Each year has its share of certainties: we grow a year older, we have to pay our taxes, my sports teams disappoint me, and Woody Allen puts out a new movie. Now that doesn’t mean that every one of Allen’s films are masterpieces (ala “Midnight in Paris”). In fact some of them are just dreadful (ala last year’s “To Rome with Love”). But one thing about the bad ones, you always know the next film is only a year away. And maybe, just maybe, Allen will land one of the real gems he’s capable of making.
Here’s the good news – “Blue Jasmine” is one of the good ones. This character study touches on a number of subjects from business ethics to family troubles to rabid consumerism. At the center of it all is a captivating performance by Cate Blanchett. She plays Jasmine Francis, a New York socialite whose posh lifestyle collapses when her crooked husband is arrested and loses their fortune. Penniless and without a place to go, Jasmine flies to San Francisco and moves in with her estranged working-class sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). It’s here that she must learn to start a new chapter of her life or drown in her despair of leaving the affluent upper crust.
To go further, Jasmine is a wreck. She’s coming off of a nervous breakdown, she pops anxiety pills like candy, and she has an affinity for heavy drinking. She still carries her spoiled and privileged attitude which clashes with her new destitute reality. And all of this is brought on by her lousy husband. We see the events leading to Jasmine’s fall from luxury through several cleverly incorporated flashbacks. We watch her husband Hal (Alec Bladwin) and his penchant for women and shady business deals while she lives in a diamond-studded state of naïveté. She’s content with living high on the hog while asking no questions whatsoever. That proves to be a costly mistake, both mentally and monetarily.
Jasmine’s snooty ego doesn’t fit well with the circle of people she is introduced to in San Francisco. This class clash is the prominent focus for most of the film. This is also where we meet the film’s fantastic assortment of side characters. Hawkins is great as Jasmine’s kindhearted sister and I really liked Bobby Cannavele as her blue-collar beau hunk boyfriend. We get Michael Stuhlbarg as a lovestruck dentist and Peter Sarsgaard pops up as a wealthy businessman with political aspirations. But the biggest treat was Andrew Dice Clay. Yes you heard me, Andrew Dice Clay. Gone is the loud obnoxious standup routine. Here he plays a humble, hard-working fellow that you can’t help but sympathize with. And it’s all because of the unbelievable turn from Dice Clay. He was completely natural and restrained. Brilliant work.
But the true star is Cate Blanchett who undoubtedly gives one of the year’s finest performances. There are bits of subtle humor that are sprinkled in throughout her story. But she’s more of a sad, self-destructive woman who has no sense of direction or belonging. Blanchett visualizes her struggles through every fidget, every bead of sweat, and every outburst. She’s not a likable character by any stretch but she’s simply mesmerizing. Blanchett gives a performance that is getting some Oscar hype. Personally I think it demands an Oscar nomination.
It’s clear that “Blue Jasmine” was influenced by other films. For example if you listen closely you can hear “A Streetcar Named Desire” passing in the distance. But Woody Allen has always been a filmmaker who treasures inspiration and when he is on his game he can truly deliver. This is really good material handled by an excellent cast including a surprise performance from Andrew Dice Clay and some of the best work of Cate Blanchett’s career. “Blue Jasmine” may not stay with you for a long time nor be considered among Allen’s very best by the bigger fans of his work. For me it really worked and it’s definitely good Woody Allen.
keithandthemovies.com 
Good review Keith. The ensemble is great, but it’s Blanchett who is really the one that handles the most weight and pulls it all off so effortlessly.
Wasn’t she great? I mean she fully embraces an loses herself in the role. Great performance!
Nice to hear this is one of Woody Allen’s good ones. I thought Midnight in Paris was excellent but passed on Rome. I want to see this for Blanchette’s performance and story intrigues me too. Good review!
Thanks a lot. It’s definitely worth seeing. Sooo much better than the Rome disaster. Really good film and Blanchett is great.
Really annoyed that I missed this at cinemas but I really want to check it out, mainly just for Blanchett’s performance as I’ve heard so many good things about it. Nice review buddy.
Thanks. Really good movie. Some very good performances. Of course Blanchett’s leads the way.
Good review. I quite agree. Amazing performances but not a resonant film in general.
I really liked the movie as a whole. The performances definitely drive the film but I also think this is good Woody Allen material.
I went back to my review in August, since I was not enthusiastic about the film. Much of what you are saying here corresponds to my opinion as well. Dice, Canavalle and most of the cast are solid. Blanchett is of course amazing, so why was my view different? My issues had to do with the flashback format and the point of the story. As a character piece it was solid but as a story It felt incomplete to me.
Thanks for the comments. I can see what you’re saying. For me the flashbacks were pretty cleverly incorporated. They actually coincided with some of her “episodes” for lack of a better word. I thought that was pretty effective.
I can’t wait to see it, especially for Cate’s performance! Lovely review – and great opening. 😀
Thank you so much. I appreciate you reading and commenting. Hope you get to see it soon. It really is a good movie and an example of what Woody Allen can do when he has all of his ducks in a row.
I’m glad you gave it two thumbs up. I really liked it and am rooting for Cate to pick up the award on Sunday. Nice review, Keith!
Thanks Cindy. She was really good, wasn’t she? It certainly was a dynamic performance.
Nice review. Like yourself I think Woody Allen has been very hit-or-miss as of late with his misses being enormous duds. I still need to check this out but it’s good to see some high praise for the cast.
Definitely check it out. It’s SOOO much better than that crap from last year.
Sorry I missed your review yesterday Keith. This is one I haven’t seen yet but I LOVE Blanchett. I heard an interview w/ her on MPR on my way home from work and I respect and adore her all the more. She is the main draw for me to see this as Allen is a hit and miss for me. Interesting to see Andrew Dice Clay in the cast but glad to hear he was good!
Hey no problem Ruth! I’ve got some blog reading to catch up on myself!
Blanchett is soooo good here. And I’m 100% with you about Allen. He is hit and miss for sure! Thankfully this is good Allen here.
Yeah, esp my Her review right? 😉
Blanchett has never disappointed me in everything I saw her in. I’ll definitely rent this as soon as it comes out!
I got your Her review bookmarked.
I think Blue Jasmine hits DVD January 21st.
Glad you liked it! I will be shocked if Blanchett won’t win Oscar for this. She is amazing.
Amazing indeed. You just can’t take your eyes off her here. I can’t think of many other actresses that could have made it work so well.
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Nice one bro! This is already in my list. It’s great to hear that Woody is back and you can’t ever go wrong with Blanchett.
Oh man, Blanchett is sooo good here. You need to check it out. And keep your eye out for Andrew Dice Clay. What a surprise he was.
D’you know, I’ve always been a fan of Dice Clay. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I’ve always liked him. Sounds interesting that he’s playing it straight.
He is definitely playing it straight but he’s also VERY VERY good. Loved him and I’m tossing him more love this coming Monday (teaser, teaser). 😉
Oh… Teasers? I’m intrigued. 😉
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