I love Woody Allen movies. To me, at their heart, they are personality studies. Many times over the decades they've looked like studies of Woody Allen's personality.
But not this time. "Blue Jasmine" came to our town on Friday and we saw it at 11:30 A.M. Friday morning. It's the study of a woman who's come undone. Think of "Streetcar Named Desire"'s Blanche Debois married to Bernie Madoff.
But, to me, the serious comparison of the two movies ends there. In Woody Allen movies the cast of characters (and they are "characters") is key. Also the cast of actors is key. In "Blue Jasmine" for instance:
Cate Blanchett plays a totally self centered woman who deludes herself into thinking the people around her are there to be used. Until she can delude herself no longer.
Alec Baldwin plays her husband. As I said, a slick, handsome Bernie Madoff clone
.
Sally Hawkins plays her good hearted, hard working (bagger in the grocery story) sister.
Andrew Dice Clay plays the sister's husband. A good person who's destroyed by Cate Blanchett's character.
Bobby Cannavle plays her sister's boyfriend. He's absolutely great in this role.
Louis ck plays her sister's other boyfriend. He's good as well.
Peter Sarsgaard plays Cate Blanchett's character's boyfriend. He's smooth as silk. He and Cate wear beige .
***
But not this time. "Blue Jasmine" came to our town on Friday and we saw it at 11:30 A.M. Friday morning. It's the study of a woman who's come undone. Think of "Streetcar Named Desire"'s Blanche Debois married to Bernie Madoff.
But, to me, the serious comparison of the two movies ends there. In Woody Allen movies the cast of characters (and they are "characters") is key. Also the cast of actors is key. In "Blue Jasmine" for instance:
 |
| Cate Blanchett |
Cate Blanchett plays a totally self centered woman who deludes herself into thinking the people around her are there to be used. Until she can delude herself no longer.
 |
| Alec Baldwin |
Alec Baldwin plays her husband. As I said, a slick, handsome Bernie Madoff clone
.
 |
| Sally Hawkins |
Sally Hawkins plays her good hearted, hard working (bagger in the grocery story) sister.
 |
| Andrew Dice Clay |
Andrew Dice Clay plays the sister's husband. A good person who's destroyed by Cate Blanchett's character.
 |
| Bobby Cannavvale |
Bobby Cannavle plays her sister's boyfriend. He's absolutely great in this role.
Louis ck plays her sister's other boyfriend. He's good as well.
 |
| Peter Sarsgaard |
Peter Sarsgaard plays Cate Blanchett's character's boyfriend. He's smooth as silk. He and Cate wear beige .
***
