Blue Jasmine

Woody Allen's never-ending streak of movie-making continues this year with Blue Jasmine. It's an excellent reminder why he's been in business for so long.

Jasmine Francis (Cate Blanchett) is a New York socialite. Or rather, she was, until she lost everything when her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) went to jail for fraud. Now broke, she's forced to live with her adopted sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in San Francisco. She tries to maintain a normal life while clinging to her sanity.

Along the way, she meets Dwight (Peter Sarsgaard), a potential new suitor. She also runs into Ginger's ex Augie (Andrew Dice Clay) and her current man, Chili (Bobby Cannavale). She can't stand them, but really, it's because they can't stand her.

And it's all a dark comedy.

As Jasmine, Blanchett is a grown-up spoiled rich girl. And now, that spoiled rich girl has nothing. That's exactly what she's left with in the end. But she's a fascinatingly spoiled because she tries to keep up the facade of a good life. It shows she has more depth than "spoiled rotten."

Much of her supporting cast also give great performances. Clay, whose usual comedic persona is a jerk, is also a jerk here, but his reasons are actually understandable. Michael Stuhlbarg is Dr. Flicker, a seemingly nice dentist who hires Jasmine as a receptionist. Then there's Louis C.K., a nice, false suitor for Ginger.

Allen's screenplay sounds like it's a serious drama. But really, there are elements we can laugh at. Among them are Jasmine's opening scene, in which she babbles on about her life. Another part is Flicker's proposal to introduce Jasmine to Nitrous Oxide. It's all a reminder that we're watching a satire on the shallow rich.

If you can find Blue Jasmine in a theater, try to see it. It's a good character study about someone who really isn't that good.