Blue Jasmine
Dir: Woody Allen
2013
****
Blue Jasmine is the first Woody Allen film I've really enjoyed for a few years now but somehow It doesn't quite feel like a Woody Allen film. It's got a great cast, with a few regular contributors and some nice new additions. Sally Hawkins belongs in a Woody Allen film, glad he cast her again, Bobby Cannavale (in his best role since The Station Agent) and Andrew Dice Clay are also inspired choices but it's Cate Blanchett's performance that wins through. It's one of the best performances of the last 10 years, easily. It's a very serious performance, not really fitting with Allen's recent work. It's a compelling and very real performance that doesn't fit in what is advertised as a comedy film (and no, it's not a black comedy either). The other characters are Allen style comedy and somehow it works together. Could this be Allen's first truly original film in the last couple of decades? I think it might be. I'm really glad Allen stayed behind the camera in this won. It's A Streetcar Named Desire with a modern setting and subject and maybe a little better in many respects.