Blue Jasmine is this year's offering from illustrious and profuse director Woody Allen and it's one of his best in the past five years, in my opinion, second only to Midnight in Paris. For those of you who didn't love that film, however, this will more likely fit the bill. Where that film was fantastical and charming, this one is real and personal.
Cate Blanchett's performance is the perfect blend of big and subtly pointed as the film centers around her nervous breakdown. She gets excellent support from Alec Baldwin, as her smooth, crooked husband and Sally Hawkins, as her hard-working, but unconfident sister. Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale, and Louis C.K. also have delightful supporting roles (although there's been some backlash on Dice Clay and Cannavale playing San Francisco natives while retaining their distinct New York dialects).
The other brilliant part of this movie is the way Allen integrates the music into the storytelling, especially "Blue Moon." The song itself is mentioned several times, but Allen manages to so deftly use the music itself and the lyrics to play an integral part in the narrative. It's truly magical that after so many films, he can still leave me marveling at his skill.
If you're into the whole "Oscar race," like I am, make sure Blue Jasmine is on your list of films to see this year. It's a gem.
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