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Saturday, August 10, 2013

Blue Jasmine

When I look back at the career of Woody Allen – the success of his films can be credited to two things: acting and story. Although he often goes to great lengths to ensure that his films look good and are cut seamlessly, a great Woody Allen film amounts to the strength of story and how well the actors sell it.

One could argue that those two things are the basis for any good film. Fair point. But for Allen, the strengths of these traits make or break him. Nearly all of his films are exceptionally cast, yet without a good story, we watch extremely talented actors flounder through Allen’s distinct world. Think To Rome with Love and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, to name a few recent ones.

I mention this because any remote fan of Woody Allen accepts that his career is an uneven one. He makes one film a year, some of them hit, and some of them crash. But when they work, they magically, brilliantly work. Blue Jasmine works. Why? An enormously gifted cast and a story that cuts to the heart of things. There’s no glossing over emotions to make way for a punch line. No romance for its characters to cop out on. These are real people with real problems, and it is splendid to watch Allen play puppeteer before letting them all fall down.
Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is Woody Allen’s favorite type of woman: complex, elitist, vapid, and morose. When Jasmine is up – when she has a rich husband, limitless wealth, and infinite time – she’s a ball of joy. She spends her days shopping and enjoying lavish lunches, and her nights entertaining guests, all with a smile on her face. But when she’s down – after her husband, wealth, time and energy are inexplicably taken away – she’s a complete monster. A vile, disgusting, entitled being who speaks too frankly and drinks too frequently. It’s a complicated role, one of the most despicable and detailed characters Allen has ever penned, and Blanchett plays it perfectly. There isn’t a challenge unmet or a note improperly spoken.

When we meet Jasmine, she is reluctantly flying from New York to San Francisco to live with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Jasmine and Ginger aren’t close, but our troubled title character has nowhere else to go. Through well-placed flashbacks, we meet Jasmine at a different time. A time before her husband, Hal (Alec Baldwin) had been pinched for various illegal financial dealings. A time before Jasmine lost everything. After suffering a public mental breakdown, Jasmine is forced to move in with Ginger and live life as a common person. A person who has to work, a person who has to cook and clean, a person who has to live without a net.
And that’s essentially how Blue Jasmine goes. Cutting back and forth between a previous time of carefree wealth, and a current time of utter dread. We watch Jasmine needlessly intrude on Ginger’s relationship with Chili (Bobby Cannavale), a white collar worker with a quick temper. We witness her troubles at work, and her desperate, shameful search for another impossibly wealthy suitor. There are fights, tantrums and rants at almost every corner, all written to excellence and acted flawlessly.

Woody Allen can cast whomever he wants in any of his films. That’s how eager all actors are to work with him. And with a story as strong as Blue Jasmine’s, I’m frankly surprised he took so many casting risks here. Comedian Andrew Dice Clay (who I’ve never seen act in a narrative film) is utterly superb as Ginger’s ex husband, Augie. He’s a working stiff who knows he’s a working stiff, but he’s got a heart of pure, honest gold. I respect the hell out of Allen for giving Clay a shot here. Louis C.K. is another comedian I’ve never seen act outside of his own material, but, as a potential new love interest for Ginger, proves he can fit well into Allen’s world.
As Chili, Bobby Cannavale delivers his strongest performance since The Station Agent, proving that he deserves meatier roles in general. Peter Sarsgaard (as a man who falls under Jasmine’s spell) carefully plays rich entitlement without the entitlement, while Baldwin plays a smug bastard in that perfect Alec Baldwin way. And while the film more or less rests on Blanchett’s shoulders, specific praise needs to be issued to Sally Hawkins. Ginger is a woman trying to keep it all together, and Hawkins plays to her desperation so convincingly that she deserves a seat next to Blanchett at the next Oscar ceremony, albeit for different categories.

Blue Jasmine is Woody Allen getting it right. It proves that the man still has the confidence and conviction to make stellar films. I’m not sure if Blue Jasmine is a drama that welcomes a laugh, or a comedy that isn’t afraid to bleed. Either way, Blue Jasmine will be remember as one of the great films of Woody Allen’s late career.

Blanchett and Hawkins: A+, the film: A- 

20 comments:

  1. This is the film I want to see right now as I think it's coming to Atlanta next weekend. At this point with Allen's filmography. I have four more of his films (including this one) that I haven't seen and need to watch and one more film to re-watch as I'm going to unleash the third part of the Auteurs series on Woody Allen this coming Friday and then 2 weeks later, the fourth and final part. I'm a little burned out at the moment but I'm glad that I'm getting very close to finishing his filmography. And then I'm taking a one-week vacation as I need to get Woody out of my system for a while until the next film.

