Blue Jasmine

Just some solo afternoon entertainment-My guy doesn’t like “chick flicks” lol. He spent the afternoon building us a chicken coop! So I scanned Amazon movies just for me.I confess. I’m a Woody Allen fiend. I didn’t see ny first one till the late 80’s - I was still a bit too young to “get” some Woodys style and humor. He uses a lot of sarcasm and irony- lots of name dropping classic writers of literature. ( I was reading Cosmo & People)He tends to use certain actors repeatedly in his movies. Dianne Keaton, Mia Farrow-but the most prolific cast member of all of his movies is without exception ....New York. Specifically Manhattan. So my first viewing day the age of around 20 something-Annie Hall, was the perfect place to start. Yes-many jokes at the time just breezily floated over my head. But the main structure of that movie - was the simple story of boy meets girl.It was funny, unique, Allen is something rarely scene in ANY movie -he’s a neurotic, self centered, paranoid know it all. No game with women. More apt to insert his foot in his mouth, when trying to set the right thing.So that was my intro to Woody Allen & Dianne Keaton of course. I instantly related to her sort of ditzy, can’t make up her mind about relationships, her idiosyncrasies: driving like a maniac ( runs in the family) humming, her euphemisms ( la di da)And she single handedly started a style of fashion that was seen everywhere - in se iteration. At 12 , I hadn’t seen the movie - but I Did see, and who was didn’t ,the vest and tie - crinkly cotton shirt - cowl neck sweaters - and top knots.10 years later I saw “looking for Mr Goodbar” which traumatized the beloved image I had about Dianne Keaton. That movie should come with a warning : JUST WATCH SOMETHING ELSE”.I won’t go through Allen’s entire catalog of films. Some are better than others. “Bananas” 30 years later - I still don’t get it.I think Manhattan Murder Mystery. Hilarious- reunited with Keaton- the film is beautifully filmed- knocking off sone of the NYC grime instead we see sharply shot views of the Village, but the real pull here.? Allen, once again in neurotic mode, add a sizable dash of paranoia- his banter with Keaton is pure gold.Well. Another Woody Allen film is about to knock MMM out of first place.Blue Jasmine is everything Woody you’d expect. Bit there are elements seen in this film that aren’t usual Allen hallmarks. The viewer is watching fine china...crack slowly till it’s completely and utterly broken. He unveils the facades of beautiful people, CHANEL wearing ladies who lunch -all yammering about their new interior designer, private dinner celebrating...well just celebrating aboard their yacht. Jasmine, buzzing around like a bee- throwing jaw dropping dinner parties in the 5th Avenue cavernous gilded penthouse. And she forever extols the generous loving husband -who wisely keeps her from any suspicion by constantly feeding her materialistic cravings.The movie is clearly showing one scene after the next-Jasmine’s unyielding belief that her marriage to her loving, generous, handsome husband is rock solid. But the suspicions swirl in their circle of superficial ilk of so called friends.When one true friend- sits down with her - and gives her jarring information-doing it as gently as she can- but doesn’t sugarcoat one scintilla-jasmine is stunned. “Who knows “ she asks. “Who doesn’t know? She offers.The wheels are coming off the limo, one by one.Barging into her billionaire husbands den- she can’t contain her rage and betrayal. Asking if it’s true. Hubby ( Alec Baldwin) cool as a cucumber- in a controlled -unemotional tone -Admits to being in love, with the French aupair ( sitter) Promises she’ll be cared for. She is losing it and desperate. But hubby continues to busily gather files and papers....cramming them into his Louis Vitton brief case. Than....he’s gone.I’ll stop here, one - because I’m tired. 2 - because the second half is like a totally different movie- everything except Jasmine.The casting in the film was really interesting and unexpected. Cate Blanchette really is the only actress who could handle this imploding role- Blanchette has been in many films - almost exclusively always in the lead role. Yet - she still had the ability to turn to vapor and disappear into the role. And not by changing her appearance drastically-here very little at all. She adapts a believable “upper crust Manhattanite” way of talking. Her Aussie accent never peeks through.But some of the 2nd half was disappointing. I’d never heard of the actress, Sally Hawkins- that’s not the problem. She just didn’t feel true-or barely needed. IDK, I Just didn’t care for her. A stunning, and welcome surprise was the one and only Andrew Dice Clay! Yea, the obnoxious, belligerent hugely successful comedian in the 80’s. No filters AT ALL. I think he got black balled- for some BS reason - anyway it was great seeing him - looking like he hasn’t aged in 30 years.His role isn’t huge - but it’s important and pivotal. In the fantasy bubble Jasmine continues to inhabit -even though she is nearly destitute -Dice-Clay’s character brings that imaginary world to an end. But he does it in such a way-as if he doesn’t have nor want to waste one minute longer in her presence. In a scene that lasts mere a couple minutes - his tangible feel of bitterness, sadness and contempt are realized. No yelling or profanities- a defeat that finally is a cold,stark truth. It’s also the lynchpin that pierces Jasmines fantasy world.As always - Alec Baldwin does nest the role is intended to do- make you REALLY despise him, and that’s before the big reveal.Bobby Cannavale, who strikes me ironically, as a hybrid Andrew Dice Clay & Brad Garrett ( who played Rays brother Robert on “everybody loves Raymond “ like Dice Clay, takes what could be a throw away roll- and injects many unexpected, poignant moments. When he is afraid he’s going to lose Jinger - his macho AF persona melts away- and replaced with the fear of losing her. He delivers a desperate plea, cries real tears- and basically begs her to not give up on them.I’ll mention Peter Skarsgard, because he’s always brings something to a role that - even in this small part- adds a more multidimensional persona. I really would like to see him in some new films-as the lead. As long as it’s not a super hero movie. Gross. And lastly - and unfortunately, Louis CK (mercifully) has a small part - playing a straight up POS. Trying to charm Jinger - filming her head with BS - and finding every word he uttered was just to get her into bed.Never liked CK....he’s not remotely attractive, or ever funny. And since his admission to EXTREMELY inappropriate behavior with his female assistants???! He made plenty of money. Disappearing should be his next and final act.☮️ peace& stay safe

