Wick's Review

Summary - Great 4.0

Cate Blanchett transfixes in Woody Allen’s superior dramedy Blue Jasmine. Playing the Jasmine of the title, Blanchett goes from Park Avenue socialite to broken vixen in a performance that masterfully oscillates between elegance and rawness. That last almost assures her an Academy Award nomination.

Woody’s take on the Great Recession focuses on a younger version of Ruth and Bernie Madoff, in the wake of his unmasking. Hubris, narcism and greed make for heaping helpings of schadenfreude.

Her refined opportunism gets juxtaposed with her sister’s easygoing pluckiness, honed through a lifetime of hard-knocks. Forced together by the once-rich sister’s ignominious fall from grace, they form a study in contrasts. Disdainful vs. accepting, mendacious vs. guileless, to name two.

Blue Jasmine isn’t a typical Woody Allen movie, being blessedly free of a nebbish-in-the-middle and focusing more on family and finances than love and death. Thus, Woody-haters can safely enter the theater. They’ll exit amused and stimulated by a master filmmaker and especially by his nonpareil leading lady.

Acting - Great 4.0

Cate Blanchett etches another signature role into her considerable oeuvre. Playing a more theatrical and much younger Ruth Madoff, she displays effortless hauteur, blithe disdain, witchy seductiveness and – finally – a broken mind. Wow. A passel of Best Actress nominations are clearly in the offing.

Alec Baldwin and Sally Hawkins are almost equally strong as her crooked husband and workaday sister. Baldwin’s oily charm makes him a natural as a younger and more stylish incarnation of Bernie Madoff, while Hawkins’ cheerful pluckiness is downright infectious as a put-upon sister.

The impressive supporting cast includes:

• Andrew Dice Clay as a blue collar husband and brother-in-law. The Diceman may be reprehensible as a comic, but he’s sure found his métier in Woody’s movie.
• Bobby Cannavale as a blue collar boyfriend. Emotional and lovable, Cannavale improves every movie I’ve seen him in. Want proof? Win Win.
• Max Casella as his plucky buddy. Doogie Howser’s onetime buddy has crafted an impressive adult acting career for himself, including last year’s Brad Pitt vehicle Killing Them Softly.
• Tammy Blanchard as a Park Avenue matron.
• Kathy Tong as a Park Avenue MILF.
• Ali Fedotowsky as a personal trainer who provides extra services. Fedotowsky is apparently more a TV personality than an actress. Bully for her.
• Michael Stuhlbarg as a Dentist with boundary issues.
• Louis C.K. as a cheerfully amorous dude.
• Peter Sarsgaard as a hell-of-a-catch.

Film - Great 4.0

Remember when Woody launched his first drama? No, not Soon-Yi. Interiors dummy. He’s come a long way, with Blue Jasmine an apotheosis. Confidently employing regular flashbacks, he’s deftly atop his craft. Beyond mere craftsmanship, he’s wrought a rigorous drama with the sparkle of comedy. Keep ’em coming.

Edge - Risqué 1.6

Reality - Glib 1.4

• Biologically, popping Xanax like Pez while swilling Stoli like water would cause a woman to die, not just have a breakdown.
• Circumstantially, a sophisticated diplomat would certainly learn more about his fiancé before introducing her to his dignified parents, let alone buying her an engagement ring.

4 Comments

• Wick Dec 27, 2013 9:30PM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  “It’s so Woody, yet it’s so fresh.” Yes!

• Tripod Aug 25, 2013 6:55AM

  Regarding Tripod’s Review
  I can see why reviewers come and go.

• Wick Aug 24, 2013 4:53PM

  Regarding Tripod’s Review
  “The movie surprises and delivers at all levels of consciousness.” So does this review.

• BrianSez Aug 4, 2013 9:10PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  This definitely sounds worth seeing!

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