Jim Jarmusch is certainly a highly acclaimed, if not occasionally polarizing filmmaker. Jarmusch’s early work in the 1980s introduced a new style of independent filmmaking that was virtually unheard of at the time; with aimless plots, seemingly tangential storylines, and a brisk, realistic blend of absurd humor, Jarmusch’s filmmaking prowess was hotly debated. Similar to directors like Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino, there’s a self-made quality to Jarmusch’s films that is very admirable; they’re clearly made with limited resources out of the director’s raw passion for the material. Nonetheless, Jarmusch has also made many undeniable classics, including Broken Flowers, Paterson, Only Lovers Left Alive, Dead Man, and Stranger Than Paradise.
By the beginning of the 21st Century, film fans that had been following the industry’s leading auteurs had likely already made up their minds on whether they were fans of Pedro Almodovar’s style. As with many directors, Jarmusch began to get hit with criticisms that his films were largely similar in story and structure, and that his newer films lacked the same spark and imagination as his initial wave of classics. However, Jarmusch’s 2003 anthology film Coffee & Cigarettes certainly deserves more appreciation; the film was based on an original short film from 1988, and expanded to include a total of 11 short stories and conversations centered around characters bonding over coffee and cigarettes. Despite relatively divisive reviews, Coffee & Cigarettes is one of Jarmusch’s best films ever.
Inventive Short-Form Storytelling
It’s always nice to see a director experiment with short films and experimental projects, as it’s a style of filmmaking that many directors, such as Pedro Almodovar, began their careers with. Anthology films rarely fall into the mainstream route, but Jarmusch has always been a bit of a cult filmmaker with his own batch of followers, so the stylistic shift made complete sense for him. A filmmaker like Jarmusch has such a natural ability to write dialogue and conversations that it’s exciting to see so many new and memorable characters pop up throughout the 11 shorts. While any of these stories could certainly inspire an expansion into a full feature film, getting even just a glimpse into their lives is exciting.
It’s also interesting to see how Jarmusch inventively touches on similar themes throughout the anthology; while each of the conversations is regarding a different subject, they all tend to feature characters with opposing views that are able to discuss and debate their differences of opinion in a respectful way. These conversations cover a wide variety of topics, including smoking, gun control, products sold to children, the achievements of Nikola Tesla, and whether or not a waiter is actually Bill Murray. While it’s not a point that Jarmusch calls attention to, the idea of a civil disagreement that is resolved without heated arguments is quite refreshing compared to films where characters are constantly being hateful to one another. The recurring setting of a conversation held over shared cigarettes and coffee also brings the shorts together, as if they could all exist in the same universe.
Jarmusch is certainly a brilliant artist, but not all of his films are consistent in quality; some of Jarmusch’s films, such as Permanent Vacation and The Limits of Control, feel a little long-winded and laborious to get through because the story doesn’t justify an extended runtime. Due to this, making an anthology project like Coffee & Cigarettes may have been a better way to utilize Jarmusch’s skills than something more traditional.
An Amazing Stacked Ensemble
Outside of Wes Anderson, Jarmusch has an almost unparalleled ability to assemble amazing ensemble casts for his films. While Jarmusch’s early films tended to rely on unknown stars who were among his close circle of friends, Coffee & Cigarettes has a terrific ensemble and features an amazing cast across all of the shorts. The most impressive singular performance is almost certainly Cate Blanchett, who stars in dual roles as two cousins reconnecting in a hotel lobby; it’s astounding to see that Blanchett is able to create such different characters and interact with herself in such a seamless way.
Perhaps the most hilarious short is one that centers on the actors Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan, both of whom play themselves. It’s an amusingly self-aware riff on Hollywood personas and the film industry that cinephiles will likely enjoy, as there are references to both of their respective filmographies and an extended discussion about Coogan’s role in 24 Hour Party People. Coogan shows very little interest in interacting with Molina, even refusing to give him his phone number, but then realizes his companion is a close personal friend of the brilliant filmmaker Spike Jonze. This encourages Coogan to start being more open, but the power dynamics shift, and Molina begins evading his questions and leaves abruptly.
The film was shot over the course of many years, and one short entitled “Somewhere in California” actually debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993, where it won the Short Film Palme d’Or. It’s evident why the film was lauded with such praise; it stars the musicians Tom Waits and Iggy Pop decide to celebrate their shared decision to stop smoking by smoking for the last time as they discuss each other’s discographies; they keep amusingly referring to the idea that neither of them are featured on the jukebox, even though remnants of their songs can be vaguely heard in the background. It’s a hilariously awkward segment that any music obsessive will love; even for more casual fans, Waits and Pop are such unique actors that it’s simply compelling to see them interact with each other.
Blend of Tone
While the tonal diversity of some of Jarmusch’s recent films, such as The Dead Don’t Die, has been more divisive, Coffee & Cigarettes does a great job at shifting between approaches based on each short. The shorts are funny, moving, surprising, absurd, and grounded, and each are written with the same deadpan style that Jarmusch is so well known for. Not all experimental films are actually good, but Coffee & Cigarettes proves that invention can lead to the most rewarding results.
