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Blue Jasmine Movie Review

Blue Jasmine is a 2013 drama film directed by Woody Allen and starring Cate Blanchett and Sally Hawkins. It’s one of the director’s better films.

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“Some people, they don’t put things behind so easily“

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Jasmine, a debt-ridden and emotionally fragile socialite, travels to San Francisco to stay with her sister Ginger as she tries to get back on her feet despite having no skills and money. This is one of the most dramatic and serious movies that Allen has ever made and it ranks among his best. The story is simple for sure, but it’s executed phenomenally. The result is a drama that flows well and is genuinely engaging throughout.

This is one of those movies that rely heavily on their performers to carry it through the finish line, which is exactly what all of them did. And I am not just talking about the ladies here, but also men. It’s surprising to find a film where even the smaller characters and supporting actors get their due, but it happened here.

Alec Baldwin was well cast, but we’ve seen him in this type of role before. I was great seeing Louis C.K. in a Woody Allen movie and he was quite likable per usual. But Bobby Cannavale has rarely been better cast than he was here and he was very memorable. And the highlight for me was Andrew Dice Clay in a genuinely effective role. His final speech was so good.

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Let’s talk about the ladies, both of whom were Oscar-nominated for their work here. Sally Hawkins was just terrific and again perfectly cast in the role of this well-meaning, lower-class woman who can’t ever succeed in life romantically or professionally. She was lovely in the role and the character was so realistic and well written.

But this is of course Cate Blanchett’s movie to shine and she did. This easily ranks among her finest performances to date along with her stellar work in ‘Tar’. It’s only natural that when something happens to the rich husband of the woman who otherwise has nothing that she could lose everything in an instant, but we rarely see stories like this on the big screen, which made this movie fresh.

Jasmine’s downward spiral was so well told and you really feel the intensity of it and of her emotions. Blanchett killed it in this emotionally complex role that asked a lot from her and she delivered every single time. That final scene where she talks to herself on the bench showed her true skill as a performer. I’ve seen people like this many times before in urban environments and Cate flawlessly embodied this behavior that it was uncanny to observe. This is a terrific character arc that was grounded in reality and propelled by the actress’s performance for the ages. I am so glad that the Academy honored her with her second Oscar.

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Some have called Blue Jasmine a dramedy, but I don’t see it. This is a straightforward drama with almost no comedic elements and there is nothing wrong with it. It even proves that Allen is just as capable in dramatic as in comedic form and he should have ventured more often into this territory. The movie isn’t technically outstanding in any areas, but it’s still very well directed and particularly well structured with the flashbacks being perfectly incorporated into the main narrative and giving more depth to the main character as they should. The dialogue is excellent and the characterization is top-notch. The movie never vilifies or overly empathizes with Jasmine, which was the only right choice for this selfish and vain woman.