Genre:
Comedy / Drama
Directed
by: Woody Allen
Starring:
Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Alec Baldwin
Running
time: 99 minutes
This
is the story of Jasmine, a narcissist woman whose luxurious life fell apart
after her businessman husband got arrested for his financial crimes and killed
himself in prison. She travels from New York to San Francisco to live with her
working class sister while she picks up the pieces of herself. The movie goes
back and forth between that past, where everything crumbled, and the present, where
it all needs to be built up again; but, can it be?
Cate
Blanchett is absolutely magnificent here in the role of Jasmine, a woman who is
so easy to dislike. Jasmine is the type of woman who shows disdain when you
need her but then begs for help when in need. Her own welfare is what matters
most and she rambles on and on to all who will listen about her poor self.
Nonetheless, Blanchett manages to make you care for that woman; she makes the
character so real that you start to feel empathy for her. It is no surprise the
actress won an Academy Awards for this role.
I
thought it was a nice touch of Woody Allen to hire comedians like Andrew Dice
Clay and Louis CK in more serious roles. Clay, who is best known for his very
crude comedy act, was particularly good as Augie, the former boyfriend of
Jasmine’s sister. He showed a real depth I did not know he had. Mother Goose
would be proud.
As
bad of a husband as he may have been in his life, Woody Allen remains an
extraordinary storyteller and movie director. Once again, with Blue Jasmine, he
found a way to deliver a compelling story with interesting characters. While
some of his films I have somewhat appreciated, this one I simply adored. Blue
Jasmine is a movie to see.
Rating:
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