Jim Jarmusch creates 5 vignettes from around the world of cab drivers and their passengers.

In Los Angeles, tomboy cabbie Corky (Winona Ryder) picks up Hollywood executive Victoria Snelling (Gena Rowlands) at the airport. In the end, Victoria offers Corky a movie role but she rejects it for her plans to be a mechanic. Winona is cute as a cabbie but very, very, very fake.

In New York, YoYo (Giancarlo Esposito) can't get a cab to go to Brooklyn until Helmut Grokenberger (Armin Mueller-Stahl) picks him up. It's Helmut's first fare and he can't really drive. YoYo takes over driving and picks up YoYo's loud sister-in-law Angela (Rosie Perez). This is lotsa yelly fun. Armin is great, Giancarlo is terrific and Rosie is loud.

In Paris, a cabbie from Ivory Coast (Isaach De Bankolé) is angry with passengers and throws them out. He picks up a blind woman (Béatrice Dalle) and they have a tough discussion. This is my favorite of the vignettes. I don't know who Isaach was at the time but he's amazing.

In Rome, a cabbie (Roberto Benigni) is driving like a mad man and he picks up a priest (Paolo Bonacelli). He makes a lot of crazy confessions and then the priest dies. This one depends greatly on how much Benigni one can take. It's a bit too much for me.

In Helsinki, a cabbie picks up three drunk guys. One of them was just fired from his job and then he passes out. This one is a fine sad story although it may work not as the last one. I would end stronger with the Paris one.

This is a film that is strictly about character. Or should I say characters? A set of five little twenty minute films, set in and around taxi cabs, allowing the characters to interact and expose their loves and their fears, their baggage and their hopes. Each is strong or weak in its own way. The first, with Winona Ryder is, to me, the weakest, although I couldn't take my eyes off her. There is subtlety and a delicate touch to all of them. My favorite was the Finnish one. The most contrived and least human was the Italian one with Roberto Benigni. While it was outrageous, it was a long running gag, a kind of cruel joke. In the other the four, the people were interesting and accessible. Their lives were realistic and, in some ways, cruel, yet their stories moved us. All things considered, it is a unique idea and has enough to recommend it. Also, there's the music of Tom Waits. What more could you want.

During one night, taxi drivers in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome and Helsinki interact with their passengers while driving them to their destination.

"Night on Earth" is a collection of five short stories with different genres, from comedy to drama, taking place in taxis along the same night. The storyline is absolutely original and supported by great international cast. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Uma Noite Sobre a Terra" ("One Night on Earth")