Blue Jasmine (2013)
If you know me, you know that I notoriously hate the 1951 film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire. I have a personal relationship with the play; since I’ve studied the script and portrayed Blanche duBois on the stage, an actress will have to be very good in the role to impress me. Cate Blanchett portrayed Blanche in a recent revival, and although I would have loved to see her live, the next best thing is to pop in my well-worn DVD copy of Blue Jasmine and see her reprise her role in a modern setting. She’s fantastic – hands down, the best Blanche I’ve ever seen.
Woody Allen’s screenplay is very clever, transporting Tennessee Williams’s play from the French Quarter to San Francisco, replacing the titular streetcar with a cable car. The volatile, tank-top wearing, low-class husband of Blanche’s sister is excellently played by Bobby Cannavale. Sally Hawkins plays the diminutive sister who supports everyone and tries to keep the peace. There’s also a Mitch character, representing Blanche’s second chance at love and her reputation, played by Peter Sarsgaard. Blanche herself is rewritten to fit the modern era, down to the last detail. In the play, she tells Mitch her name translates to “white woods”; in this movie, her name is Jasmine. She’s reeling from a scandalous first marriage, battling an alcohol problem, and desperate to maintain her ladylike appeal and dignity all while heading in a downward spiral.
In the play, when the two sisters are reunited, Stella tells Blanche how well she looks. Blanche refuses the compliment because she’s afraid she looks old and haggard. In the film, the exchange is the same, but with modern language of “Now, look who’s lying!” instead of “I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!” It’s a wonderful adaptation, but with one gigantic problem: Allen’s screenplay won the Academy Award for the wrong category. He won for Original Screenplay and never gave credit to Tennessee Williams. Had he acknowledged the playwright, the movie would be perfect. Rent it and see for yourself; and remember, my recommendation should carry a lot of weight.
More Cate Blanchett movies here!
Woody Allen’s screenplay is very clever, transporting Tennessee Williams’s play from the French Quarter to San Francisco, replacing the titular streetcar with a cable car. The volatile, tank-top wearing, low-class husband of Blanche’s sister is excellently played by Bobby Cannavale. Sally Hawkins plays the diminutive sister who supports everyone and tries to keep the peace. There’s also a Mitch character, representing Blanche’s second chance at love and her reputation, played by Peter Sarsgaard. Blanche herself is rewritten to fit the modern era, down to the last detail. In the play, she tells Mitch her name translates to “white woods”; in this movie, her name is Jasmine. She’s reeling from a scandalous first marriage, battling an alcohol problem, and desperate to maintain her ladylike appeal and dignity all while heading in a downward spiral.
In the play, when the two sisters are reunited, Stella tells Blanche how well she looks. Blanche refuses the compliment because she’s afraid she looks old and haggard. In the film, the exchange is the same, but with modern language of “Now, look who’s lying!” instead of “I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!” It’s a wonderful adaptation, but with one gigantic problem: Allen’s screenplay won the Academy Award for the wrong category. He won for Original Screenplay and never gave credit to Tennessee Williams. Had he acknowledged the playwright, the movie would be perfect. Rent it and see for yourself; and remember, my recommendation should carry a lot of weight.
More Cate Blanchett movies here!