Blue Jasmine (2013)

One of my all time favorites.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Cate did a wonderful job. A true actress. It is easy to see why she was nominated.

A detailed and nuanced portrait of an extremely troubled woman that manages to have a light, comedic tone despite its dark content. Tackles a number of heavy themes like mental illness, identity, and infidelity but always in a clever, entertaining, and frequently funny way. Cate Blanchett is the blinding star of the film, giving a phenomenal performance that she certainly deserved her Oscar win for. Her range here is so broad and she captures every detail of her histrionic character in a way that feels authentic and spontaneous. The screenplay is also largely excellent with sharp dialogue and an intelligent structure which jumps between the past and present in a way that effectively peels the layers of these characters back. There are a few moments that feel a bit contrived, particularly a chance encounter Jasmine has with a former brother-in-law which was a tad too convenient for the story and felt more scripted than spontaneous. These moments are rare, however, and overall Blue Jasmine is a quality film elevated to excellence by Blanchett.4/5

It's what you can expect from a Woody Allen movie. The thing that maybe makes this movie worth while is the superb acting of the lead characters. But other than that, the movie is predictably depressing in its attempt to portray the struggles of a middle aged woman who has hit rock bottom after a failed marriage. Without spoiling the plot, the ending is classically Woody Allen too, completely random.

Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is one troubled woman. After finding the high life with rich, rich investment guru hubby Hal (Alec Baldwin), things fell apart. Hal was the twin of Bernie Madoff, lost his client's monies, and is now in prison. Maybe its a good thing, for he was a serial cheater on Jasmine as well. Now, with very few options, Jasmine goes to San Francisco to stay indefinitely with her warm but ditzy sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). On arrival, Ginger welcomes Jasmine but is aghast when Jazz confides that she hid away some jewels and traveled first class. This makes sis ponder, what did Jasmine know about her husband's scheming? When they were girls, Jasmine was Jeanette until she "re-invented" herself as a Manhattan socialite who had little or no time for Ginger. Also, long ago, Ginger and her former husband, Augie (Andrew Dice Clay) won the lotto but lost everything when Hal convinced them to invest in his company. So, tensions are severe. A grocery clerk, Ginger has two sons and a loving but uncouth boyfriend, Chili (Bobby Cannavale). Naturally, Jasmine advises her to dump this man and look elsewhere. Without a job or a means to get back on her feet, Jasmine tries to earn an online interior decorator's license. When she fails, Jazz reluctantly gets a job as a dentist's receptionist. But, one fateful night, Jasmine gets invited to a society event, drags along Ginger, and spies relief. A handsome man and wealthy man, Dwight (Peter Sarsgaard) casts his eye on beautiful Jasmine and she immediately plots to marry him. But, can she get a ring on her finger before he finds out who she is? This excellent movie, torn from the headlines of the Madoff scandal, is a serious turn by Woody. It recalls his stellar film Cries and Misdemeanors, with a touch of humor amid the somber chaos. Blanchett excels as the conniving diva who swears she didn't know what her ex-husband was doing and finds middle class life unbearable. Hawkins, Baldwin, Cannavale, Clay, Sarsgaard, and all of the others are terrific, too. Cheers, also, for the great scenery, costumes, and polished direction. More importantly, the script is tantalizing as it asks the viewer to ponder what is the worth of a man or woman; is it wealth or is it a loving heart? Even this question is nuanced in fifty shades. All Woody fans MUST catch it and most of the rest of the planet should watch it, too.