Blue Jasmine

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 2:53pm

There's only so many traumas a person can withstand until they take the streets and start screaming.

Cate Blanchett is fricking brilliant in this movie!! There is barely a scene in the film that doesn't revolve around her, and that is a very good thing. Basically Blue Jasmine tracks the downward spiral of our heroine's descent into depression, anxiety, pill-popping, madness, booze and delusion until she circles the drain one too many times and can't pull herself back up again.

This is a much more serious entry in the Woody Allen canon; it's more in line with Crimes and Misdemeanors and Hannah and Her Sisters than his recent comedies. Of course both C&M and Hannah were large ensemble pieces with multiple storylines woven together. Blue Jasmine is all about Cate.

That's not to say the supporting cast doesn't shine though. Bobby Cannavale is excellent as is Sally Hawkins. They share a great scene in a supermarket, and I loved whenever he got to interact with Blanchett.

There is a nice twist in the story in that I didn't see coming, and overall the script is nicely constructed. Naturally there are going to be some one-liners, but it's nice to be reminded that there's more than that in Allen's repertoire.

Don't show up at the last minute if you want to see it. There was a line out on the street waiting to get into the showing after mine (I went to City Cinemas).

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 3:25pm

So great to hear, Whizzer, I'm so excited for this one!

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 3:55pm

Cate Blanchett & Sally Hawkins would have to be two of the most interesting actresses working today- I can't wait to see this...

[tazber]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 4:26pm

It was AMAZING. Allen's finest film since March Point.

Blanchett is a sure fire Oscar nominee. Her performance is stunning.

An absolute must see.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 4:49pm

So glad you loved it too, Taz!

I've been walking around in a daze all afternoon. I can't get Blanchett's performance off my brain. I want a stoli martini with a twist of lemon (Xanax on the side)!

[tazber]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 5:18pm

Oh yes. I more than loved it. It may be my favorite Woody Allen film.

I love how it's sort of A Streetcar Named Desire for the economically downward.

I love the supporting cast (even Andrew Dice Clay).

But I have to say that as great as the screenplay is, it's Cate's show. And she utterly transfixed me. I mean...wow.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 5:47pm

I don't know if any Woody Allen will be better than The Purple Rose of Cairo for me, but this is one does rank in the upper echelon.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/27/13 at 9:17pm

Since this probably won't make its way upstate for weeks, I'm planning on seeing it while in NYC next weekend.

Like Whizzer, I'm a huge fan of "Purple Rose" and much of his 80's output ("Zelig," Hannah," "Radio Days").

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 1:20am

Saw it tonight at City Cinemas as well! On my walk home from I'M GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER..., I figured I'd grab a ticket and I'm so glad I did.

In the summer, where most movies are mindless, bombastic blockbusters, it is such a breath of fresh air to see a movie like BLUE JASMINE. What a fantastic movie this is...arguably Allen's best since (and possibly even before) MATCH POINT.

In its unflinching depiction of the titular character, the film could not be more admirably brave. It's upsetting, disturbing, funny, depressing, and ultimately fearless in depicting Jasmine's mental instability. And this is also in no small part thanks to a truly incredible, breathtaking, and devastatingly flawless performance from Cate Blanchett. I mean...wow. I'd go as far as to say that this is the best work of her career...which is no small compliment.

JASMINE is an incisive character study with some of Allen's sharpest writing in a long while. And Blanchett's performance is simply not to be missed. For anyone who loves Allen...and for anyone who can appreciate some brilliant film acting, see this movie. I sure am glad I did.

ETA: did anyone else crack up at the bizarre cameo from Ali Fedotowsky, aka one of "The Bachelorette"s?! Updated On: 7/28/13 at 01:20 AM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 2:18am

broadwayjim, I LOVE Radio Days. It's definitely one of my favorites; Mia Farrow was robbed of a supporting actress nomination that year. It gives me the odd sensation of being nostalgic for a time I never actually lived through. I feel an intense Sehnsucht for the late 30s/40s and the childhood home in Brooklyn that I didn't have. So heartwarming, and yet so sad when it ends. Dianne Wiest gives one of her best performances in it too.

I confess to at least enjoying all of his films though. I mean I like Cassandra's Dream, Whatever Works and even Anything Else! There's always SOME value to be found.

But when things are great they just don't get better.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 11:04am

The trailer and reviews look very promising, but what is up with Blanchett's accent? It seems an odd variation on what made perfect sense in Ripley. Does it here? What is Jeanette's background exactly? Is it meant to be pretentiously class-aspirational or what?

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 4:04pm

Blanchett is one of a handful of non-American actors whom I've found tend to do a very similar American accent for every role they play, regardless of the geographic region/social status of the person they are playing. Kate Winslet, Rachel Griffiths, and Naomi Watts are others.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 10:03pm

duplicate Updated On: 7/28/13 at 10:03 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 10:03pm

duplicate Updated On: 7/28/13 at 10:03 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 10:03pm

duplicate Updated On: 7/28/13 at 10:03 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/28/13 at 10:03pm

AC, I only know three American characters of Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters, Other Desert Cities and Six Feet Under) and while her vocal work may have been similar in them, all three were highly educated very wealthy half Jewish half Wasp Southern Californians.

Updated On: 7/28/13 at 10:03 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/29/13 at 8:54am

Blanchett's accent in Blue Jasmine is definitely supposed to be an exaggerated affectation.

Jasmine overcompensates in every way possible to distance herself from her sister and anyone else she feels isn't of her social standing. (She reminds us frequently that Ginger isn't really her sister, biologically speaking. They were both adopted- from DIFFERENT mothers, of course!)

In one of the funniest exchanges Peter Sarsgaard says he was originally from California and asks Jasmine about her origins. She replies, "Oh I'm from New York. Park Avenue."

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/29/13 at 9:09am

Thanks, Whizzer, that's what I suspected.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/29/13 at 10:05am

This is on my go-see list this week. I've heard (and read) so many positive things about it. Definitely looking forward to it.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 8/2/13 at 6:13pm

I may see this next week. I'm curious about how it portrays San Francisco.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/2/13 at 7:47pm

Saw it today & thoroughly enjoyed it. Sure Oscar nod for her.