Alec Baldwin, is revealed as a con artist,
pampered Jasmine is left with nowhere to
turn but her divorced sister, Ginger, who
lives in a dodgy part of San Francisco.
the film, while strong - Allen's
portrayal of upper class New York is spot on.
The representation of working class people
tends to lean toward stereotype. Although
the film, for the most part, is a painfully real
study of a self-destructive woman, spinning
out of control.
married to a massively wealthy
businessman, Hal, Jasmine lived a life of
deluded bliss before the FBI sniffed out Hal's
crooked business schemes and he was sent
to prison. Now, Jasmine has nothing.
living with her laid back sister in San
Francisco, sophisticated Jasmine is appalled
by her sister's lower income lifestyle and
criticizes her choices in men, as Ginger
shuffles back and forth between staying
with her tough guy fiance, Chili.
Jasmine reluctantly takes a position
in a dental office and takes some typing
lessons and reveals ambitions of becoming
an interior decorator. Although, rather
than being inspired by the opportunity,
she is overwhelmed by the hard work and
becomes even more critical of the ever
patient, Ginger, who works at a supermarket.
Jasmine eventually meets diplomat
Dwight, who is sincere in his affections
and Jasmine convinces him that she's a
successful interior designer.
while it becomes harder and
harder to sympathise with the unhinged
Jasmine, who is as happy to delude herself
as everyone else in the film, somehow, we
want this whiney, annoying, unglued snob
to come out on top.
HONED PErFOrMANCE AS A PrIvILEGED UPPEr CLASS NEW
YOrK SOCIALITE WIFE, JASMINE, WHO LOSES IT ALL AND HEr
MIND - IN WOODY ALLEN'S, BLUE JASMINE.
rating PG13
stars CATE BLANCHETT, ALEC BALDWIN,
PETEr SArSGAArD
director WOODY ALLEN