Hazleton Area Business Citizen Feb. 2014 | Page 23

Promoting a free market in the Greater Hazleton Area

The Review
Alexis J. Neapolitan, Jr.

A Streetcar Named Jasmine and The Butler Did It
When did Woody Allen lose his creativity, his originality?
“Midnight in Paris” was a critical and box office success as well
as an Oscar nominee for Best Screenplay. Yet it was basically
Allen treading familial waters commingling his fictional
characters with real life artists from the past.
His follow up film was “To Rome With Love” which
overall was more entertaining than “Midnight in Paris,” but still
less than his best. “To Rome With Love” at least has several
humorous star turns particularly by Roberto Benigni and Judy
Davis.
Now here is “Blue Jasmine,” a direct rip-off of Tennessee
Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.” In Blanche’s (Vivien
Leigh) place, we have Cate Blanchett as Jasmine. In Stanley’s
(Marlon Brando) stead, Allen has cast Bobby Cannavale
as Chili. Cast in Stella’s (Kim Hunter) role is Sally Hawkins.
Finally in the role of Mitch (Karl Malden) is Peter Sarsgaard.
Allen’s new film is William ϊd