This is Woody Allen at the top of his A-game in terms of writing and directing. I’d be embarrassed to mention how many times I have seen this movie and even if it popped on now I would lay down all tools and watch it. It’s just such a smart-social critique of our times, that I feel privileged to see it. The nuance in the writing and performances is so life-like that you could think you are watching a documentary. Blue Jasmine is the 5th Woody Allen film to appear here, but it’s my favourite of his comedy-dramas although arguably his darkest. (Match Point could throw a spanner in this too).

IMDB Storyline:
Jasmine French used to be on the top of the heap as a New York socialite, but now is returning to her estranged sister in San Francisco utterly ruined. As Jasmine struggles with her haunting memories of a privileged past bearing dark realities she ignored, she tries to recover in her present. Unfortunately, it all proves a losing battle as Jasmine’s narcissistic hangups and their consequences begin to overwhelm her. In doing so, her old pretensions and new deceits begin to foul up everyone’s lives, especially her own.

Last week I found myself seconded to watch most of The Lord of the Rings trilogy since I hadn’t seen it since its premiere. My father and I watched the first Fellowship of the Ring at the cinema in Mornington, Melbourne and he was riveted by it, although I was nonplussed. Now, the first film is my preferred of the three. Anyhows, I ventured here to reveal how captivated I was by the Australian actress Cate Blanchett as Lady Galadriel (one of the first-born elves) which leads us on to Jasmine.

Apart from another Australian actress Toni Collette (notably Muriel’s Wedding (next week’s movie), The Sixth Sense, Hereditary and About a Boy), Cate Blanchett is the ants-pants in my estimation as far as acting goes, but Emma Thompson in Remains of the Day is on par with Cate in Blue Jasmine.
Anyone that doubts that an actor deserves their dues should see Blue Jasmine. Blanchett was awarded the gong for her performance. This all reminds me of the reflections of fellow Australian actor Hugh Jackman on how he got to be where he is in a recent interview.

This is such a classy movie, but simultaneously shits on class. That’s what makes it a stand-out. The director is at the top of his game; like a surgeon of society who can see through all the superficiality and make incisive cuts for the public to see in full-view. Blue Jasmine is this.