Sunday, October 6, 2024

Woody Allen: “Blue Jasmine” Could Be Bigger Than “Midnight in Paris”

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Three years ago, Woody Allen had the biggest surprise of his long, illustrious career” Midnight in Paris” became his most successful movie ever, bringing in over $56 million in the U.S. alone. Who knew?

Now Woody, in his late 70s, may be experiencing deja vu all over again. “Blue Jasmine” is on pace with “Midnight in Paris” and actually doing a bit better. This weekend “Blue Jasmine” brought its total after 17 days $6.2 million. In 17 days, “Midnight” had $6.8 million banked. The difference: “Blue Jasmine” is playing in about 40 fewer locations.

There are some other differences, too. “Midnight” was wonderful but was considered an ensemble piece. No lead or supporting actors jumped out for awards consideration. “Blue Jasmine” is like an Oscar fest. Cate Blanchett is already being talked about for Best Actress in unprecedented performance, Sally Hawkins and Bobby Cannavale each have Supporting possibilities. And the movie also has the novelty of Andrew Dice Clay.

Sony Pictures Classics only has to keep “Blue Jasmine” at a low boil for the next couple of months. Eventually they can pull it, then bring it back to theatres once nominations come in. In the meantime, the Madoff theme of the movie is obviously touching a nerve with the public, as well as with fans of Tennessee Williams– not to mention Woody Allen fans and devotees of Cate Blanchett. Could “Blue Jasmine”  break the $56 million Woody all time high? It seems very possible right now.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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