Chinese Coffee

Two human wrecks (a would-be writer and a would-be photographer) chatting together, complaining about their lives and reminiscing. They criticize their life for how it was and how it might have been. They reflect upon it using intellectual analogies and feed us with their extensive experiences without setting foot outside New York. They keep on trumping each other with better and better arguments. Then they begin analyzing the Good Book and everything moves forward. Slowly, but surely begin emerging words of wisdom, priceless... “It can’t be done without money." You can smell the theatrical drama in Chinese Coffee a mile off, but Pacino leads very deftly. Of course, he acts better than he directs, his ever irritated Harry is a real character, the same as the laid-back Jerry Orbach. I recognized some people I know in both them. The picture could be analyzed for hours, it’s so rich in themes. A joy to behold. (03/19/2013)

The film is excellently acted, and the direction is not bad either, mainly due to the interesting handling of individual memories that enter the narrative, which is just a conversation between two guys. The dialogues themselves are brilliantly performed, but the film simply couldn't evoke enthusiasm in me. It's good, but not great for me. (07/28/2017)