Movie Title:
Blue Jasmine
PG – 13, 1 hour 38 minutes
Grade: B+
In a Nutshell: The best part of this Woody Allen film is
the stunning Cate Blanchett, who just won a Golden Globe for this role, as well
as an Oscar nomination with buzz of a win.
She plays Jasmine/Jeanette, a wealthy Park Avenue
wife whose life unravels, leaving her to discover and reinvent herself. It’s a bit
depressing, but darkly funny. Some people will find some satisfaction in
watching a rich snob fall to the bottom of the financial barrel. Of course, Alec Baldwin is completely
believable in his role as a Bernie Madoff type of husband. Andrew Dice
Clay hardly has to act and British
actress Sally Hawkins is delightful as Jasmine’s sister Ginger.
Clay hardly has to act and British
actress Sally Hawkins is delightful as Jasmine’s sister Ginger.
Uplifting theme: It’s a cautionary tale of sorts for
women. Girls, pay attention to your
finances; don’t “let” your husband take care of it all. Be an informed partner. Jasmine’s brother-in-law Augie said about her “She’s a phony and had to know.” Did she?
We hear one of Jasmine’s wealthy gal pal’s advise her “Just don’t file a
joint tax return.” Jasmine sighs “I sign
anything…I’m very trusting.” Famous last
words.
Jasmine’s step-son asks “Did you not suspect anything or did
you not care?” Good question. She turned the other eye at her husband’s
dishonest business dealings, but ironically, she drew the line at his
cheating. Jasmine is so delusional that
she makes a remark about another man who can’t seem to live without a woman,
but in reality, she is the one who can’t live without a man. She criticizes her sister for choosing to
date losers, but Jasmine’s husband Hal is the bigger loser, albeit an extremely
wealthy one.
Jasmine said “There’s only so many traumas a person can
withstand before you take to the streets and start screaming.” Perhaps those who judge “crazy” people
mumbling on the park bench will now stop to consider what pains and sorrows
brought the person to that point.
Things I liked: Cate Blanchett is simply mesmerizing to
watch. Woody Allen is a master at
building characters and choosing his leading women. I loved Jasmine’s gorgeous
home on the beach.
Things I didn’t like: I hated watching women being lied to by married
men. I was surprised that there was nothing
interesting to see at the beginning…just
rolling names on the screen. I might have panned across beautiful homes of
the “rich and famous” or the The Hamptons: Life Behind the Hedges
Funny line:
- “I changed it. Yeah, Jeanette had no panache.” - Jasmine
- Can
you believe I had to move out of my beautiful home and take a place in
- Ginger asks Jasmine “How did you fly First Class” and Jasmine answers “I don’t know. I just did.”
- “I suppose I’m going to have to invite them to my birthday party now.” – Jasmine
- “Tomorrow I’m definitely taking the day off. I’ve neglected everything: my yoga, my pilates…” - Jasmine
- “Not bad taste for a Philistine businessman.” - Hal when he gives Jasmine an expensive bracelet”
- “Nurses are hot to go to bed with.” – Ginger’s new boyfriend
- “They say every year millions of brain cells just die off.” – Jasmine as she throws back a glass of alcohol
- “He’s sexy and he doesn’t steal.” – Ginger
- “
Things to look for:
- The way she treats people in the service industry at the beginning.
- The “infinity pool” in her backyard
- Jasmine checks her watch when Ginger & Augie come to visit
- Jasmine’s gigantic diamond wedding ring
Tips for parents:
This is really not a movie for children. The film is a character study with no
action. In other words, they’ll be bored
to death. Some profanity, but no
F-bombs. Some sexual discussions and a
terrifically awkward groping scene with a pathetic dentist.
