Some people slow down as they approach 80 but, not Woody Allen. Admittedly, some of his recent efforts have been patchy at best, bogged down by muddled plots and generally lack of the magic that characterised his greatest films, but a recent foray to Europe has proved rather fruitful, delivering as it has the acclaimed and rather delightful Midnight in Paris and Vicky, Christina, Barcelona.
Which bring us to possibly the finest of this late renaissance, a reimagining of A Streetcar Named Desire, Blue Jasmine is a masterpiece of precision and beauty, a tightly scripted, efficiently shot and perfectly acted gem of a film. Telling the story of Manhattan socialite Jasmine who falls head first into poverty and mental illness after her banker husband is caught up in a scandal, it’s a bleak but gently funny look at owning up to the past and moving forward with dignity.
Allen writes and directs with precision, weaving character and plot through a time hopping narrative that shifts from dark comedy to tragedy within a beat.
Blanchett is nothing short of astonishing in the lead, investing Jasmine, intrinsically unlikable on paper, with genuine pathos and no little humor. Jasmine is a broken woman, shorn of her grand lifestyle, reliant on alcohol, in a city she doesn’t know and surrounded by people she could never relate to , and yet she manages to sustain some level of dignity and humanity throughout. It’s a walk along a knife edge that shines from the first breath to final shot and an Oscar is surely on the cards.
Kudos too must go to Sally Hawkins who more than holds her own as Ginger, Jasmine’s sister and foil for much of the film. Likewise, Alec Baldwin is at the top of his game as a slimy wall street player who destroys the lives of people around him with nary a grimace. Elsewhere, Allen wisely casts strong character actors and comedians in supporting rolls, letting them work magic with minimal screen time.
Of course, Allen has never shied away from putting his characters through the wringer, but this time he really goes for it. Although there is humor here, it is dotted sparsely, and fans of his more light and upbeat output may be put off by its bleak outlook. For everyone else, it’s a sharp and convincing portrait of a life falling apart.
5/5