Blue Jasmine

 Woody Allen's drunken inferno: "Blue Jasmine", took me for a roller coaster ride through the streets of San Francisco, as I followed Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) in and out of her downward spiral of a life. Going into the movie, I did not expect to be taken for such ride, but as the characters evolved throughout the story I realized I was caring deeply about each one of them. Woody Allen has done this to his viewers over many decades, through some 80 movies. He truly knows how to make people feel something for a character, whether it is deep dread, or loving compassion. 
 In the case of Jasmine, I felt sorrow. That was the part of this movie that made me enjoy it so much. Jasmine was a raging bitch, for lack of a better term, but somehow, I felt bad for her. She had gone through life being the favorite daughter, then married a scum-sucking-bottom-feeder who was worth millions and spoiled Jasmine completely rotten, scorning her entire family because they were "beneath her", until she lost it all and she had no other choice but to turn to them. The only explanation I could find, to identify why I felt bad for Jasmine, was that all the people that surrounded her in the movie, were even worse in their own ways.
 Sally Hawkins plays Ginger, Jasmine's sister through adoption. Ginger ran away from home because their parents liked Jasmine over Ginger because Jasmine had better genes. When we  meet Ginger in New York, visiting Jasmine, she is under the arm of a greasy Guido named Augie (played by, a name formerly unheard of to me, Andrew Clay, who I will now be looking out for). Augie is entirely unimpressive, and Jasmine makes that abundantly clear to Ginger. Ginger, being the underdog of her family her entire life, finds a new man to wave around her sister. Jasmine is the only person in Ginger's life that finds her worthless, and Ginger strives to gain acceptance from her. Once Ginger's decisions started to unravel, I realized that even though Jasmine is evil, to an extent, Ginger is no better. 
 Alec Baldwin plays Hal, a man with his nose higher than the Sears Tower, and his hand further in the pockets of his victims than the government. Hal is also married to Jasmine, who he claims to love more than even money, but when Ginger comes to town she discovers that this so-called-love is nothing more than a cheap illusion. Hal has more mistresses than Tiger Woods. Jasmine is the only woman he does not actually care about. Jasmine is really just Hal's doll, a show wife that he can take out and show-off.
 Woody Allen is a name that has become synonymous with wit, charm, and romance. He shoots all of his movies in rich sepia tones, to invite the viewer to what usually ends up being a comedy of errors. What "Blue Jasmine" excels in is its cinematography. The way the camera moves in and out and side-to-side reflected Jasmine's emotions in each  moment. When a director can achieve this, the resulting shot makes the viewer feel the same way as the character, and in some of Jasmine's most manic states I could not help feeling the same.
 The characters and the brilliance of Woody Allen's writing and directing make for one helluva movie. Blanchett, Baldwin, Hawkins, and Clay gave stellar performances that gave life to a vile cluster of people. As a viewer, you may find yourself laughing, crying, and even seriously frustrated by "Blue Jasmine". Woody Allen has delivered a tour-de-force romance-drama, and anyone who misses this movie has missed one of the best of the year.

3.5 out of 4 Stars