Movie Info
Movie Name: Blue Jasmine
Studio: Gravier Productions
Genre(s): Drama/Comedy
Release Date(s): July 23, 2013 (New York City Premiere)/August 23, 2013 (US)
MPAA Rating: R
No wire hangers!!!
Jeanette Francis aka Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is in crisis. She finds herself broke, single, and with no education after her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) is put away in Ponzi scheme. Travelling to San Francisco to stay with her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins), Jasmine finds life isn’t what she’s used to after coming from the plush Manhattan living. With criticism of Ginger’s choice of men and trying to get a computer degree to get an interior design degree, Jasmine tries to bury her head in the sand as she tries to get her life back on track.
Oh Dice Man…remember the days?
Written and directed by Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine received a small release but received rave reviews. The movie was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Hawkins) and Best Original Screenplay and Cate Blanchett took home the Best Actress award.
I am not the biggest Woody Allen fan, but I liked his last film Midnight in Paris a lot. I also am a big fan of Cate Blanchett and have liked the few things I’ve seen Sally Hawkins in so I had high hopes for Blue Jasmine, and I was not disappointed.
Yep…I could live here…If I weren’t crazy
The film is not a very traditional Woody Allen film. There isn’t a ton of clever dialogue nor is there lots of situational comedy occurring throughout the film. Instead, the movie is a bit heavier than some of Allen’s other titles and is rightfully compared to A Streetcar Named Desire in story and character. The new version with Blanchett as the Blanche character putting on airs, but the dark side is her twisted past.
Blachett’s character is such a mess. She literally talks to herself reliving events of the past and also is revealed to have undergone electroshock therapy after a complete mental breakdown. Blanchett plays the character great and in some very intense scenes can go from cocky and arrogant to downright scary and numb. Her screen presence is reminiscent of her Katherine Hepburn from The Aviator or her supporting character in The Talented Mr. Ripley…I do have to say she’s one of the best actresses out there now.
I think I’ll go for a walk outside…the summer sun’s calling my name!
She’s also back-up by a fun supporting cast. Not only do you have the fun loving Sally Hawkins who just always feels like her Happy-Go-Lucky character but you have a nice turn by Andrew Dice Clay as her bitter ex-husband Augie. I like Peter Sarsgaard, but he comes off a bit creepy here as Blanchett’s love interest and Alec Baldwin always seems to fit perfect into New York based stories as Blanchett’s former husband. Other supporting actors include a great role for Bobby Cannavale as Ginger’s Brando-esque boyfriend Chili and a small role by Louis C.K. as the alternative boyfriend.
Calgon…take me away!!!
The movie is also a nice change up from Allen’s usual New York City location by placing most of the movie (sans flashbacks) in the San Francisco area. The city is nice and some of the location shots show off the great city (though I think I’d love to work in a grocery store and have a place like Ginger’s…seems pretty nice to me).
Blue Jasmine is a good film and even if you aren’t Allen fans, you still can probably enjoy it. I’d probably have to call it more of a drama than his regular comedy style, but there still are laughs peppered through the script. If you want to watch a strong performance, check out Blanchett at her best.
