By Eve Commander, watching at Manchester’s Cornerhouse
Blue Jasmine has been hailed by most critics as a return to form from the increasingly wayward director Woody Allen. And, on the whole, it is.
The films follows the fortunes of fallen Los Angeles socialite, Jasmine, whose husband has been exposed as a fraud and adulterer.
After suffering a major breakdown, she throws herself on the mercy of her estranged, poorer sister, Ginger and attempts to rebuild her life in San Francisco.
However, Jasmine, so used to high society dinners and diplomats shuns Ginger and her boyfriend’s limited existence and struggles to find a way of life that meets her pre-set Los Angeles standards. All the while Ginger forces her to confront the fact that they have been exposed as distorted and phoney.
In a pleasing departure from the bish-bash-bosh action films or in-your-face politics of modern day thrillers Allen simply invites us to contrast the two sisters and their flaws and think about the vacuity of materialist society and wealth.
The ever-impressive Cate Blanchett, as Jasmine, joins a long list of neurotic, self-destructive females which seem to feature in Allen’s films whilst Sally Hawkins adds gravitas as her put-upon, slightly vulnerable sister.
There’s nothing particularly new or original about the film. Allen uses the age-old technique of flashback to show us Jasmine both post and pre-decline.
The occasional injection of some jazz music, which pretty much constitutes the film’s soundtrack, gives the film a rather old fashioned feel. Although San Francisco looks beautiful throughout, the cinematography is equally dated.
However, what Allen adds, with his many years of experience is class. For example at one point Jasmine finds a ‘decent’ love interest – an ambitious, wannabe congressman – who seems as obsessed with the ideas of status and society in his choice of ‘life partner’ as she is.
As they lean in for their first kiss, Allen seems to draw attention to the conceited ideas of attraction by placing both actors in sunglasses – an item oft-worn out of vanity and not something you’d expect two lovers to keep on in a moment of passion.
It’s little touches like that which elevate this film above the competition and remind you that Allen really is a consummate master. After all, class is permanent, form is fleeting.
Blue Jasmine is on at Cornerhouse this week. To check viewings visit http://www.cornerhouse.org/
Image courtesy of Sony Pictures via YouTube, with thanks.
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