Sweating in Chanel

As for the Wife and I's latest journey in to Woody Allen's world of Windsor EF Light Condensed, it was the finest time we had had our passport stamped there for a while.  It is certainly his best film in years, if perhaps not quite the masterpiece that some critics have proclaimed it to be.

There was some lazy editing, and some lazy directing.  Particularly lazy directing with some of the scenes of Sally Hawkins' children.  Also, there were some off notes with some of the jokes, which seemed out of place in this style of film.

Still, great performances abound, and Woody has created a fantastic profound story centered around Cate Blanchett's stunning performance.  As others have suggested, Woody has created his own personal Blanche DuBois.  Ms Blanchett, in fact, does so well, you can practically smell the unseemly sour blend of sweat and Chanel No. 5 pouring from underneath her arms in practically every scene.  You believe the reason for every single lie she tells, and why she feels compelled to share her sob story with every person she meets.  Ms Blanchett and Allen also make it perfectly believable why Blanchett's character is shocked and hurt each time someone catches her in a lie, or expresses anger at her and her ex-husband, played by Alec Baldwin, and the way they wrecked their lives.

The great power, and most profound thing about this film, is that you will not see that crazy person, mumbling to themselves in the street, quite the same ever again.  Every one has a story.

As for one of my favorite actresses working today, Ms Hawkins, she is wonderful, too.  Her American accent is serviceable if not perfect yet -- and will only improve -- and her performance, yet again, of a working class 'free soul' bohemian type is spot on.  Her wild, and from the hip, decisions in romance and money, are expertly integrated and believable.  If Ms Hawkins is not in a period piece, it seems she always will be cast and dressed in this same quirky manner.  I am still a sucker for it.  Methinks the Wife is getting a little tired of it.

I would also urge all fans of fashion and costuming to pay particular attention to Ms Banchett's costumes.  She wears and accessorizes strictly top French Old House Classic designers such as Chanel, and is an absolute knockout in every outfit she wears.  These costumes really nailed home the notion to me just what 'smart' means in terms of clothes and fashion.  And, the fact, that they had her sweat through all these impeccable garments as her character starts to go around the bend, is perhaps oddly, one of the greatest and most moving series of illuminating character statements I will take from this film.

Much of the film was shot in The Mission in the City, which is nice to see.  And, it was nice to see Ms Hawkins drink a Lagunitas IPA.  (Jadot wine is all over the film, and Stoli vodka, too. Jadot is in so many films right now.  They are doing a masterful job of product placement.  My most sincere apologies, but, being in the industry, I can not help but notice wine product placements in film.  It drives the Wife crazy!)

In terms of the horse race, Blue Jasmine will certainly be nominated for Best Picture, and Ms Blanchett has a very good shot at duplicating Ms Leigh's feat as Blanche DuBois, and winning an Oscar for Best Actress.  I would like to see Ms Hawkins get nominated in the Supporting category, but I feel that would be a long shot.

Sincerely highly recommended by the Wife and I, a real return to form for Woody, is Blue Jasmine.











Ciao,
xxxoooxxx

Ah, Windsor EF Light Condensed typeface, so comforting.

Windsor EF light condensed

 

What a fantastic motion picture, one of his all-time best.

Considering that I could not even

Get the title right, in yesterday's fauxluxe post -- the film is called To Rome with Love, not From Rome with Love -- that should give you some idea of my expectations going in to the movie.

And, I got just about what I expected.

One of the most disconcerting things about Woody's Tour Through Great European Cities, is the fact that his films are way too long now.  Just as you could always count on seeing those elegant Windsor EF light condensed typeface white on black title sequences, could you also count on Woody getting you out of the theater in about an hour and a half.  Not any more.

Woody's signature typeface.

To Rome with Love certainly could have used an edit job.  So, could have Midnight in Paris, to be honest, which I like less and less every day, the further I get away from it.  There are four stories in this movie, and only two of them are really worth exploring:  the newlywed story, starring Penelope Cruz, and the Jesse Eisenberg/Alec Baldwin/Ellen Page/Greta Gerwig love triangle story.  


The newlywed story is a tip of the cap to dozens of Italian filmmakers, telling the old familiar yarn that outside experience for both partners can bring the "true" lovers closer together.  Even Tinto Brass has been exclusively ploughing this field for decades now.  


(By the way, I love how my own Wife is now scooping this blog, writing about Ms Cruz on another platform yesterday.  Thanks, dear.)


The Wife is absolutely correct, though.  Ms Cruz is a crackling hot "perfect" version of feminine beauty.  And, there were moments when I was not paying attention to the subtitles, either, preferring to admire Ms Cruz taking off her shoes and lay supine on a hotel bed.  

Ms Cruz is five foot six.

The love triangle story, though very funny, and insightful at times, ended very limply, indeed. Our heroes never really seemed to be in any serious danger, and the confrontation scene is never played, at all, due to the fact that a deus ex machina whisks Ellen Page back stateside, making it all a "very close call" in the end, and no one gets hurt.  


That ain't what Manhattan is like.  Or Annie Hall.  Or Hannah and Her Sisters.  Or Crimes and Misdemeanors.  


(I am flipping watching Crimes and Misdemeanors today.  That is a gripping dangerous love triangle story, two of them.)


I had a good time.  It was my first time at the Orinda Theater, which was really cool.  There was a decent sized house.  We were the youngest people there, and we sat closest to the screen.  The older folks sat way at the back and clearly enjoyed the film, laughing uproariously throughout.  


After Renee and I saw Moonrise Kingdom at the Metreon, we talked about the film.  Renee liked it, but admitted that she was probably "over" Wes Anderson now.  Of course, I adore Moonrise Kingdom, and probably will love it forever.  But, Renee said, also, that she will never get "over" Woody Allen.  


Maybe it is that Windsor typeface? Once she sees those credits roll, Renee knows she will be in a pleasant, comfortable, very funny environment that makes her feel warm inside.  She keeps speaking of nutritional qualities, and her lack of interest in films/art that seek to enrich her life.  


But there are all different types of enrichment, and you really should not judge them.  They are just different.  I think she is getting more nourishment from Woody's films than she cares to let on.  And, that is a beautiful thing.


Or, heck, she will probably start her own blog, and rebut everything I have said here.


(just kidding, Angel)


































Monday, going to see Ms Park in a couple of hours, "Look at me.  Open your mouth.  Not so wide."  






















Mwah, ...