Bill Crider observed that Woody Allen creates great roles for women characters. Woody creates another one with Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), wife of a Bernie Madoff-tyoe investor (Alec Baldwin). After her husband’s real estate empire unravels, Jasmine finds herself financially destitute. She flies from New York City to San Francisco to live with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins), a cashier at a local supermarket. Woody Allen shows the transformation from Jasmine’s life of wealth and luxury reduced to relying on the kindness of others in a series of flashbacks. The audience watches as Jasmine’s world comes crashing down. I’m ready to give Cate Blanchett the BEST ACTRESS Oscar today. My only quibble is with Woddy’s ending, but you’ll have to be the judge of that. GRADE: B+
Well, I guess I’m back to RkR for an identity here. Computers have strange ways.
Woody Allen lost me many, many years and films ago, but this is one I’m very tempted by. Not that I’ll see it in the movie house, but it might turn up on the Netflix list one of these days, after the usual interval.
Cate was amazing but I had trouble with the blue-collar men who all seemed like stereotypes. Woody needs to leave the upper eastside and experience real life instead of reel life a little. The ending didn’t bother me because it seemed a lot like the way STREETCAR ended with little hope for Blanche (or Jasmine).
Patti, you’re right about the two blue-collar men. They seemed identical to me. I was hoping for a more clever ending. But Cate was great!
Rick, you will love Cate Blanchett’s terrific performance in BLUE JASMINE. This is not a comedy (although there are some humorous moments). If you haven’t seen an Woody Allen movie in a while, BLUE JASMINE will surprise you.
Can’t wait to see this George – many of the Woodman’s films have not of late received a theatrical release in the UK so I hope this gets a proper showing here – I’m glad to say that the slightly overlooked TO ROME WITH LOVE was an exception and it was great to see my hometown celebrated in my adopted home.
Sergio, Woody Allen’s movies always fascinate me, even when they are bad. He’s not afraid to take risks. I really loved Vicki Christina Barcelona! And Cate Blanchett is the best actress Woody Allen has worked with (in my opinion).
Yeah…I’ve usually thought the praise Allen gets for his female characters is a bit generous. Particularly up to the point where I gave Allen films up, most of the female characters were still foolish at least as far as they didn’t see the obvious genius and lovability in the loutish Allen character, or his surrogate. That recurring trope was tired long before his questionable romantic choices came to the fore.
True, Todd. But with so few non-stereotyped women’s roles in Hollywood these days, Woody’s women characters get more than their share of props.