11th July 2007
Coffee and Cigarettes
Jim Jarmusch, 2004
Coffee and Cigarettes is a black and white movie comprising of eleven short films with nothing in common except they somehow involve coffee and cigarettes. The film came out in 2004, but the first few scenes were filmed as far back and 1986. When I saw this film a few months ago, I was drawn to its monochromatic, vintage look and its well-observed humour in a myriad of different conversations with often very dissimilar and conflicting characters. This film points out the social event that has sprung from spending time drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes and it becomes immediately apparent to the viewer that these two things serve a purpose far more cultural than nutrition or addiction.
The film boasts an eclectic cast of high calibre actors and musicians from Roberto Benigni, Cate Blanchett and Steve Buscemi to The White Stripes, Iggy Pop and Tom Waites, and even though some scenes may appear unremarkable, all capture Jarmusch’s, well-observed realism and gritty wit as shown in films such as 'Broken Flowers'.
Coffee and Cigarettes
Jim Jarmusch, 2004
Coffee and Cigarettes is a black and white movie comprising of eleven short films with nothing in common except they somehow involve coffee and cigarettes. The film came out in 2004, but the first few scenes were filmed as far back and 1986. When I saw this film a few months ago, I was drawn to its monochromatic, vintage look and its well-observed humour in a myriad of different conversations with often very dissimilar and conflicting characters. This film points out the social event that has sprung from spending time drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes and it becomes immediately apparent to the viewer that these two things serve a purpose far more cultural than nutrition or addiction.
The film boasts an eclectic cast of high calibre actors and musicians from Roberto Benigni, Cate Blanchett and Steve Buscemi to The White Stripes, Iggy Pop and Tom Waites, and even though some scenes may appear unremarkable, all capture Jarmusch’s, well-observed realism and gritty wit as shown in films such as 'Broken Flowers'.
Storylines vary from the humouress to the banal. We see an overly caffeinated Robert Benigni, with his coffee cup shaking in his hand, Steve Buscemi tells an uninterested brother and sister his twin-Elvis theory and Bill Murray drinking coffee straight from the pot after being told that it causes delirium.
As well as the natural dialogue, what really appealed to me about this film was its sense of style. The black and white nature of the film gives it an almost classic feel. An effect I particularly liked was the use of ariel shots of the different coffee tables in each scene, creating an interesting comparison between how different people experience this social event.
After watching this film I feel encouraged to create work that reflects this sense of gritty realism. When experimenting with creating films, I will take into account how the very ordinary yet well-observed aspects of day-to-day life is what can often be most compelling. Coffee and Cigarettes has shown me that it is attention to detail is what counts.
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