I didn't watch watch much yesterday, I ended up watching a few episodes of the shows I have started recently. I feel a bit of a swing in the pendulum regarding what I want to watch lately, something that happens every now and then and I grow a bit tired of certain genres or styles and want something other. For now, it seems I have less interest in watching films and more interest in shorter, episodic things. I did spend a few minutes browsing today, looking through a list in which everything just seemed too long for my attention, but I came across Coffee and Cigarettes and realised it is a film I haven't seen, despite needing to for a while now. I do think at some point in the past I have seen it, due to one particular scene seeming incredibly familiar; but the experience still felt largely new. While it wasn't exactly the best, I did notice it had some fun strengths to it which reminded me of other films that had done something a bit similar in telling a story while sticking to a certain theme.
These types of films are often very difficult to pull off, and it's no surprise: telling multiple short stories in one film naturally will lead to some stories being weaker, and some being far stronger. Though one strength all of the short stories in this film have is that none of them stick around for too long. Each being short, different in ideas, but ultimately cemented around the coming together around coffee and cigarettes. It's certainly a unique idea, but it's one that you find appreciation for due to its weirdness and differences from traditional films. Leaning more on the artistic side of things rather than the epic, linear narrative structure of regular films. It isn't something that will stick with you for a long time, I feel this is something worth admitting, but I don't feel that it is a negative aspect either. It's a typical case of a film doing what it intends to and then leaving, not really trying to be more than it needs to be; for that, I will come to its defence.
For this post you will not have to worry about spoilers. It's not really something that you can spoil due to it being a series of very short stories that are mostly just conversations between two people.
Coffee and Cigarettes
Strangely, in a lot of western films and television shows, conversations rarely take place over food or drinks; if they do, they are often short scenes and surrounded by alcohol or some dramatic cafe setting. Coffee and Cigarettes to some degree follows in the setting, but decides to tell short stories that are oriented around the idea of conversation. Detailing characters that sit together over coffee, also often accompanied by cigarettes, and discuss various problems in their lives. These characters typically have some sort of attachment, but not always. For the most part, these short stories are shot in black and white, with a lot of film grain to them. The setting of coffee and cigarettes at first almost seems like an obsession, something heavily romanticised by the director, as if to imply that they themselves had come to the idea of making this film over late nights and endless cups of coffee and cigarettes. Though to begin with, it does seem as if this romanticism of coffee and cigarettes seems a bit overboard: top down perspectives of a coffee table covered in espresso cups, cigarettes and ash. These shots are a little repetitive at first, but the film soon does away with them as other stories begin to roll on in.
What I liked about these different stories was how these different characters had their own problems and thoughts. They share them happily with the other, and the other will either agree or disagree, leading to the debate in which neither party seems to care who wins. Promoting the idea that the coffee and cigarettes serve as a bringer of peace and neutrality and people ignore the differences between each other and welcome the sharing of ideas and thoughts. Some of these stories take this idea more seriously than others, and this added a nice balance to each story instead of each one feeling like the last. Though even in these more comedic ones, it's done very well through the dialogue and interactions, where it still feels natural and believable. In particular, there's one in which the actor Steve Coogan discovers he has a new cousin, but his actor ego refuses to care and interact with his new cousin that seems more than happy to connect. As you can see, not all of the stories are positive, some of them display the negative sides to an interaction, but through a very considerate look that refuses to overly dramatise things.
To no surprise, most of these interactions are portrayed by relatively famous actors. This is a film from 2004, so I guess the idea of them being relatively famous stands correct; I don't think they're all that recognisable these days to many. I do think it would have been more effective if these stories were told through more unknown faces, sometimes it is clear an actor is essentially playing themselves and it doesn't quite translate well. Pulling us out of the main idea of the stories and just essentially bragging over having this well-known appearance acknowledge themselves. Fortunately it doesn't do this too often, and it can be overlooked given the other stories appear to have more focus. I was reminded of other films of a similar nature, one of which being "Paris, I Love You" in which short stories are told by different directors. These sort of anthology films, as mentioned before, tend to have their own weaknesses and strengths, and it's hard to judge them as a whole due to that. So to mention some strengths, I do think it was shot quite nicely. I think the back and white works for the more artistic, independent feel the film has. While showing more gritty, rundown cafe type settings. The messy look to the art direction makes it actually look quite comfortable. Like the locations are places you could spend the entire day at, watching the many unique faces come and go. Though it's rare that this film shows more than two people in a scene at a time. Even so, it never feels empty.
I can see this being a film that many will hate and many will love. You have to be someone that loves coffee and understands the social culture it has; I guess the same is true for smoking. One must also appreciate writing and how characters can tell a story through basic conversations, displaying human nature and social expectations mixing together. Lastly, I think there's an appreciation for independent filmmaking to be had, in how a filmmaker can use limited space and characters to tell engaging stories that keep an audience in the seat. It certainly does this well enough for you to not notice the time going by.
I have to say, though, this seems like a lost opportunity for David Lynch. This definitely seems like an idea he could've had. Though he'd certainly add in extra weirdness.
