Friday, August 9, 2013

BLUE JASMINE: Woody takes a cable car named Desire

Imagine if Blanche DuBois was married to Bernie Madoff and you have an idea of the flavor of Woody Allen's latest film, "Blue Jasmine."

As the story of Jasmine French (a scorching performance by Cate Blanchett) unfolds, you can't help but immediately think of Ruth Madoff, the elegant, suffering wife of financial swindler Bernie Madoff. A Park Avenue socialite, she knows all the best people, throws the best parties and wears the best clothes and jewels. Her husband, Hal, (well played by that old slickster Alec Baldwin) keeps her in the dark and she seems to be a willing innocent, content to let him deal with the business while she tends to their social life.
Jasmine and Hal before the fall
We first meet Jasmine after the fall. She has left New York and run to San Francisco to live with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins), a character as down to earth as Jasmine is in the clouds. The reach of Jasmine's husband's thievery extended all the way to Ginger, whose ex-husband lost his lottery windfall by listening to Hal's bad investment advice. Ginger now has a new brutish boyfriend, Chili, (shades of Stanley Kowalski) and the mundane, unrefined life that Jasmine must now share with Ginger frightens and repels her. 
Ginger and Chili argue over the produce
Jasmine, like Blanche, is a wounded bird who lives in a dreamland. She longs for the beautiful but is confronted with ugliness wherever she turns. Ginger's boyfriend thinks she is a snob and Jasmine tries to convince Ginger she can do better, driving a wedge between the formerly happy couple.
Hal gets ready to fleece his brother-in-law
Jasmine gives ordinary life a try (she works for an amorous dentist and tries to learn how to work a computer), but her prayers are seemingly answered when she meets Dwight, a rich widower with political ambitions. Dwight has no idea who she is and Jasmine, knowing that the truth would make a commitment from Dwight impossible, lives a lie and almost gets a ring, but fate, in the person of Ginger's fleeced ex-husband, intervenes and her identity is revealed on the street right in from of the jewelry store that sells the ring she almost got.
Jasmine, like Blance Du Bois, cannot deny the ugly truth
Before Jasmine came to San Francisco, we learned that she had been found wandering the streets of New York, talking to herself. Our last view of Jasmine is as a confused woman, sitting on a bench talking to herself. However, it does not appear that the kindness of strangers can save her.

The laughs are more like chuckles here, as Woody is going for a penetrating character portrait of a broken woman. She is a phony, but the make-believe that was the foundation of her former life is all that she has to cling to. The fact that she is shallow and somewhat unsympathetic does not make her plight any less harrowing. Sure, Marie Antoinette fiddled while Paris burned, but we kind of felt bad when she lost her head, and we know Blanche put on airs, but we pitied her, nonetheless. And there always those who stand on the sidelines and smile with smug delight when the mighty are brought low.

As always, the performances in a Woody Allen film are stellar. Cate Blanchett is perfection and she is well supported by Baldwin, Hawkins, Louis C.K. as a philandering fling for Ginger, Peter Sarsgaard as Dwight and Bobby Cannavale as Chili, giving a real Stanley Kowalski-type performance. A pleasant surprise is the very good performance by Andrew Dice Clay as Ginger's bitter ex-husband. 

"Blue Jasmine" is lovely to look at and hard to forget.
Another Oscar nomination in Cate's future

12 comments:

Silver Screenings said...

This sounds really interesting, and I can imagine Cate is nothing short of perfect in this role.

I bet Alex Baldwin is terrific as the "Bernie Madoff" character.

DorianTB said...

Marsha, BLUE JASMINE sounds like a fascinating modern spin on A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, with Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, and a heck of a cast! Yep, it's looking like Blanchett may have another Oscar nomination in her future! Excellent review, as always!

Christian Esquevin said...

Nice choice to cover FlickChick. I can't wait to see it. All the reviews sound great and I'm sure its not only finely acted but also a thought-provoking story. Sure to be one of Woody Allen's finest.

The Lady Eve said...

I haven't seen Blue Jasmine yet, but a longtime friend - one whose taste in movies is very close to mine - has seen it and told me about it yesterday. Interestingly, he also mentioned Blanche Dubois. One comment he made that you - as an East Coaster - might appreciate from a long-time San Francisco Bay Area resident is that the working class characters in the film seemed more like they were from the Bronx than the SF area. This is one I won't miss - love Cate, love Woody, adore SF. As always, Chick, a great and enjoyable read.

Page said...

Hi, FlickChick!
Hmmm, this looks very interesting indeed. : ) I try to keep up with the latest films but I hadn't even heard of this one. So glad you reviewed it.

Thrilled that Woody has another film that you feel could garner more Oscar nods. I was so thrilled with Midnight In Paris so this is great news.

Cate is lovely and with her acting chops I can only imagine her racking up the Award nods like Meryl and the great Kate. (Speaking of Kate. I thought she was fantastic in her portrayal of her via The Aviator)

I'll have to see if I can find the film at a theater here or just wait until it comes out on DVD.

Looking forward to seeing it now. (I did see the documentary recently that covered the Madoff scandal and investigation leading up to his arrest which was really interesting. Not sure if you've seen it but it's "Chasing Madoff".

I also loved your comparison to Blanc and the greedy Mrs. Madoff. Jasmine sounds fascinating.

Page

FlickChick said...

Silver Screenings - Alec is very good, but Cate blows everyone off the screen.

FlickChick said...

Hi Dorian - it is a good film - very thought provoking.

FlickChick said...

Christian - I hope you like it. The costume choices are interesting, so I think you will be pleased!

FlickChick said...

Lady Eve - you are so right about the Bronx/Brooklyn accents! I think Woody made a little boo-boo there.

FlickChick said...

Page - thanks for stopping by. If Cate is not nominated, I will be shocked.

Classic Film and TV Cafe said...

Well, you hooked me with your opening line! BLUE JASMINE sounds like an intriguing effort from Mr. Allen, who does enjoy stepping out of his comfort zone from time to time. I loves me some Cate Blanchett and will watch her in anything. I will definitely be on the lookout for BLUE JASMINE.

FlickChick said...

Hi Rick - see it if you get a chance. Woody still has more to say!