while Jack shows off his tesla coil machine. We move along to Alfred Molina meeting with Steve Coogan to tell him that they're cousins. Later on we watch Iggy Pop and Tom Waits sarcastically and solemnly insult each other without even noticing it. Coffee and Cigarettes has a little bit for everyone and a whole lot to enjoy.The film may not seem like much on the surface, but underneath there is a lot of great cinematic artistry being achieved. The film can be interpreted as pointless, but in many ways that is the point. It's the paradoxical nature of this film that makes it out to be much more than it could have and even should have been. Coffee and Cigarettes shows us the mundaneness of your typical diner conversation and then gives it a lot of heart and a lot of life. It goes to show just how interesting your typical day to day conversation can be if you take a moment to slow down and have look. This idea is even eluded to in some of the dialouge. There are two instances of characters talking about their lives or their dreams whizzing by them like they are the camera of a race car driving down the Indy 500. In fact there are a lot of aspects that carry over from one segment to the next. You notice these things in retrospect, and it really binds the film together. The segments are different in subject matter but very similar in themes and subtextual meaning.There's a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Coffee and Cigarettes and you really have to put some thought into the film to notice everything about it. But on the surface there is also a lot of good going on. For one, the film is extremely funny. It has some moments that are absolutely hysterical because of the complete oddness of what is happening and the diverse characters it is happening to. You would never expect to see RZA and GZA sit down with Bill Murray and have a conversation, but here you see it and its hilarious just to think about the idea of these three talking with each other, and then the actual dialouge which transpires during their segment is hilarious. Jim Jarmush also shoots the film very well for what it's worth. There's only so much you can do when your set pieces are all small diners and camera focuses on two to three people at a time, sitting at one table. But Jarmush makes sure to keep his direction interesting without being distracting. He doesn't over direct at all and he keeps the focus solely on the actors.Coffee and Cigarettes is a fantastic film and it is unlike anything you will ever see in your life. Filmmakers don't take these kinds of risks very often so it's nice that we can find strange films that break all the rules of conventional storytelling and filmmaking. This film works on a lot of levels and is also a lot of fun to watch.

Egwin This a rather unusual series of shorts. I will review every short individually.Strange to meet you- A rather strange little segment. Wright's "dream faster" monologue is best part. Twins- Well-done, although Buscemi's fake Southern accent is awful. It will probably be funnier for those who have seen Mystery Train.Somewhere in California- Great with appealing Waits and Pop. Those Things'll Kill ya- Funny, but fairly short.Renee- Terrible. Almost no dialog, and pointless.No Problem- Pointless, but De Bankole is always good. Note: Only segment with any dialog in a foreign language (French).Cousins- Great acting from Blanchett, though overrated skit.Jack Shows Meg his Tesla coil- Bad. Unfunny and unappealing bro-sis combo. Cousins?- The best. Very funny, with a comment on modern society and its "rules". Delirium- Quite good. Wonderful combo of Murray and Wu-tang clan. Champagne- Silly, but good finale to the film. Overall, *** out of ****