BLUE JASMINE (2013)

Genre: Drama/Comedy
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Bobby Cannavale, Louis C.K., Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg
RunTime: 1 hr 39 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 10 October 2013

Synopsis: A life crisis causes a woman to head to San Francisco, where she reconnects with her sister.

Movie Review:

We know how life can crumble into pieces, but does it really have to look so devastating, as depicted in Woody Allen’s latest piece of work? The critically acclaimed filmmaker is know for his satire on life, through lighter and sometimes surreal moments in more films like Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Midnight in Paris (2011) and To Rome with Love (2012). With Blue Jasmine, his latest big screen effort written and directed by the 77 year old himself, it is one of the emotionally devastating films we’ve seen this year.

The story’s protagonist is Jasmine, a New Yorksocialite who arrives in San Franciscoto impose on her sister Ginger. Jasmine, who is evidently troubled and in denial, will find her worldview clashing with Ginger. The two very different women will come together to experience things they’ve never expected before.

Academy Award winning Cate Blanchett (The Aviator, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) takes on the role of the deeply distressed Jasmine, and gives one of her best on screen performance yet. The Australian actress talks a lot in this movie, and it’s obvious that the character is trying to cover up for her insecurities by looking a million, flaunting her riches and possessions. What’s even more bothering is, this is one character who we’ve seen around, and worse, in ourselves. The stark and naked characterisation of Jasmine is spot on, and it takes a great actress like Blanchett to have us identifying with her rather sorry state.

Playing Ginger is Sally Hawkins (Never Let Me Go, Made in Dagenham), whose brashness and frank attitude in life makes us a little envious, being the sheltered urbanites we are. The English actress is one performer we’d like to see recognised at the upcoming award season. Her unassuming and grounded performance is one of the best we’ve seen from a supporting character in recent years, and it will really be a foul up if her brilliant acting goes unnoticed.

Elsewhere, we have Alec Baldwin (Rock of Ages, It’s Complicated) and Peter Sarsgaad (Green Lantern, Orphan) playing token male characters in Jasmine’s life. As caricatured as they may seem, you can’t help but think to yourself, aren’t the people in your life as manufactured as these men sometimes? Less familiar faces like Andrew Dice Clay and Bobby Canavale also deliver commendable performances to make this film a must watch for cinema goers who want something more than big budgeted blockbuster movies.

Allen, who has been nominated at the Oscars 23 times and won four of them, sure knows how to tell an engaging story. The 98 minute film paces itself nicely, and never once does it come across as self important and preachy. The use of flashbacks makes viewers more interested in Jasmine’s past, and how she eventually came to be. Like Allen’s other films, there is no fancy post production here. Javier Aguirresarobe’s cinematography and Alisa Lespselter’s editing serve their basic purpose to progress the story and comfortably fits itself into Allen’s assured direction.

What you’d take away when the credits roll is how life may be a total mess, but there are fronts we have to put up, if anything, to protect ourselves. How we break down thereafter is, unfortunately, how disillusioning life can be. 

Movie Rating:

(A stark and true reflection on life, Woody Allen’s latest work is highly recommended for both its script and cast’s performance)

Review by John Li