MovieChat Forums > Coffee and Cigarettes (2004) Discussion > Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan

Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan

posted 18 years ago by D_Burke
17 replies | jump to latest

One of the big questions that I have really hasn't been answered in the Trivia section of this page or in Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan's bios.

Are Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan really distantly related?

I assumed that since they both played themselves in the sketch "Cousins?", that there was some truth to Alfred Molina's supposed research. However, I checked both of the actors' bios and found nothing about them being related at all. And if they're not related, why would they make this kind of thing up?

[–] cigarsmoke 18 years ago

because it was funny?

[–] theprelude69 18 years ago

Eh? seriously? If they didn't pretend to be cousins then the title of that segment wouldn't have made much sense now would it?. I'm sure thats the reason. It must be, unless you can think of a better one.

[–] lennon_emu 18 years ago

I think the title of the segment comes from the story they enact - not the other way around.

My hunch would be that the story is true and they are indeed distant cousins - especially since they even joke about making the story into a film where they each play themselves.

'My name's Buck...and I'm here to *beep*

[–] AFKmax 18 years ago

That is my favorite bit in the film.

[–] VoodeMar 13 years ago

mine too

[–] theprelude69 17 years ago

Got it in one, noonah. Subtle asrcasm is difficult to pick up on on these things.

[–] MisterMagoogin 17 years ago

Who cares, man? Let's go get some coffee from that diner Bill Murray works at!

[–] am_buglet_82 17 years ago

I wasn't sure if it was real or not either.

My gosh, if Alfred Molina sought me out and told me we were cousins, I'd be on cloud nine!

Especially if he told me he just wanted me to "love him" (like a cousin).

He'd been getting a *glomp* (big hug) from me! :D

-Amanda

"She will remember your heart when men are fairy tales in storybooks written by rabbits"

[–] Anaguma 17 years ago

Being related to him would be interesting! Family reunions would get much more awkward.

CAFFEINE: My Anti-Drug
Wait... What?!?

[–] anchorlove06 16 years ago

My answer would be: Cate Blanchett doesn't have a cousin played by herself, so I guess it would be pretty easy as well to make up a thing about Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan being distantly related.

[–] rooprect 15 years ago

My answer would be: Cate Blanchett doesn't have a cousin played by herself, so I guess it would be pretty easy as well to make up a thing about Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan being distantly related.

That's my first thought, too. There have been several great films that center around a real person's fictional relative (like Adaptation - one of the best IMO). I think it's a Hollywood inside joke to blend reality with fiction because they know the audience will spend years debating if there's any truth to it, much like we're doing here.

Another blend of reality & fiction is the way the characters played themselves in bizarre jobs, like Bill Murray working at a diner, Taylor Mead being a janitor ...the only exception would be Steve Buscemi who plays a waiter named David, I think.

[–] pete887 15 years ago

It's a FILM. Most things that happen in films are made up events. Incidentally Meg white does not have a Tesla coil

[–] SparkEyes 15 years ago

They didn't both play themselves, no-one in the movie plays themselves. The credits don't read - "Steve Coogan as himself", "Alfred Molina as himself", they read "Steve - Steve Coogan" and "Alfred - Alfred Molina". Although, I do wonder if Spike Jonze is a hiker...

[–] yaffachana 14 years ago

But they actually do play themselves, even though their not credited with their full names. Alfred says in the film he is 'Alfred Molina' when on the phone and the girl who asks for an autograph says 'Stephen Coogan'. However, they were still playing characters if that makes sense. Stephen would probably not actually be that rude to Alfred, they were playing some form of satire of themselves.

I'm not sure if they are related in real life, but I think with either possibility it is a great scene. They do look vaguely alike, so it is clever to pair them if they are not related.