Cast of Characters:
Harold Francis - Alec Baldwin
Jeanette "Jasmine" Francis - Cate Blanchett
Al - Louis C.K.
Chili - Bobby Cannavale
Augie - Andrew Dice Clay
Ginger - Sally Hawkins
Dwight Westlake - Peter Sarsgaard
Dr. Flicker - Michael Stuhlbarg
Director - Woody Allen
Screenplay - Woody Allen
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, language and sexual content
Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, Louis C.K., Andrew Dice Clay, Peter Sarsgaard and Academy Award nominee Alec Baldwin star in Academy Award winning director Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine.
Now attempting to move on in San Francisco, a very medicated Jasmine dreams of becoming an interior decorator. She gets a job as a dental assistant, and things seem to be on the up when she meets the wealthy Dwight Westlake (Peter Sarsgaard), an aspiring California politician. In spite of the good she seems to have coming her way, Jasmine still finds it hard to shake off her past.
For almost fifty years, Woody Allen has consistently written and directed hit after hit after hit. It's not just his strength as a writer, it's also that no matter who he is working with, everyone brings their A-game for him. In Blue Jasmine, everyone does just that. Cate Blanchett is brilliant in the sometimes funny, sometimes sad and overall complex title role that is Jasmine. She's not very likeable; in fact, she's at times a snobby bitch, but Blanchett is able keep the audience downright fascinated with her anyway. The supporting work is also terrific. Baldwin is solid as usual in a role that we don't necessarily like but can't hate either and Bobby Cannavale and Sally Hawkins are equally strong. Hawkins and Blanchett, in particular, are great together as they provide us with some entertaining culture clash moments and Andrew Dice Clay surprised me in a terrific supporting role (particularly his final scene with Jasmine). It's really Louis C.K. and Michael Stuhlbarg that didn't work for me here. That's not a slight on their talent in any way. Louis C.K. is one of the hottest comics out there now and if you haven't seen Stuhlbarg in the Coen brothers film A Serious Man, do so. It really boils down to the fact that I found both of their roles to be somewhat filler throwaways. I would've rather have seen Allen focus more on the relationship between Jasmine and Sarsgaard's Westlake. Sarsgaard is really good in the few scenes we see him in and it really is a missed opportunity for Allen 'cause the few scenes we do see him in with Blanchett, as good as they are, aren't enough. I would've rather have seen that relationship develop more (especially, without giving anything away, when you see how it first comes about) than stopping by to see C.K. and Stuhlbarg's characters.
In spite of its flaws, this is far from a bad film. It's just not what I expect from Woody Allen. Of course, it's unfair to say that in the hands of a lesser director we'd be saying this is a great film, but since it's Allen we hold him to a higher standard. Then again, when you've written and directed Annie Hall, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Hannah and Her Sisters, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and Bullets Over Broadway (just to name a few)... well, yeah, we are gonna hold you to a higher standard. I will say though that Blanchett's electrifying performance - that may very well earn her an Oscar nod next year - along with the solid supporting cast makes this worth a watch, be it a rainy day matinee or a weekend rental. If you choose the latter, throw in any of the previous five films I just mentioned with it. I give Blue Jasmine a B (★★★).
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