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Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Maddy’s Movies: Woody Allen’s new movie “Blue Jasmine” is good, but may leave you feeling a bit sad

UPWEB_MM_BlueJasmineLet me say this first. This movie is great, it’s incredible, it’s Woody Allen all the way.

But don’t see it if you want to be in a good mood, because that’s not the feeling you’ll leave with.

I guess that’s why Allen calls it “Blue Jasmine” and not Happy Jasmine or Pink Jasmine.

Woody Allen wrote and directed this movie crazy-well. And when I say crazy, I mean literally mean crazy — neurotically so.

Seamlessly told between flashbacks and real-time, “Blue Jasmine” follows Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) as she moves to San Francisco to live with her adopted sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins) and start a new life.

Why is it that this rich, smart and beautiful woman needs to start fresh? Her husband Hal (a terrific Alec Baldwin) may have schemed people out of their money and hidden it from the government — leaving her all alone and broke.

The movie is hilarious, but also kind of sad. You’re wondering why you’re laughing at Jasmine as her life falls apart around her.

Could it be her high-maintenance, high-class attitude as she complains about the first-class airplane food (mind you she is completely broke at this point)? Or her having to move to Brooklyn?  Or could it be her constant consumption of vodka followed by a Xanax?  It might also have to do with her awkward relationship with her working-class sister, Ginger.

I say yes to all.

Jasmine experiences major culture shock as she moves in with her sister. For one thing, these two couldn’t be more different. As Ginger keeps saying, “[Jasmine] got the good genes.” I don’t think genes has anything to do with it Ginger, but I feel your pain.

It must be awkward when the one time you visit your sister in New York you have to stay at a hotel while your rich sister avoids you in her lavish Park Avenue apartment. It’s pretty obvious the tension between the sisters has been there from the beginning.

If this brilliant, dysfunctional humor is the heart of “Blue Jasmine,” then the blood is it’s actors.

Woody Allen always does a great job bringing in all kinds of actors for his movies. As I mentioned before, Alec Baldwin is just terrific. Sally Hawkins as Ginger is both funny and endearing to watch.

Bobby Cannavale — as Ginger’s new boyfriend Chili — is macho one minute then crying like a baby the next. And Louis C.K. — though brief in his role of Al — is sweet, kind and scummy all in one.

Yes, the actors were amazing. However, I give most of my praise to Blanchett.

That being said, it is time I give my second Oscar prediction for the season.

My prediction: Woody Allen nominated for best director, Blue Jasmine nominated for best picture, and Cate Blanchett for best actress.

I mean, I have never seen anyone who is so delusional about her life.

“Anxiety, nightmares and a nervous breakdown, there’s only so many traumas a person can withstand until they take to the streets and start screaming,” says Jasmine with the look of a woman at the end of her rope.

Jasmine is a lady, though, and like all proud women she’ll lie and lie to herself and to others that everything is ok, that her life is turning around for the better.

She’ll lie all the way to keep up this illusion that she is in control. And her lack of control that is so obvious to the audience and not Jasmine herself makes Blanchett an amazing actress worthy of an Oscar.

I give this movie three and a half out of four nervous breakdowns. Yes, this movie will leave you feeling a little blue, but compared to how poor Jasmine ends up, you could be feeling a lot worse.

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