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Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Imagine one day you were living the high life. You had planes, cars, houses, and money coming out of everywhere without a care in the world. Your kids were spoiled brats, but hey, you had that paper to have maids and butlers raise your kids. Anything you wanted, you could pretty much buy. Then suddenly, in the words of South Park, “And it’s gone.” Yep, you went from riches to straight-up rags. What do you think you would do? Would you become delusional and still spend money that you didn’t have? Lord forbid that you might have to get a job and can’t wear GUCCI!
Ladies and Gentlemen, do I have a film for you? You can take the time to watch Blue Jasmine as it is a film where a boujee ass socialite goes from having everything to losing everything and having to live with her opposite sister. Written and directed by Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine tells the story of a wealthy Manhattan socialite who becomes a broke-ass person and must move into her working-class sister’s apartment in San Francisco. Jasmine Francis (Blanchett) disembarks in San Francisco after a flight from New York City. She seems depressed as she takes a taxi to her sister Ginger’s (Hawkins) apartment. While asking for her martini, Ginger becomes upset to learn that Jasmine traveled first class despite claiming to be broke. Jasmine admits that she is deep in debt, suffered a nervous breakdown, and has been forced to move in with her sister, who she deems inferior to her. We soon learn that Jasmine’s husband, money manager Hal Francis (Baldwin), was arrested for defrauding his clients and, while in jail, committed suicide. One of the clients that Hal defrauded was Ginger and her husband Augie (Dice Clay) out of $200,000 that they won from the lottery. Augie wanted to start a business with the money, but the marriage fell apart. Jasmine is also dealing with her stepson Danny (Ehrenreich), who dropped out of Harvard and decided to cut all ties with her, believing her to be complicit in Hal’s crimes. After Hal’s death, Jasmine began drinking heavily and abusing the anti-anxiety medication. She has also started to lose her mind and develop a strange habit of talking to herself about her past.
I think the story is phenomenal. Great job, Allen, because you had me going from a person who probably didn’t care about this film as I looked at the box to someone completely invested. Oh, damn, did I like this film. Watching a spoiled ass woman who thought she was so much better than everyone else fall to complete ruin was terrific. I loved what Allen did with this film by showing Jasmine in the present and, in flashbacks, revealing how she was before. I thought the storytelling flowed so well that it kept you entertained but also gave you an inside look at how Jasmine was before.
I want to say that Jasmine was a spoiled ass brat. Jasmine looked down on her sister and the people she dated. In her eyes, no one was good for Ginger because they weren’t good for her. All she cared about was lavish living and money. She really couldn’t give two shits about the person. When Ginger and Augie came out to NYC, Jasmine thought it was a pain to be a sister and have them around. When Ginger started dating Chili, she thought he was nothing but a pathetic man. What is also fascinating is that the wires in Jasmine’s head become unraveled. When Jasmine learns of all her husband’s infidelities, homegirl snaps. When her husband dies, she starts drinking heavily, taking more medication, and talking to herself and people that are not there.
Even though Jasmine is a somewhat heartless person, you feel for her just a tiny bit. She has no clue about what she wants to do in life, and when she decides to try and become an interior designer, she has no training. She tries online classes but has zero computer skills and takes classes on how to use a computer. She gets a job at a dentist’s office, and you can tell she is overwhelmed. She is sexually harassed at work. She should’ve punched the dentist in the dick. Now those are the only reasons to feel bad for Jasmine.
Even though the film focuses on Jasmine, it details what her sister, Ginger, is going through. I would rather spend time with Ginger than with Jasmine. Ginger is more down-to-earth, and even though she doesn’t have the flash and money, you can tell she is happy. When Jasmine came and lived with her, Jasmine’s influence started to rub off on Ginger. She began to think that Chili wasn’t good enough for her and went with a man named Al. Al turned out to be a two-timing punk. When Ginger finally stands up for herself and the person she loves, Jasmine gets all butt hurt and bounces.
The performances of the two leading actresses were outstanding. First, what can I say about Cate Blanchett? Blanchett was FANTASTIC as Jasmine. I absolutely hated her for her uptight, stuck-up ways. Blanchett played it so well that you saw Jasmine’s downfall physically, mentally, and emotionally. When Jasmine started talking to herself, Blanchett sold it so well that I wanted to see more. In the end, Blanchett made Jasmine look like a crazy fool with her hair all out of whack and her make-up completely ruined. Straight up masterful!
How about the BEAUTIFUL Sally Hawkins?! Hawkins is rising through the ranks as my new love. As Ginger, she was the complete opposite of Jasmine. I actually like Ginger way more than Jasmine. Ginger was down-to-earth, loving, and wanted that simple life. I just love how Hawkins made Ginger so spunky and cute. I am hoping that Hawkins will one day bring home an Academy Award. I LOVE YOU, SALLY HAWKINS!!! Call me!
Blue Jasmine is an excellent film. I highly recommend watching it. Woody Allen delivers a story about a socialite who goes broke. Blanchett and Hawkins are fantastic and did an outstanding job in their respective roles. Have fun watching Blanchett lose her rich to rags mind.
