Blue Jasmine Review

Blue Jasmine

3.5 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

The annual Woody Allen film is here, and thankfully, it's a great one. Bolstered by the superb Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine is his most powerful and resonant work in years.

Blue Jasmine follows Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), a fragile -- and possibly insane -- woman who finds her life falling apart. Her marriage with an extremely wealthy businessman (Alec Baldwin) has crumbled. Not only has she lost the man that she loved -- or so she thought she loved -- but she also has lost everything: her money, her material possessions, her friends, and even her beautiful New York apartment. Because all of these problems have led to anxiety, she seems to pop Xanax like M&Ms and replace her eight daily glasses of water with alcohol. Seeking help and refuge, Jasmine moves to San Francisco to stay with her cheery middle-class sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Submerged in a completely different lifestyle, Jasmine must decide what she wants to do with her life and how she's going to get back on her feet -- that is, before she completely collapses. 

Blue Jasmine is a rather surprising Allen film. This is not definitively a drama or a comedy, unlike so many of his other films which are quite simple to define by genre. Depending on how you look at it, Blue Jasmine will either be a dramatic comedy or a comedic drama. I believe that it's the latter. Of course, this film isn't without its hilarious moments -- and trust me when I say that there are many of them -- but it is often devastating and biting. Like the finest dark comedic dramas, Blue Jasmine contains laughs that hit you like a train and leave bruises. There are plenty of uncomfortable yet brilliant moments where you won't know whether you're supposed to be laughing or not -- they sting and burn and leave you with mixed emotions. Be prepared to laugh and wince in equal measure.

What makes Allen's direction so splendid here is that he walks the fine line between comedy and drama without veering too far off into one territory over the other -- it's like observing a fine balancing act. What's also like a balancing act is that he edits the film in an effective manner by cutting back and forth between Jasmine's rich life and her current hell-hole. This is where the tonal shifts often occur, although they are never jarring but rather fascinating and help draw you into Jasmine's two worlds. He also knows exactly how to draw pitch perfect performances from his actors (more on that later). Everyone is in top form here, and as a director, Allen knows exactly when to utilize close-ups to stunning effect so that the audience is aware of how brilliant the acting is. Allen isn't being too showy of a director here, but I kinda think that's the point.

Perhaps even more impressive than Allen's direction is his screenplay. Blue Jasmine is the most fascinating character study I've seen in a while simply because Jasmine is such a complex and deeply layered character. To put it simply, she is the exact definition of a "hot mess." She's like a ticking time bomb -- you never know when she's going to blow up. Maybe she'll hurt the people around her, or maybe she'll only hurt herself. However, there's always something bubbling underneath the surface of this volatile woman, and the impending destruction is unpredictable yet palpable. Allen has made an incredibly damaged and often times despicable character who we should hate. And yet, we never hate her. For some reason, we root for Jasmine and want her to get back on her feet. Whether she says something ridiculously pompous or incredibly cruel, we sympathize instead of judge. We understand that Jasmine is a mentally unstable woman who needs help with whatever illness she may have. The fact that Allen makes us feel for and quite possibly identify with such a nasty woman proves exactly how brilliant both his script and his main character is.

I imagine that a lesser actress might have failed miserably with the undeniably difficult character of Jasmine. She might have gone too far over the top and turned screechy and unbelievable. She would have made the film an unbearable "rich white woman with first world problems" slugfest. But fortunately, Allen chose the best actress possible: Cate Blanchett.

If Blanchett is not nominated for the "Best Actress" Oscar come 2014, then I will punch myself in the face. This is the finest performance I've seen thus far this year. Blanchett is simply astonishing, and you won't believe how good and how deeply committed she is. She carries about this air of pretentiousness while also maintaining a subtle sense of nervous, antsy energy that only escalates as the film progresses. Blanchett speaks in this hilarious demeaning manner to everyone around her -- you know, that prim and proper voice with which the rich and conceited talk. She nails every ounce of the comedy in this film, perfecting her timing and raising the stakes unbelievably high for her character, even when they shouldn't be that high. And Blanchett impresses most with her dramatic moments. When she stares into space, she isn't simply in la-la land -- there's something disturbingly real behind those empty eyes. When she talks to herself on the street, it seems as if Jasmine is actually talking to someone next to her. When she blows up and has a complete mental breakdown, it saddens and bothers you simultaneously. Blanchett makes Jasmine fiery, frightening, disturbed, pathetic, sympathetic, and real, sometimes all in a single sequence. But most importantly, she always makes Jasmine feel real and alive. This is acting of the highest order. Blue Jasmine solidifies Cate Blanchett as one of the finest actresses of her generation.

Although this movie is almost entirely Blanchett's, Blue Jasmine has a stellar supporting cast. Sally Hawkins is an absolute delight. She brings forth this lightness and happiness that is the perfect foil to some of the darkness and sadness in Blanchett and her character. Alec Baldwin is great with this dramatic and evil character -- it's a nice change from his usual comedic roles. Andrew Dice Clay is surprisingly effective and in top form here as Ginger's ex-husband. Bobby Cannavale is so charming and winning as Ginger's boyfriend. Louis C.K. brings forth a surprising amount of depth and substance to his comic character. (I actually wish there were a bit more of him in this film because he is so good). Peter Sarsgaard is fantastic as Jasmine's potential love interest. And Alden Ehrenreich has a single hefty scene with Blanchett near the end that will break your heart -- he is stunning.

Whether you are a Woody Allen fan or not, Blue Jasmine is a must-see film. From its intriguing beginning to its devastating last shot, it's a film that you won't be forgetting any time soon. Blue Jasmine is a powerhouse of a character study, one that will leave you in awe of its sensational acting and stunning splendor. Don't miss the best performance of the year in one of the finest films of 2013. Three and a half stars out of four.