This movie starts out promising with a piece of absurd comedy that actually works. Though you really can't do anything wrong when Steven Wright is in your scene, I had high hopes. I mean you have everything, a good setting, bizarre dialogues and the complimentary clever twist. However, the movie pretty much goes downhill from that scene on. Jim Jarmusch tried to make art people would speak of in every lounge bar from Europe to Eastern Europe but he just comes of as lazy. He had an insane amount of time to figure how he would bring it, and then he comes up with this. It doesn't even seem like he did any writing or anything, all he did was set up the camera and hope Iggy Pop and Tom Waits would say cool lines because they're Iggy Pop and Tom Waits. Most of the material carries that bothersome "almost funny"-label. Steve Buscemi's theory on Elvis and his twin brother is almost funny, but then again no. Teaming up a near-insane Bill Murray with guys from the Wu-Tang Clan, well that was funny. Both The White Stripes and Alfred Molina have a pretty good segment too but all in all I just felt bored with the whole thing. I like the idea, but some good writing wouldn't have hurt.

Jim Jarmusch creates black and white vignettes of some interesting people drinking coffee (tea for some) and having cigarettes.

I love "Twins". Joie Lee and Cinqué Lee are twins. They are interrupted by Steve Buscemi, the waiter. It's hilarious with the crows Heckle and Jeckle. Then it's a lot of fun with Elvis Presley's twin. Buscemi delivers it perfectly.

The only other one I'm interested in is "Cousins?". Actors Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan have some fun drinking tea. Molina discovered a long lost distant family connection but Coogan could not care less. Coogan is good at playing irreverent comedy which he turns douchy here. The writing could be a lot tighter. This is a good starting point.

The rest range from slightly interesting to bland forgettable. Wu-Tang Clan with Bill Murray could have been funnier. The two Cate Blanchetts are visually interesting. The White Stripes is interesting because Meg is speaking. All these are interesting but not that compelling. Of the 11 vignettes, I only really love one.

I run hot and cold with Jim Jarmusch. His "Stranger than Paradise" is a fantastic movie - he has a quirky sense of humor that I love, and also much of "Mystery Train" is wonderful. I liked some of "Coffee and Cigarettes" and some I just didn't.

This is a series of vignettes revolving around - well, coffee and cigarettes. My favorite was "Twins" which, besides being a funny segment, has a hilarious performance by Steve Buscemi. "Those Things'll Kill Ya" is also amusing, though it goes on a little long. "Strange to Meet You" stars Robert Begnini and was the first of these vignettes, filmed in 1986, and it's fun - strange, but fun.

"Cousins" stars the chameleon Cate Blanchett as a well-known personality who visits with her not famous and jealous cousin, also played by Cate Blanchett. This was an interesting personality study of both women, the famous one very sweet and shy, and the not famous one more out there and vocal. It's a real tour de force.

Jarmusch really goes back to his student film roots here, with the black and white, simple, low class sets, and his subtle humor. For me some of the vignettes just seemed to have no point, but I think that was the point. Life discussed or happening over coffee and cigarettes can sometimes be crazy, absurd, fun -- or just ordinary.

There were several posters here who claim not to know Jarmusch's work. I highly recommend both Stranger than Paradise and Mystery Train.