Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 8/23/13

Reviewed 8/27/13 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Alec Baldwin and Cate Blanchett star in this latest Woody Allen film and while it doesn't have the humor of some of Allen's latest ones, it is still a worthwhile movie. The story toggles back and forth between present and the not-so-long-ago past; a popular movie with Allen and his films. Some will think this is a downer, so if you only like funny and happy this film might not be for you.

Hal (Baldwin) and socialite wife Jasmine (Blanchett) have it "all'. The charmed NYC life with all of the material excess to go along with it. All too good to be true...?

So it seems. The despicable Hal turns out to be a dirtbag along the same lines as Bernie Madoff. He doesn't feel the slightest guilt ripping people off, even friends and family. This is all unbeknownst to play along wife Jasmine. Her bubble world bursts and her suspicions come true after the habitual cheater Hal admits to his latest fling. "But this one is serious," he quips. Broke and husband off to prison, Jasmine goes to San Fransisco to bunk up with scraping by, but happy, sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). Arriving with just her meager Louis Vuitton luggage, it doesn't take long for the still snobby Jasmine to start criticizing sis beginning with Ginger's boyfriend Chili (Bobby Cannavale). 

Getting a job for the first time and reinventing her life is not quite what Jasmine bargained for, but she is determined. You begin to feel for her plight and almost start rooting for her. Along comes charming Dwight (Peter Sarsgaard) and they strike up a relationship, but she leaves out all of the important pieces of her past - which is pretty much everything.

It all comes full circle...eventually. As with Woody Allen style there is a message within, which is not necessarily hidden. Any number of these themes could apply... "can't hide from your past, honesty is the best policy, don't judge lest you be judged, once a cheater always a cheater, you get what you deserve".  Blue Jasmine has some depressing moments and I can't say you will leave feeling warm and fuzzy, but it is another good effort by Allen that Gary and I both liked.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJJ