Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen's homage to and update of Tennesse Williams' " A Streetcar Named Desire",  is his finest, most well written and constructed film in many years.  Cate Blanchett as Jasmine deserves not only an Oscar but every possible prize for a complex and deeply credible depiction of a woman de-laminating into personal chaos.  She manages, with a terrific script, to evoke sympathy, horror, dismay, disgust and sadness, often all in a single scene.  Her mad soliloquies set a new standard for depiction of complete meltdowns in a world gone wrong.

The script deftly examines the complexity of human relationships without flinching from areas of class conflicts, self concepts gone awry, and the current economic divides.  Woody Allen has taken a classic piece of American theater into present day with moments of wry humor and an intelligent sense of tragedy.

Sally Hawkins as Ginger, Jasmine's sister in tragedy from another viewpoint, plays her character with nuance and subtle expression.  Ginger has strength as a struggling single mother that Jasmine, a fallen Park Avenue matron,  both mocks and seeks.  The scenes between the two of them resonate deeply.

All supporting cast members are wonderful:  Peter Saarsgard, Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay and Bobby Cannavale.

Not a wrong note is sounded.  Set design, costume choices, music, camera movement are all in tune for a story that hits all the beats with near perfection.

Woody Allen produces a film annually to maintain his own tenuous sanity.  I would happily endure his less than fine efforts of recent years for a film of this depth and skill every decade.