An absolute work of art. Woody Allen is a genius in his storytelling, character-building, scriptwriting, and cinematography. Just a moving and poignant look at a woman whose life implodes. It's a character study that shows a universal truth that bad luck comes in threes and when times are bad, it's best to hunker down and hope and pray that the sun will shine again. Blanchett's performance is astounding. Absolutely Oscar-worthy and breathtaking. The costumes and art direction also stand out. A truly modern classic of a tragic heroine and her escape from a hopeless existence.

Well written and entertaining

2013 has undeniably been an incredible year for female leading performances. It’s going to be very hard for the Oscar voters to pick just one. However, one performance from the summer that nobody has forgotten is gaining momentum with each passing award show leading up to the Oscars in early March.I was lucky enough to see “Blue Jasmine” in the theater last summer, before all of the awards hoopla began. I suppose I simply never got around to writing a review on it. That’s my own fault. Rewatching “Blue Jasmine” on DVD this afternoon made me realize just what a gem this film was, and how realistic and true to life it is. We rarely see something this honest, this bracingly adult in American cinema. Thank goodness for Woody Allen.Truthfully, I don’t care for Woody Allen as a person, but it’s an undeniable fact that he makes incredible films. He’s gone off the rails and made a few subpar pictures, but even subpar Allen is still better than what you might see at the movie theater most of the time. “Blue Jasmine” represents a return to form for the director, who has been in the business for over sixty years. It’s a fresh and fearless character study that proves he still has stories to tell.Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) leaves her swanky Park Avenue life after her husband, a Bernie Madoff type (Alec Baldwin) is jailed for embezzling millions of dollars. Even though Jasmine is broke, she still manages to get a first class plane ticket to see her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins), and her boyfriend (Bobby Cannavalle) who she isn’t particularly fond of. Jasmine stays with her sister and her children, in their modest apartment, and struggles to find work and generally make sense out of what her life has become.Jasmine certainly has varying mental illnesses, although it’s never clear to the viewer what is the root cause of Jasmine’s downfall. She’s constantly drinking and mixing prescription medication, but it appears her body is used to this. Her real mental illness doesn’t have one root cause. It really is all sorts of things. It’s mentioned that she had been through a psychiatric facility of some kind after a nervous breakdown, and it’s clear, with every passing moment, that she may be on the verge of another.Her sister is happy in her humble little life, which really disgusts and enrages Jasmine. She is horrified that her sister has “settled” for a life so plain and devoid of everything that made her happy. The two are polar opposites, but our leading lady never quite understands that.The plot is essentially an update on “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Jasmine is reminiscent of the 1950’s housewife whose husband has abandoned her, and has nary a skill to fall back on. Always walking around in gorgeous Chanel jackets and drinking her Stoli martinis (with a twist of lemon) it’s obvious she is desperate to reclaim the lavish lifestyle that she once had. Ginger has always relied on men to bring her happiness, and in a way, so has Jasmine. Both ladies need to learn to live with what they have become individually, because it’s hard to rely on a relationship or a marriage to keep a person happy.Her life has been simply swept out from under her. Through flashbacks, we understand Jasmine’s story more deeply. At the core, this film is about what a person does after their life has fallen apart. Allen has written such a rich character in Jasmine, and no actress other than Blanchett could have played her. The character doesn’t require an actress of great range (she’s crazy at the start and crazy at the end), but does require an actress who understands how precise and layered this character is."Blue Jasmine" is not a comedy, and it doesn’t leave the viewer feeling all warm and fuzzy at the end. It certainly has its moments of comedic brilliance, but it’s definitely a drama, more than anything. Jasmine is not a happy person, and her story isn’t necessarily a pleasant one. But it’s certainly a ride worth taking.Grade: A+

This is one of Woody Allen's great movies.I was convinced I was watching not a film, but people's lives.Very sad. Again, Peter Sarsgaard is amazing.