Since 1966, Woody Allen has directed 43 features, amounting
to almost one picture per year, an immense quantity for any one director. Best known for his wry romance comedies and
quirky, rambling set of on-screen portrayals, Allen no doubt does comedy
best. But every once in a while, his
writing take a dramatic turn. The
laughs come fewer and farther in exchange for a deeper study of human psyche
and emotion, ala Match Point. Not a
typical Woody Allen movie some might say, but amidst a slew of signature comedies, these often stand as some of his most memorable work. Case and point with his latest feature, Blue Jasmine.
Blue Jasmine, like Match Point is not a typical Woody Allen
movie of recent memory. The film lacks
the outlandish faltery of last year’s To Rome with Love and the whimsical
nostalgia of 2011’s gem, Midnight in Paris.
His newest movie is a swooning, cerebral drama detailing the likes of pain
and loss, obsession and regret. Blue
Jasmine updates Tennessee Williams’ classic stage play “A Streetcar Named
Desire.” New Orleans swaps out for San Francisco
and the 1950s becomes the present day. The nutty Blanche DuBois character, here called Jasmine, is marvelously depicted by veteran screen actress Cate Blanchett, who the
Academy will no doubt recognize with at least a nomination.
