Blue Jasmine Review

Grade: A-
One-Liner: Wait, this wasn't just a one-woman play?

After Cate Blanchett stole both the Golden Globe and the SAG Award from my girl Sandra Bullock, I knew her performance in Woody Allen's latest work would be worthy of a viewing. And fortunately I live in New York City so practically every movie made this year is available in a theater (except 47 Ronin, but that makes sense).

I highly recommend you try to do the same. Blanchett's role as a self-obsessed, entirely psychotic snob had me thoroughly enthralled throughout. Though some of the other characters fell flat, it didn't really matter because, as Jasmine would think, she's the only character that's important.

As much as you may or may not agree with her thoughts and actions, it's hard to argue that she's not the focal point of every shot, line, and action in this complex story. And not only did the Aussie actress perfect her accent as an American attempting to sound upper crust, but she also managed to maintain the flawless vernacular while muttering incessantly to herself.

As her world came crumbling down around her, Jasmine showed fitting exterior signs of a meltdown, from her running eyeliner to her visible pit stains. Her deterioration was gripping and somehow seemed to attract droves of men deemed "unworthy" in her eyes.

I may still have to side with Sandra Bullock's "gravity"-defying performance based on the fact that she literally had no one else to work off of for the majority of her 90-minute film, but Cate Blanchett holds a close second. And technically she spent so much time in her own world that she was on her own as well.

So the next time you want to watch a train wreck, don't turn on your favorite reality show, check out this well-written and acted Oscar-nominee.