the brown liquid

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2005)

This is quite an interesting view. With a series of short films that are linked by the act of drinking coffee and smoking, its quite original. Though this is abit of a mixed affair. Some of the films are quite slow or not very engaging, while the other are brilliant and so funny and totally engaging. But that can happen when you don't have a straight forward story.
The stand outs are Some where in California with Iggy Pop and Tom Waits; with them talking about quitting smoking while they're smoking. Cousins; where Cate Blanchett plays both roles. Cousins?; where Alfred Molina tells Steven Coogan that they are relate and should make a movie about this. And Delirum where Bill Murray is hiding as a waiter and serving GZA and RZA from the Wu-Tang clan.
If you know Jim Jarmusch's film Dead Man, you know how well he handles the Black and White medium. The black and white is actually symbolising the subject of this films, Coffee and Cigarettes - Black and White. The direction is striped to bare essentials. Shots are kept simple and is very affective; enhancing the mood, it kinda feels your there in these conversations.
If your looking for something different, and want to listen to some very out there conversations, this is a great watch.