mind numbingly dull

Jarmusch is a hip dude, there's no doubt about that, and is doing fine, by the way. Coffee & Cicarettes had respectfull critics, and an interesting box office score. I like his work, and I find these shorts one of his best work. Check out Ghost Dog (if you haven't yet). So, you right about the hipness factor, but he doesn't try to hide th1
at pretention, that just... it!

i beg to differ. i think, altough the movie may be slow in some parts, it was a great film. each of the characters go through somewhat of a change by sharring their thoughts and feelings with strangers.
i thought it was great how in the first short film the taxi driver knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life and it shows that fame or power doesn't change some peoples feelings about life. i thought that scene was totally down to earth and real.
i thought the second movie was written very well. it was great the way the two family members were fighting and yelling at eachother and Helmet was just chillin there laughing at them. they acted the scene very well and gave their lines very well and quick. awesome.
i thought the overall acting wand script was great. i don't know what yr talking about it being "mind numbingly dull". ppp-cha!

oh dear your comment : "dreaded film that tries so hard to be art-house"...Jarmusch more or less pioneered the birth of American alternative cinema during the early 80's, rather from "trying" it is infact "creating" art house.

your point that the story is going nowhere and that it lacks character development i think is missing the directors intention, the film is a fundemental exploration of the nuiances of human interaction and of people who find themselves in alien enviroments (the cab driver in new york for example...there is no moral lesson to be learned; no epiffany (spelt horribly i'm sure!)that transforms a character...not entirely the most satisfying cinema dynamic; but often the most interesting.

hipness?...nope! look to a Tarantino movie to see a level of self awareness and a desperate pursuit of "hipness" that drags down a film to the level of an MTV music video...Tarantino characterises a whole other wave of independant film makers who emerged in the 1990's riding on the back of eariler pioneers such as Jarmusch; their imitation and subsequent dumbing down of independent film making to little more than an exercise in digestable cinema should not be asscoiated with their forefathers.


"You can hurt someone without meaning to"

I really don't think Jarmusch worries about the "hipness factor" of any of his films as you suggest. This film is a great example of the melting pots all over the world. What happens when you put people of completely different cultures and/or backgrounds together. How these people relate to each other. This movie does a wonderful job of this. The characters in New York and Paris are fantastic. Yeah, Benigni maybe a one trick pony, but when this movie came out, few had seen his trick.


Rubbing alcohol Martha? Sure, never mix never worry.

> Perhaps the writer/director could work harder on character development rather than worrying about the hipness factor of this film.

It's your right to dislike the movie and give your reasons, but when you adopt this what to me sounds like a premature teacher attitude and want to tell Jarmusch (!) how he should make his movies - sorry, but to me this seems merely arrogant. The best he can do is never to take advice from someone so uncomprehending.

My own Jarmusch favorite at the moment is "Mystery Train", but "Night on Earth" IMO is a masterpiece about the 'conditio humana'. My friends and I have made it a habit to watch it regularly on New Years Eve - with growing enthusiasm.

Greets, Rosabel

In my opinion, the only weakness in acting was on the first story. Which other parts were not played well??? Dont mention the dead priest in the 4th story, just consider the fact that the breathing movements and one or two grabs of the dead man were surely left on purpose, as they were really funny - besides, he never blinks for the entire last part of the story, which is a contrast with what i mentioned above. The other users' comments covered me so nothing else to add here ^^

Definitely. But the part with Roberto the Italian actor was drop dead hilarious. He was excellent and it makes the whole damn thing watchable.

The film was several ,more or less, random shots of life on Earth using a cab ride as points of connection. Shortly before I began this film, I tried to watch Kurasowa's, KAGEMUSHA. I couldn't stand more than ten minutes of it--and, managed to last five more while watching and listening to the commentary. And, this is supposed to be one of the best films in Japanese cinema. I thought it was a waste, and NIGHT ON EARTH was much more enjoyable. It all gets down to a matter of taste...either it appeals to you, or it doesn't.

Excuse My Dust...