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    1. Man, I know exactly how you feel. When I crushed through his filmography, I needed a long break afterward. Even though his films vary in terms of how good or bad they are, they all clearly come from the same place, and watching 44 of them can be exhausting. So keep on pushing!

      Thankfully, you have a great one waiting in Blue Jasmine. A superb Woody Allen film indeed.

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  2. YUSSS! Man, I'm dying to see this. I find it hilarious how To Rome With Love released here and there is still no talk about Blue Jasmine. Get your shit together, India!

    Still, oh so excited now :D

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    1. I think you will LOVE this one. You just have To Rome With Love now...? Ew. That is my least favorite film of Woody's career. Hated it. Hope Blue Jasmine comes your way soon!

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  3. Maybe I should hop on Blanchett at $8 odds for Best Actress at the Oscar's. Hmmmm. Haha will check this one out when we get it in Oz!

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    1. I think that'd be a good idea at this point. Former winner, popular directer, marketable performer/film. She wouldn't be my personal first choice right now, but she'd definitely be the Academy's.

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  4. Blanchett is amazing. She carries the movie on the weight of her shoulders because you never know if she's going to turn the other cheek and be a pleasant woman, or still continue to berate everyone around her. The suspense is what killed me, because I never knew what was next with her and that all works because Blanchett is great. The rest of the cast is great too and helps with this flick, but she's the one who steals it all. Good review bud.

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    1. I didn't get around to mentioning the suspense factor of the film and her performance, but you're so right, that was a crucial element to the film's success. Woody really got this one right. Thanks for reading Dan.

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  5. Woody Allen has always been -- just as you said -- hit or miss for me. His particular blend of quirky/funny and philosophical -- to me, it sometimes blends seamlessly and *works* and sometimes doesn't. Glad to hear this is a hit. I'll come back and read your review after I see the film.

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    1. Yeah, when you make one flick a year, you're bound to produce some hits and some misses. Thankfully, this one works in the best possible way. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it.

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  6. Yes, I am dying to see this film! You're write-up just makes the wait all the harder. I've been wanting to see this one since I first heard about it.

    Hey, I really like this page and I just followed you. Thankfully I just stumbled upon this page. I read through some of your other posts and I really dig your writing. Your personality shines thorough and it doesn't seem like a robot typed up your stuff like most people who haven't found their voice. Bravo.

    If you wanna chat horror films, swing by and check me out.

    http://grimmreviewz.blogspot.com/

    Cheers!

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    1. Hey man, thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. And thanks for your kind words about my writing - they mean a lot!

      I'll scope out your site soon!

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  7. Can't. Wait. Thrilled to hear that the supporting cast is in good form along with Blanchett. I'd love for Hawkins to get a Best Supporting Actress nod, which would make up for the Happy-Go-Lucky snub.

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    1. That Happy-Go-Lucky snub was so ridiculous to me. Obviously, they liked the film, as Leigh got a nomination, but no Hawkins... silly shit.

      But either way, she has a great shot here.

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  8. Loved this movie, a real return to form after the mess that was To Rome With Love. I think it's no surprise that Blanchett is great (I can't think of a performance where she isn't) but I thought the real surprise here was Hawkins. I loved her in Happy-Go-Lucky and I've seen her in a few minor roles as well where she's been good, but from the first scene where she appeared on screen I was blown away by her. Such a fantastic performance from her and one that definitely needs to be given plenty of recognition (awards and otherwise). Dice Clay, Cannavale, C.K., and Sarsgaard are all equally fitting for their roles as well and damn entertaining (wish C.K.'s character had more screen time cause he was a riot). Baldwin did the baldwin thing but as a whole this was fantastic.

    Funny story was that I was sitting in a screening that was probably half full and when the movie ended (with that closing shot on Blanchett) and people started moving out, I heard so many people saying that they were either disappointed because it wasn't funny or that they didn't get what was going on (as in no happy ending). It was hilarious, especially considering I had to go up to a pair of old-ladies in the middle of it and ask them to stop talking. I just couldn't imagine not loving this movie. Guess others think otherwise.

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    1. Those old women love to talk, don't they? I think by this point, most older audiences go to see a Woody Allen film because they think it's going to make them laugh. And possible make them feel good about themselves. But most fans know that he's made nearly as many dramas as he has comedies.

      But oh well for the people who didn't like it, I'm glad YOU liked it, because I thought it was terrific.

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  9. Great movie, totally on board with you again, Blanchett is great and the supporting cast is on point as well. Loved every minute. 9/10 for me. She should win Sunday, its a wrap.

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    1. Hell yeah man, and I totally think she will. So well deserved. How 'bout that final scene? I mean... jesus.

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    2. Yup not sure what happened to her after that but it made you wonder. Looked close to being picked up and threw in a psych ward, she loved rambling to herself. Great performance.

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    3. One of her best yet, no doubt. I'm glad she'll win tonight.

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