Review 277: Blue Jasmine

In all my years of film reviewing, few of Woody Allen's films have been this visually beautiful, touching and disturbing at the same time.

After everything in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal (Alec Baldwin), elegant New York socialite Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) moves into her sister Ginger’s (Sally Hawkins) modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again.

The plot is full of surprises, twists and turns. It tells the story of a selfish girl who leads an expensive life. It's a story mainly about someone you truly hate but she goes on such a journey that you can't help but feel sorry for her. The dilema is you feel sorry for her and you feel she gets what she deserves.

Not only is it a really sad, touching and at times disturbing film, it's a story about greed, delusion, speculative finances and sisterly love. It's a film of extremes, you see Jasmine go from being really wealthy to being incredibly poor and struggling. 
Also the films use of flashbacks is extremely innovative and something you really wouldn't expect from Woody Allen.

Now I know what your probably thinking at this point, your thinking how do these themes play a part in this film?

Greed: Hal steals a lot of money so he and Jasmine can live a wealthy life and I think thats a great example of how money and wealth can ruin your life.

Delusion: The whole revolves around Jasmines delusion following her break up with Hal and loss of all that money. Suddenly becoming a poor person.

Sisterly love: Blue Jasmine also is about Jasmines relationship with her sister Ginger, they appeal to hate each other but Ginger decides to let Jasmine stay with her because it's the right thing and I found that really touching.

Also all the characters are flawed - they all have their own problems e.g. Jasmine mourning her break up, Ginger doesn't have very high expectations of life and doesn't have the best job in the world and Danny (Alden Ehrenreich) Hal's son despises him and cuts himself off from the rest of his family. 

Woody Allen's direction is precise, the cinematography is beautiful, the locations are stunning, the production is spectacular, the costumes are gorgeous, make up is rich, the props are terrific and the ending was superb.

The acting is fantastic though the star actor has to be Cate Blanchett for playing a protagonist you hate but who goes on a facinating journey while going through a deep depression.

Sally Hawkins is also fantastic as Ginger, she's a loving sister but flawed character who isn't making a whole lot out her life and her relationship with her sister really moves me.

Peter Sarsgaard is great in his bit role as Dwight Westlake, he kind uplifts the films downcast tone in some ways and for some parts of the film mends Jasmines wounds.

Alec Baldwin is terrific as Hal, he's such a slimy, wheeler dealer whose got his fingers in all the pies.
Another actor in film who I think doesn't get enough attention is Alden Ehrenreich as Danny, he hates Hal and threatens to leave the family and eventually leaves his life at Harvard to sell second hand guitars and his problems really move me.

Lastly, Bobby Cannavale is brilliant as Chili, Ginger's fiance, he is this cool guy and really loves Ginger but Ginger's not so sure he's the right man, there relationship is one of the most facinating parts of the film and we hope they'll work it out in the end.

Blue Jasmine is visually beautiful at times disturbing film an example of how wonderful a filmmaker Woody Allen is, 5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.