Conversations Over Nicoteine and Caffeine

Rating: Null/10 (28 February 2013)

Jarmusch's 'Coffee and Cigarettes' features a series of vignettes that revolve around conversations between people while they have coffee and cigarettes. The film is black and white and the dialogues seem improvised but they're not nonsensical or irrelevant. There is an absurd, dry and wicked sense of humour and the performances are very natural. Many of the actors play 'themselves' but with a level of sarcasm and self (or other) mocking. Checkered design adds to the black and white contrast. While 'Coffee and Cigarettes' is primarily a conversation driven film, the quiet moments are just as great especially the reactions of the actors and the lingering tension. The versatile camera-work also deserves credit and it just proves how images can be captured effectively without the need for tricks or even movement. The sets are quite simplistic but authentic looking and lighting is superb.
To say it in one word, 'Coffee and Cigarettes' is fun without tea, biscuits and sandwiches.