Blue Jasmine

It’s always the same with me and Woody Allen. Whenever I go see his movie, I don’t know whether I’ll be satisfied, or whether I’ll be rolling my eyes in disbelief. Once, I was pleasantly surprised, another time I would love to slap him across the face for his choice of topic to base his movie on. But he’s got the name and reputation for it and I need to respect that. But his dialogue-based movies don’t always sit well with me and it was the case with this movie as well. Cate Blanchett looks pretty likeable in the poster. Overall, the poster makes it look as if it was going to be another good dialogue-based movie with interesting characters with none other but Cate in the lead.  She literally radiates grace. But then the movie started and I got bored. I gradually got to meet the main characters. I started getting to know Cate, who kept trying to escape reality. I got to know her friend, her boyfriend, who looked like Till Lindemann of Rammstein and not much was happening really. I’m still not in the mood where I would be enjoying every single dialogue that appears in the movie. But Woody’s movies are based on that. And also on the setting of the story. But with this one I have to admit that I may not have seen a worse depiction of New York. That’s how simple it is. This movie is really bad, and not even the ending can save that. You see at that point the entire story leans on everyday reality and all the characters get an epileptic fit. At least Woody left in a message. And the message is that the most important thing is to keep it all together. (05/02/2014)

Woody Allen gets absolute recognition mainly for the fact that a somewhat overblown comedy was expected based on the premise and the trailer, but instead, he delivers an unexpected blow to the audience. Not to say that the occasionally typical dialogues don't appear, but the rest is for the audience one of Allen's most painful screenplays. In fact, Blue Jasmine cuts deep into the lifestyle, the syndromes of today's era, and relationship deadlocks, hitting the mark. The greatest credit for that goes to Cate Blanchett, who, under the Master's guidance, as expected, grows into a goddess. (07/08/2013)

Woody Allen once again mixed a slightly more serious film for us, although he certainly didn't get rid of his humor, which only shines through in some places. When you watch the film, you realize what Woody is a master of. It's the dialogues. His scripts don't have to excel with a great story, which is true in this case, but they excel in the unbelievably believable characters. Cate Blanchett proves this, not only in the final scene, when it hits you that it's really her who dominates this film. An amazingly depressing experience that will leave you unsure about what to think. (21/01/2014)

Jeanette did two things in her life - she changed her name to the romantically sounding Jasmine and seduced a successful businessman. The latter guaranteed her a comfortable life full of shopping, fun, and a sense of importance. Social status meant everything to her and she confirmed it through a series of expensive rituals. One day, along with the fall of her husband, her previous certainties collapse, and, one might say, a sobering up occurs. But alas, Jasmine decides to retreat into a world of illusions. She faces the inevitable incursions of unpleasant reality with hysterical defensive reactions. With her usual self-assurance, she decides to take advantage of her step-sister's goodwill and moves into her apartment. Woody used the same model situation that Tennessee Williams arranged in his famous drama "A Streetcar Named Desire." He directed it elsewhere, though, and certainly doesn't copy the aforementioned title. The film can be simplistically seen as a straightforward critique of snobbery and at the same time as a brilliant acting creation by two great actresses. Alongside the famous Cate Blanchett, the equally talented Sally Hawkins excels, and also has great comedic potential. In the second aspect, Jasmine's character functions as a symbol of the blindness of those who refuse to admit that times are changing and that there are very few things that do not need to adapt to the passage of time. Industrial sectors, social classes, countries, and even entire civilizations find themselves in Jasmine's position and react similarly laughably and dysfunctionally as she does. The film is more of a comedy than a drama. However, it is a bittersweet comedy and one that provokes reflection rather than bursts of laughter. Overall impression: 85%. (14/10/2013)

Blue Jasmine is the most depressing Woody Allen film I've seen so far. The absolute success of this film lies in Cate Blanchett's breathtaking performance and a screenplay that sent chills down my spine and stiffened my blood. Jasmine doesn't have it easy in life, in fact her sister could talk about the misery of her life. Just when there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, she is suddenly overwhelmed by a pile of rocks that suffocates all hope. In short, a very well acted and written film that will stick in your mind (17/02/2014)