Blue Jasmine: NR #49

{Preface: Sorry if this review looks different compared to the others. I had to write this on my phone, this may be happening every once in a while. Just wanted to explain myself}

After a long week of crazy celebrity stuff, the crisis in Syria, and school, I need some quiet movie to help me calm down. Luckily, I saw Woody Allen's newest film, one that has garnered critical acclaim and audience dollars. Going in knowing nothing, I saw...

  

PLOT

A modernized retelling of the classic play "A Streetcar Named Desire", "Blue Jasmine" is about a woman named Jasmine who marries a wealthy business man named Hal. She lives a life of luxury and common ignorance. One day, Hal is arrested for embezzlement and other illegal business acts, leaving Jasmine with no money. The only place she can go now is her sister's apartment in San Francisco. Now Jasmine must deal with this loss while also dealing with her fragile psyche.

PROS

Everyone in the film gives a great performance, but the true standout is Cate Blanchett playing Jasmine. She gives a performance that encompasses so many different strong emotions and she pulls them off effortlessly. It really is a haunting performance and is a shoe-in for an Oscar.

The script and dialogue are also great, but why expect anything less from Woody Allen? 

The film does a good job at balancing different tones, the main ones being comedy and depression. The movie is laugh-out-loud hilarious at times, yet it's also sad and tragic. The key here is that neither feel out of place and work in there respective context.

Similar to Allen's own "Annie Hall", the movie takes place near the end of the story, with the first half being told through flashbacks. Also like "Annie Hall", it's expertly done and is used to explain references the characters make. In this film, it's also used to show how Jasmine associates certain words with her past and how they lead to her small mental break downs.

One thing that I really liked about the script is that no one character is just Woody Allen. While some characters do  have little bits of Allen in them, no single person completely personifies Allen, which is a welcomed change from his past works.

CONS

I don't mean to cop out, but I honestly can't think of any major problems I have with this film.

CONCLUSION

I went into this movie completely cold. I knew nothing about the plot or it's tone, I only knew it was by Woody Allen and it was receiving universal acclaim. Once it began, I was instantly taken in by its story and real but tragic characters. It is a Woody Allen film, no question, but it certainly will be regarded as one of his best for decades to come.

RATING

(HIGH) RUN TO