Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Sony

Video: Sony Pictures

 

Disc:

Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:38:25.900

Disc Size: 30,356,437,858 bytes

Feature Size: 24,728,279,040 bytes

Video Bitrate: 27.82 Mbps

Chapters: 16

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: January 21st, 2014

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3146 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3146 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps

 

Subtitles:

English (SDH), English, French, none

 

Extras:

• Blue Jasmine Cast Press Conference (24:58)

• Notes from the Red Carpet (5:52)

• Trailer (1:49)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: Woody Allen trades New York City for San Francisco with his comedy-drama Blue Jasmine, starring Cate Blanchett as a troubled former Manhattanite who moves to the City by the Bay to live with her sister after her wealthy husband divorces her. Forced to put her life back together piece by piece while under the effect of powerful anti-depressants, she dates a series of mn, attempts to build a career, and slowly learns how to count on herself to survive. Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., and Bobby Cannavale co-star.

 

 

The Film:

When Cate Blanchett first cruises into Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine,” playing a Park Avenue matron fallen on hard times, she looks like a million bucks. She’s wearing pearls and a white Chanel jacket, with an Hermès bag as big as a Shetland pony hanging off one arm. It’s the sort of important accessory worn by women accustomed to being chauffeured around town. Soon after, though, as she stands with her monogrammed luggage on a nondescript San Francisco sidewalk, she looks frightened, alone — like someone who could benefit from some kindness. Instead, she waves off a stranger and, posing a question that’s as existential as it is practical, demands, “Where am I, exactly?”

Excerpt from Manhola Dargis at the NY Times located HERE

 

To get a sense of the titular character in Blue Jasmine, imagine Blanche DuBois if she were a New York socialite and married to a Bernie Madoff-like con man.

Cate Blanchett plays Jasmine in Woody Allen's latest work (* * * ½ out of four; rated PG-13; opens Friday in select cities), and her bravura performance is tinged with haughtiness, dry humor and madness.

It's one of the year's finest, most complex portrayals, in one of Allen's best films in years.

Excerpt from USA Today located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Blue Jasmine arrives on Blu-ray from Sony.  The image is quite 'golden yellow'-leaning slightly more than other Woody Allen film's of the recent past (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Whatever Works, Match Point, Small Time Crooks) which all seemed to have a bit of that. This is dual-layered with a decent bitrate and the 2.35:1 (not usual for Allen) framed image looks quite strong. Colors seem brighter and truer than SD could relate and contrast exhibits healthy, rich black levels. There are plenty of daylight scenes which are very impressive but nothing is overly dark and I noted no noise. This Blu-ray produces a consistent 1080P presentation with pleasing detail looking like a solid replication of the theatrical.

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

The DTS-HD Master 5.1 at a healthy 3146 kbps has a typical eclectic mix from Woody Allen including "Blue Moon", Louis Armstrong, Trixie Smith, King Oliver as well as the conclusive "Black Snake Blues". The high end is supported and creates some crisp light sounding Allen-esque atmosphere. There are optional subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

 

Extras :

Extras include a 25-minute "Blue Jasmine Cast Press Conference" from Los Angeles with Blanchett, Peter Sarsgaard and Dice Clay moderated by Jenelle Riley. There is also a brief segment with Cate Blanchett entitled Notes from the Red Carpet and lastly, a trailer.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Jasmine - Blanchett is her usual marvelous self - giving a virtual thespian clinic and I am always fond of Sally Hawkins (so memorable in Mike Leigh's brilliant Happy-Go-Lucky). Woody's films are consistently superior to most of the rubbish that surfaces out of Hollywood and this is a real gem - his 48th feature! I thought this was such a treat and the Blu-ray provided a thoroughly pleasing presentation. One we can certainly recommend! 

Gary Tooze

January 13th, 2014