Woody Allen’s newest film Blue Jasmine is all about Jasmine, formerly Jeanette, and her sister Ginger. Jasmine was on top of the world until her husband was arrested for all sorts of financial crimes. She’s now forced to move in with her sister Ginger, who already let everyone know that Jasmine had a nervous breakdown and now pops Xanax like Pez to even come close to functioning in society. For the first time in her life, Jasmine has to learn to take care of herself.
Woody Allen’s direction is solid but the screenplay is far too mean-spirited. The film is a drama that encourages the audience to laugh at Jasmine and Ginger for the failings, not laugh with them because of their circumstances and actions. It’s rather disturbing to see severe anxiety used as a punchline in and of itself with no accompanying joke. The audience is meant to laugh at Jasmine babbling to herself when she has an episode, demonstrated by commentary or wacky sitcom-level reactions to her behavior.