Writer: Woody Allen
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale
Tomatometer: 85/80/79 (all critics, top critics, audience)
Spoiler-free Summary: Jasmine has lost everything – her homes, her jewels, and her Ponzi scheming husband. Desperate for some stability, she moves in with her formerly estranged sister.
Two Cents: I don’t think I could name a director, nor a writer, with a more distinct style than Woody Allen’s. If I showed you E.T. for the first time, would you be able to name Steven Spielberg as its director, without hesitation? I’d counter with Saving Private Ryan, and you’d have to rethink your position. Would you bet your life on the assumption that Martin Scorcese directed The Departed? Not if Hugo were the only other Scorcese movie you’d seen.
Even when he’s not acting in his movies, Woody is still very much the star. Each line of dialogue drips with Allen’s trademark wit and sarcasm. I am not, by any stretch, a Woody fanatic, but I’ve seen enough of his films to know what a Woody Allen film is. And, Blue Jasmine is undoubtedly a Woody Allen film.
As one of my friends put it, Woody Allen is played by Cate Blanchett. Her Jasmine is the broken and scorned widow of a financial schemer. Plainly, Jasmine is Allen’s version of Ruth Madoff. Her husband, Hal, a WASPy version of Bernie, is played by the brilliant Alec Baldwin.
Blanchett, like Woody often does, moves effortlessly between cynicism, self-loathing, and preachiness. Though Jasmine’s own life is a complete mess, she always knows best how to fix the lives of those around her. She is the paradigm of what everyone thinks would happen to a billionaire who loses everything. She’s completely lost her bearings, she has no plan of action, and she’s been shunned by her “friends”. However, because she once had a house in the Hamptons, she believes she’s still more intelligent and righteous than everyone with whom she interacts. In a way, Blue Jasmine is a revenge fantasy for anyone who’s ever secretly (or not so secretly) craved the downfall of a person of means. Let’s be honest. How badly do you want to see an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians after Kris loses all her money? Sure, it sounds cruel, but that would get a better rating than the Super Bowl.
As he always does, Allen put together a stellar cast for this film. Each performance is commendable, but Blanchett’s stands out. Sally Hawkins was good enough that, from now on, I’ll actually care if Sally Hawkins is in a movie. Andrew Dice Clay was surprisingly convincing as the representative for The Working Man, and I only wish he had more screen time. Bobby Cannavale did a nice job as Hawkins’s boyfriend, but I don’t think I’ll ever be impressed with Cannavale again, after his phenomenal performance on the 2012 season of Boardwalk Empire. Louis C.K. was fine in a small cameo, but that’s really all it was.
Should I/Shouldn’t I: You’d think that, after 49 films, all with a very similar and distinct voice, we’d be over Woody Allen. Apparently, we’re not. This past Sunday morning, I arrived early to the theater, which is a rare occurrence. To my surprise, there was a line around the corner. I’ve never seen such a long line for a movie that was not about a superhuman. Granted, the average age of the line’s inhabitants was north of 70, but that only proves Allen’s staying power even more. These people have already seen the other 48! No, Blue Jasmine is not a great movie, but it’s a good movie that will certainly satisfy Woody’s fans. Blanchett is the story, but since she really is just playing Woody, she only gets partial credit for her performance. If you like Woody Allen, in general, you’ll enjoy this one. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, this film will serve as a fine introduction to his portfolio.
Sundae Rating: Two scoops
Sunday Morning Screenings 