August 6, 2013 in DRAMA
Blue Jasmine Review
RYAN: Blue Jasmine is the new Woody Allen movie starring Cate Blanchett. It is sad, disturbing and very good.CHUCK: I loved it. I always group Woody Allen with Neil Simon – from that same era of the ’70s and ’80s when they were both really big. They have a certain theatrical style to their writing and there was often a bit of melancholy underlining their humor. This movie is very melancholic.
RYAN: It’s super dramatic. It has a great script with a very interesting story about mental illness and the slow deterioration of a life. It’s about one woman’s breakdown. It’s tragic. But the relationships between family and lovers – all really make this movie.
CHUCK: It shows the falsity of relationships in the upperclass of society, among many themes. I found it intriguing how Jasmine was living her life but couldn’t really trust anyone. And the one conscientious move she made set about ruining her whole life.
RYAN: Totally sad. Money is a big divider in this film – between social classes and families; the differences are quite real and often aggravating. For all that this tone is unique among his films, this is still classic Woody. He uses the same font and opens his films in the familiar way. That’s his stamp and style.
CHUCK: And God bless him, he’s still working.
RYAN: Throughout his career, he would appear in his films, always in a neurotic role – later he still wrote himself in films but had other actors portray the character; but in this film, there is no semblance of a Woody character.
CHUCK: That’s a really great point. There usually is one in his films and there certainly wasn’t here. This is very original. Can we talk about Cate?
RYAN: Please. She’s one of the best actresses in the world. She’s just golden in everything. I’m so glad she’s already won an Oscar. I’d nominate her right now for this one and it’s gonna be a hugely competitive year for leading actresses. Cate’s craymazing in this role! Playing borderline can’t be easy.
CHUCK: I agree. It’s absolutely one of her best performances. She disappears into this role and is instantly an uncomfortable character.
RYAN: I think there are shades of her character’s crazy that are relatable. We all live in denial of things at one point or another and that is very real – the struggle in life between fantasy and the reality of what our lives are.
CHUCK: Completely. It’s amazing how art can do that. There are times when it entertains and also comments on very real issues.
RYAN: Alec Baldwin – this is the perfect role for him.
CHUCK: And Sally Hawkins as Cate’s sister is fantastic. As is typical for a Woody movie, it’s such good casting. Bobby Cannavale is incredible. There were times when this film could be broken down as an actor’s scene study.
RYAN: I also liked Alden Ehernreich who played Cate’s son. I interviewed him earlier this year for Beautiful Creatures and it was so cool to see him in scenes with Cate Blanchett now.
CHUCK: And Woody always puts together such a great ensemble… Peter Sarsgaard was the perfect combo of smarmy and suave. There’s Andrew Dice Clay, making a comeback, and even Louis C.K.
RYAN: He was the right physical type. I just love Tammy Blanchard! She’s one of the most underrated actresses. I wanted to see more of her in this but was glad just to see her.
CHUCK: It’s a very interesting movie. We do live in a fantasy world sometimes. The costuming is also great; really says a lot about the characters.
RYAN: Right, the costumes are very much a part of the story of who these people are and what they’re going through. It was very, very well done. It doesn’t feel like a typical Woody Allen.
CHUCK: And it’s not a comedy.
RYAN: I laughed at the beginning before I realized it’s not funny. There are still some comedic lines throughout, but it’s more, like, uncomfy to laugh then. It’s a great drama and character study – one of Woody’s finest films.
