Blue Jasmine (08.2013)

8/7/2013

★★★★★★★★★☆ (9/10)

Anyone who has watched a couple of Woody Allen’s films will recognize the soft jazzy tunes commencing his newest picture, Blue Jasmine. Not to mention the French music flowing in and out throughout the movie. Allen’s Francophilic tendencies surface again in the heroine’s name, Jasmine French (Cate Blanchett).

Blue Jasmine begins at the present, where Jasmine talks endlessly on a plane ride to a dumbfounded lady next seat. And before you know it, we are taken to a flashback of when Jasmine’s life was still strung perfectly together. Every bit of her past—grandiose house, charming husband, impeccable fashion, and admirable status—is enviable.

However, Jasmine is not her old self anymore. She is now going through a life crisis after losing all her money and status by a grand financial scandal with her husband. She flies to California to reunite with her fellow adopted sister who provides her with emotional support and housing. But after flying above the clouds, walking on the ground like normal people is not such an easy task.

This film revolves around a woman we think we should hate, but surprisingly love. We cannot blame Jasmine for being conceited and spoiled, because she has so much reason to be so. Furthermore, she does indeed try her best to escape from the crisis both in the ways that she knows and does not know. It’s only when we realize that she is far too broken that we understand the cruelty of the human world.

Cate Blanchett’s acting is more than superb in this dark comedy. Her character is helplessly disoriented, contemptible, and… I suppose I have to say it—crazy. Blanchett’s depiction of Jasmine as the humiliated socialite is so genuine and full of emotions; the viewers are sure to pity and fall in love with Jasmine.

Blue Jasmine connects to its viewers because it is much more honest and humanistic than Allen’s other films. As Jasmine deceives others and even her own self with lies in order to ensure her place, the movie shows us our weakness toward wealth and class, and how we struggle to cling onto a social status that we believe will guarantee respect and happiness.

Allen doesn’t mean to charm or warm our hearts with Jasmine. Instead, he means to illustrate a tragedy so complete and pathetic that it pains us to watch: Jasmine’s teary red eyes pierce our hearts and deliver honest desperation. In the end, however, it is easy to fall in love with this character who is so vulnerable, and then with this darling film that arouses emotions of our own.

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