"Blue Jasmine"

This years offering from Writer and Director Woody Allen is a rags to riches tale, only in reverse.
We meet Janette, now calling herself Jasmine as she arrives at her Sisters house, where she will be staying for a while. Things are not exactly going well for Jasmine, as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life following something of a personal disaster.

With the aid of flashbacks we are able to see what life was like for Jasmine, when her husband was successful, and they were very wealthy and lived a life that so many could only dream of, including her own family, who she keeps very much at arms length, even when paying a small visit. Jasmine has more than money problems, she is dillusional, and strikes up a conversation with herself. She has aspirations of getting back on top, but achieving this may not be easy.
Ginger, her sister, is happy to have her sister with her, despite all that Jasmine and her husband have cost, money and ultimately her marriage. In fact her current relationship with grease monkey Chilli is in jeopardy thanks to Jasmine, and trying to inspire Ginger that she can do so much better.

The class story told between the two sisters is brilliantly done. Jasmine acting so high and mighty when she has the money, and more or less disowning her Sister and husband. But then when the fortune has gone, she has to lower her standards, trrying her best to bounce back, finding a menial job working in a Dentist, hoping to find a new man for her new life.

As ever the Direction and Writing from Allen are great, and he makes the most of his first class cast. Cannavale is great as Chilli, desperate to show Ginger that she does not need to better herself, and that she is fine just the way she is.
Sally Hawkins gives another great performance as Ginger, and Alec Baldwin, who is almost becoming an Allen regular, excels as the slimy husband of Jasmine.
But undoubtedly the star of the film is Cate Blanchett who gives some of her best work as Jasmine, whether loving the life of luxury or on the edge of a breakdown as she talks at length with herself or sees her relationship drift away, she really is on top form. It has already been suggested that she is a certainty for an Oscar nomination, and I would go along with that too.

Anyone expecting a full on comedy like "Bullets Over Broadway" "Manhatten Murder Mystery" or "Small Time Crooks" may be disappointed, as it is light on laughs, but the exploration of the characters is what makes this another highly rated Allen film.

Allen can still cut the mustard.....7 out of 10

"To Rome With Love"

Woody Allen is back with his latest movie, here we see the various story strands of several characters all who are in the Italian city of love.

There are the parents of 'Hayley' arriving in town for their daughter's forthcoming marriage to a local Italian man, 'Leopoldo' who is thrust into the limelight to become the next greatest celebrity though he has no idea why, a newly married couple, with the husband desperate to impress his family who could further his career, an Architect revisiting his past, and a possible trio of love entanglements when three friends get together.

It was a great pleasure to this movie on the big screen, it having been a staggering 7 years since I last saw an Allen film at the cinema. Much to my shame I did not see the masterpiece that is "Midnight In Paris" at the cinema, and I still greatly regret it.

This is a good Allen, but it has to be said it is not his best work. The comedy is there, but at times rather thin on the ground. I have noticed that quite often the best Allen films are the ones that he just writes and directs. This could well be the case here. I mean look at how successful "Midnight In Paris" was, also with "Bullets over Broadway", and contrary to popular opinion, I am a big fan of "Match Point".

Again it is clear that Hollywood is keen to work with Allen, assembling a great cast, Begnigni is especially wonderful as the bewildered celebrity. It examines what it is like to be a nobody and then to have the world at your feet.

I suppose given that Woody Allen has made about 40 films is as many years, to still be producing films of this calibre is remarkable.
One cannot expect a "Midnight In Paris" every time........6 out of 10