I think it's fair to say that Woody Allen's back on the right track judging from his new offering to the big screen.
This harrowing film sees Cate Blanchett play her character unbearably true to life. It's clever in the sense, that it gives the viewer the choice to ostracise or sympathise with the ex-Manhattan socialite. Jasmine's traits are laid out for all to witness and make their own judgement.
It jumps from past to present throughout which synchronises with Jasmine's haunting thoughts of what has passed, accelerating her loss of control over her current fate. Her absorption in the role left me beaten and joyless.
Jasmine's high flying lifestyle is shattered in an instance, when her fraudster husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) is investigated by the authorities over his years of Ponzi scheming. Penniless and nursing a severe nervous breakdown, she takes shelter at her sister Ginger's (Sally Hawkins) modest abode in San Francisco. A temporary solution as she attempts to get back on her feet.
There were aspects of spoon feeding dialogue and working-class male stereotypes but the main focus was on the unravelling of Jasmine's dark past and bitterness for her now humble arrangement.
This excruciating journey is lighten with a fair few humorous moments. The classes collided when Ginger and her husband pay Jasmine a visit in the good old days and Ginger and her later boyfriend try to set the fault-finding Jasmine up with their mismatched mate.
The ending shot is the last nail in the coffin, leaving you cold in its wake.
