Chinese Coffee

I just watched this on DVD, and although it offered some interesting moments and insights, the dialog felt forced and the two main actors, both of whom have done great work in other projects, didn't seem to click. On the DVD, there's an epilogue in the "features" section in which Pacino, who also directed, wondered whether there were too many flashbacks. Actually, I thought the flashbacks were enlivening, enabling the story to be more involving than it might otherwise have been. Pacino also mentions that because of Orbach's "Law and Order" shooting schedule, they were forced to film 84 pages of dialog in 21 days, perhaps explaining, at least in part, why the film feels a little undercooked.

Well I just loved the Chinese Coffee for its brilliant acting and direction. It reminded me of the theater of the Absurd in a strange haunting way! With Chinese Coffee Mr. Pacino surpasses his own status of being a stellar performer & a superstar combined and cements his position as one of the greatest artists of all times.

The tone of the movie is intimate and artistic at times a little dark. I loved the stream of Levine's consciousness which makes the audiences look into his past---his hopes & failures. Pacino is brilliant as a middle aged struggling writer who is haunted by his own past, his parents' and his own shortcomings and aspirations.

Kudos to Mr. Pacino for providing us with such a brilliant artistic piece! He truly is a gem of an artist. Love him! God bless!

This movie will require many revisits to fully appreciate it.

Tempted to call it 'My room' or heh - 'My room with a view'.

No spoilers here - not that this movie has any.

Do not miss this experience.

Forget waiting for Godot - I think he shows up in this one.

Just a masterpiece.

I really don't have any words beyond that, short of Thank you Al Pacino for working on this and bringing it to light.

All I can say is - watch this, maybe watch it over some period of time - in pieces.

Film that was adapted from a play and which shows, with the film delving into the life of Pacino's character along with his friendship with Jake and his life with his lover who has left him. The film is a locked room story, which interspersed with curious editing choices which always elevated the story and kept it interesting. But overall, the film is a great watch for Pacino aficionado's and people interested in the life of writers.

As most of all the movie, is about two friends and what their life amounts to in the end, and all the disappointments and vindications you have about yourself and others.

9/14 9:00 am CHINESE COFFEE (*****)

Unlike most films of plays that fail to break free of stagy theatrics, this film draws its strength from a wonderful script and an intimate tone of Off-Off-Broadway theatre. The combination of Al Pacino and Jerry Orbach together for a solid hour and a half could not be more special. Susan Floyd is also wonderful as Pacino's bohemian love. Painter, long time friend of Pacino and "Before Night Falls" director, Julian Schnabel, introduced the film on behalf of Pacino, who had to return to L.A. to shoot a movie.