Thursday, August 22, 2013

Blue Jasmine





                                                             


                I have always been a fan of consistency. It is something that is so hard to achieve in life and most of us are always looking for it.  In Hollywood, it’s almost impossible. There are plenty of consistent things in life though, things like the sun coming up, The Simpsons, the Cubs not winning a world series, and of course a Woody Allen movie coming out. Since 1977 Woody Allen has released at least one movie every year. Another amazing thing is that a majority of them are really good. So here we are in 2013, and what is Woody offering us this year?
             “Blue Jasmine” is another in a long line of great Woody Allen films.  Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is having a rough time. You see Jasmine was married to Hal (Alec Baldwin) and they had it all. They lived the life of the rich and famous, you know what some people call the perfect life. Hal loves Jasmine, but Hal also loves other women and is always trying something new. Something happens though, and Jasmine is forced to move to San Francisco to live with her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Jasmine has lost it all, and has nothing left, just her clothes from her previous life of being rich. Jasmine is not right and is having a nervous breakdown as she gets accustomed to living life with no money. Her sister Ginger wants to help her, even though she didn’t treat her well when Jasmine did not need her. Jasmine though cannot forget the past, but must find a way to do so in order for her to move on with her life.
            There are many reasons to love a Woody Allen film. You know it will have great dialogue, amazing locales, and great stories about relationships. For the last few years Allen has given up staring in his films, but has never stopped writing himself in a role. Blanchett plays Allen as good as Allen ever has. She has neurotic down perfectly and Jasmine wouldn't be played the same by many other people. I think Allen has the relationship between a man and a women figured out. I say that because that relationship always plays a central role in all his movies, and they don’t feel made up, they feel real. Allen also always finds the perfect actors for his movies, not everyone can do a Woody Allen Film. “Blue Jasmine” is no different, with great roles by Baldwin, Blanchett, Hawkins, and Andrew Dice Clay, yes that one. Allen seems like he has hit his stride again, and is really making movies as good as anything he has ever done. So grab your significant other, go to one of those theaters that serve wine, and sit back and enjoy another film by one of the greatest storytellers in movie history.

 Brian Taylor


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