Dear Cinephiles, academics, Australia, Indonesia, and Papa New Guinea, fine arts enthusiasts, donors and high society/ in addition with just as much respect the working class labor oriented American people, fellas with grit under their nails and paint stuck to the hair on their arms, the library movers, painters, construction crews, the flower shop owners, independent movie theater workers, volunteers for big screen cinema, clerks for independent music stores and freight movers. Well ladies and gentleman from top to bottom what Mr. Woody Allen's latest opus deals with is the topic of CLASS!
The muse for this brush stroke is none other than the fabulous show stopping Cate Blanchett. I have waited a long time for Allen to find a muse that could rival Diane Keaton in "Annie Hall." Mrs. Blanchett who hails from Australia has done just that. She is a welcome change from Allen's constant use of Scarlett Johansson and a ten times better actress. Scarlett is talented, but compared to Cate no one comes close. In a similar debate I wonder if Scorsese chose not to use Leonardo DiCaprio so much that perhaps he would get better performances. Perhaps an actor and a muse can get too comfortable together in the creative process when they work together so frequently. Leo and Scarlett are both extremely talented, but perhaps they know the exact styles of Allen and Scorsese.
Cate Blanchett delivers a character from opening sequence on the airplane that is totally unique. She is talking to a fellow passenger whom is considerably older and who at first thinks she is talking to herself. Cate nails a crazy disheveled down and out woman seamlessly. On the other hand she is so grounded and stoic at being a regal debutant. She can be hosting a fancy dinner party, at a polo ground, or in the Hampton's and it fit's like a glass slipper. In the following scene she can be literally at her wit's end in a small disgusting apartment clinging to her dignity as her mind is unraveling in her reversal of fortune. Blanche Dubois's ghost is definitely hiding in the beams of the ceiling. Andrew Dice Clay is amazing as a working class guy in Allen's world. In the climax of film he is a perfect juxtaposition to Blanchett. Blanchett could dine with the Queen of England, while Dice could easily be tailgating at a Jet's game. Neither could do the other in reality. In the scene where she loses it in Sarsgaard's car after the climax of the film. The mascara is running down her face and she is screaming at Peter Sarsgaard. Cate hit's so many levels on this film of being on top of the world, to sitting with wet hair on a park bench talking to herself. She is truly a marvel to watch how did she do this?
San Francisco is a new terrific location for Allen. The Golden Gate Bridge hasn't been utilized so effectively since Vertigo. When Sarsgaard and Blanchett meet at the party the bridge is in the distance. Alcatraz can be seen in the background when Cate's sister and the two men are on top a hill for a selfie picture. The Marina is a great backdrop as well as Chinatown. "Dirty Harry" and David Fincher's "Zodiac" are some of only a handful of films to truly capture the flavor and the look of this location.
San Francisco is very photogenic if done correctly.
Well I thought "Midnight in Paris" was Allen's best film in 10 years. I have to admit that I like "Blue Jasmine" even more because of the splendid Blanchett, she makes going to movies worth while and fortunately has gotten the right part.
Sweet dreams to all the people that have hit the Summit Cinema post! From Mumbai, India, to Caracas Venezuela keep on grooving and keeping big screen cinema ALIVE!
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